Poll: Have you ever disagreed with a client over the need of a purchase order (PO)? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever disagreed with a client over the need of a purchase order (PO)?".
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Not really sure what this means. I usually require a PO, and when the customer says they don't deliver POs, then I decide by myself whether I want to go for it or not. But I don't discuss the principle of POs with the customer, so I can't really say we disagree.
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I don't automatically request a PO anyway because the majority of my very regular (and prompt-paying) clients don't issue them anyway, so it's not a big deal for me. Also, if I were to request one and a client emailed back saying that they didn't issue POs, then this email, along with previous emails expressing their desire for me to perform a translation for them, would be all the evidence I'd need, should it come to it, and therefore equivalent, for all intents and purposes, to a PO.
| | | | Reed James
Chile
Local time: 00:34
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
| Trust is the best PO | Mar 14, 2010 |
I have had clients who issue fancy purchase orders and then pay late or stipulate complicated terms. Other clients pay me on time and issue no purchase order. For me, what counts is a good business relationship. Bottom line.
Reed
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| Some are even better - | Mar 14, 2010 |
leave alone issuing PO's there are some who have paid me before I issued them an invoice and even added a few dollars to pay for the wire transfer charges without my asking. The best part is these are agencies and not individuals.
| | | | Maximiliano Jozami (X) 
Germany
Local time: 06:34
English to Spanish
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| Recent experience | Mar 14, 2010 |
Recently, a new client contacted me through Proz. She sent me a brief description of the job, I sent her my rates, and she sent me the files. When I asked her to send me a PO, she said it wasn't necessary. But then, she changed the instructions in a way that required a whole new negotiation for the job.
Not happy with this, more than 60 days after the delivery, having paid me more than 20 days later than agreed, she sent me some new files, telling me that she hadn't received the tra... See more Recently, a new client contacted me through Proz. She sent me a brief description of the job, I sent her my rates, and she sent me the files. When I asked her to send me a PO, she said it wasn't necessary. But then, she changed the instructions in a way that required a whole new negotiation for the job.
Not happy with this, more than 60 days after the delivery, having paid me more than 20 days later than agreed, she sent me some new files, telling me that she hadn't received the translation for those. When I told her she had never asked for a translation of those files, she answered that I was wrong and that she had "evidence" (?!) that proved the opposite, so she requested a money refund.
I had to send her a list of the files whose translation I had been requested and paid for. Of course, I couldn't avoid reminding her that I had initially asked for a PO and, had she used PO's, we wouldn't have been having that stupid argument. Finally, I told her that she should become more organized or get a secretary, and rated her "1" on the BB. What else could I do?
That's why I answered "yes" to the poll.
Thanks for the ear (or the eyes, actually)!
Maximiliano Jozami
Translator/Interpreter ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I feel more comfortable with a PO... | Mar 14, 2010 |
... but in any case I always save my e-mails, so if there is a dispute I can refer to them. If there is no PO, I show the dates of the e-mails on my invoice, and I'm very specific about which e-mails I reference.
| | | | Alvaro Aliaga
Australia
Local time: 14:34
English to Spanish
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I have to agree with Maximiliano. It's important to have things set in stone, otherwise some clients might say deals were different from what they really are and change them to what better suits them at a later stage. For some translators and clients equally it's hard to keep track of certain details reached through negotiation or it's even worse when PMs quit leave their jobs and it's like you have a blank slate again. Unless it's really not possible, I always ask for a PO just to be on the saf... See more I have to agree with Maximiliano. It's important to have things set in stone, otherwise some clients might say deals were different from what they really are and change them to what better suits them at a later stage. For some translators and clients equally it's hard to keep track of certain details reached through negotiation or it's even worse when PMs quit leave their jobs and it's like you have a blank slate again. Unless it's really not possible, I always ask for a PO just to be on the safe side. ▲ Collapse
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 00:34
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Depends on the client | Mar 15, 2010 |
I have one client who automatically issues POs for every project. Another just sends me the project number and I invoice monthly.
I've also worked with direct clients who simply use email as a record of the agreement.
However, I do have two large projects coming in (which should cover several months each), and I've already told them that I need a contract for something that large and long term.
| | | | | yes, same here | Mar 15, 2010 |
if it's a large long term project, then i like having a record besides email. But with regular clients who invoice me promptly and send me small jobs, it's not necessary. In their case email is sufficient. A couple of agencies routinely send me a PO, probably because they're both fairly large and have several international offices.
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