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If the world smells blood, they'll go for the kill… because they can.
That, at least, is how it looks like from my current standpoint. During those 4 months I took off from blogging, translating and Italy, something was brewing and I was too distracted to notice. Like they say:
If you place a frog in cold water, and slowly turn up the temperature, it will boil to death and never even notice. Whereas if you take a frog from cold water to hot water, it will jump and save its life.
Had I stayed in the business, I probably wouldn’t have noticed, because I honestly thought I was at an advantage, but stepping away and coming back allowed me to better assess the temperature, and become totally freaked-out in the process.
Yes, I have heard from a lot of Europeans that a lot of work is being outsourced to the States, and I imagine that this affects the freelance industry more than others. The American Translator’s Association lists Italian as the least paid language combination, and Scandinavian languages as the highest paid. No, I’m not surprised; the Italian field tends to do that to itself, but, this time, thanks to the falling dollar, things have reached a new level.
Yes, by default, American freelancers have the advantage that their rates are now more affordable than ever to the international industry, but… oh, but, but… With the falling dollar and weak economy, international clients will not accept anything less than an excellent deal.
…one big
Garage
Sale to
the world
The problem is that the US has become one big Garage Sale to the world, and too many European clients who used to accept Euro invoices, are now demanding invoices be billed in Dollars, and they also expect freelancers to accept orders lower than the previous rates. Some freelancers accept, dropping the values throughout.
Like the current foreclosure industry which has overpowered the American housing industry. Yes, banks are selling homes at a fraction of the cost. That's not enough, buyers offer far, far less and win. Banks accept, dropping home values throughout. The ramifications stretch far and wide. As we work with European clients, I expected the US rates to go up as the Euro went up, but as freelancers bill low, in dollars, they are instead bringing the European rates down.
In Rome, and Euros, I’m at a disadvantage, which leaves me floating in the global currents, being pushed from side to side as it so pleases. 
I shouldn't complain. Now that I'm back, I do have as much work as I can take, which is what I need to enjoy a life in Italy. Nevertheless, I hereby declare my Outro from the industry and my Intro, once again, into the gradschool bookworm life, in my ever constant quest for deeper roots, stability and permanence…
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It’s a shame that people aren’t willing to pay what the work is worth–and that’s across a variety of fields right now. A huge depressing cycle.
Anyway, I will live through your bookworm phase vicariously…oh how I miss that!
Ciao Michelle!
It’s always good to see you
Yup. Since you’re a freelance writer and translator in Italy, I’m sure you know what I mean. *sigh*
… we navigate the waters as best we can, right?
So true what you say. The effects of our poor economy resound throughout every aspect of life. Concentrate on your doctoring, because it seems this is your gift. If the door is opened for you, walk through. I love this photo. She is not drowning. You will be ok after all, kiddo
As Dory said in “Nemo”..”just keep swimming”…
Well, those cheapskate clients can HAVE their good deals from translators who don’t understand business and won’t do a good job.
I have found, learning from experience, that it’s ALWAYS worth it to work with clients who treat you well and pay you well, and NOT worth it to waste time on clients who expect you to be a slave. I have a few exceptions due to good rapport with certain people, but other than that, I know what I’m worth and that’s just how it is.
My prices are certainly reasonable but I just won’t sink so low. No way.
So far this has worked to my advantage and I have a couple of favorite clients who I know will stick with me because they understand that YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET. You want quality, you pay for quality. If you want to cut corners and be cheap, well, you’ll pay for it in the long run, right?
But oh it’s a tough, tough world out there.
Great post!
I meant to say YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. duh.
I need coffee!
Good thing I have a day off today!
Sorry to hijack your comments section but you got me thinking.
You know what really gets me? They think it’s a big garage sale and they try to get away with paying as low as they can, not stopping to consider that it’s EXPENSIVE to live in the United States. Seattle costs of living are getting higher and higher, yet because of our low dollar, the European businesses think “Oh it’s so cheap there!” Yeah, cheap for them maybe, but not cheap for us.
Huh. This sounds like Argentina.
A lot of Americans (and now Europeans) come down here and very annoyingly say, “Oh it’s so cheap, oh wow, 3 pesos to a dollar, 5 pesos to a Euro, oh wow, this cab ride is like $3, oh wow, so cheap, oh this restaurant was like $17 for a big steak and a bottle of wine, yadda yadda yadda” not stopping to think that it’s NOT cheap for Argentineans, who have had to deal with hyperinflation to the umpteenth degree, while being paid very low wages, less than a third of the average American salary.
Anyway. Thought I’d make that comparison. :-)
Hey it is too bad that the dollar is sucking everywhere and affecting everyone in the world. It is just awful how things can take a turn just like that. I suppose that is why I do yoga and teach Pilates so I can channel myself to the present moment, instead of(as tina reminds me) not worrying about the ‘hows’ in life. Anyways I really enjoyed this post. I speaks mountains! Glad you are back to the blogworld, creating your magic,
bacio, Kate
This euro-dollar thing is really tricky for both sides.
I have both an etsy shop and an astrology website and it’s hard to get into the american market, to put it in economical terms. While the dollar is still the same dollar in the US, over here it’s worth less and less…so while Americans might think, wow it’s 40$, I’m left with only 25€…whilst only a year ago it was more or less the same. It’s tough out there!
Very good points Devil Mood.
The reason it’s hard to get into the American market? Because we can’t afford to live, pay the rent/mortgage/insurance/electricity with rising costs, the housing crisis, and our wages staying the same.
Miraculously though, Starbucks has opened in Argentina. I thought it would flop but I saw a line coming out the door almost around the block, full of local teenage girls. It makes you wonder… what makes people decide what’s worth money and what’s not….?
Oh and, of course, it seems to be the trend around the World to want something for nothing. I blame China, the way the cheapened everything in the market is simply not possible over here. Where is this going???
I keep telling my Italian coworkers that a strong euro is only good if you want to buy things from other countries and they need to keep in mind that money is leaving the country. Where is it going?
Don’t work too hard or study too much!!!
So sorry to hear that the disastrous state of the US$ has had such an adverse impact on your earnings. In the US everyone is continuously crying about the rising cost of gas with no mention that if the US$ was still worth what it was against the € when it first came out. Other than the lousy $ it is good to see your blog active.
a fantastic post
bravo…
and welcome to the club…
Iam in since 5 years ago..
regards
and smile
Interesting thoughts! Sorry to hear about the competition
It seems there’s no middle ground is there? It’s chaos… for what it means, the results are very much present here too…
I have two currency accounts, that way I have a choice and it keeps the costs low for all parties
It’s very interesting, seeing how one thing affects the other.
Here in Canada exporters have been screamong because the Canadian economy is robust and the US economy is shaky. Net result the Canadian dollar is roughly par with (and even exceeded at times) the US dollar.
Gven the proximity and economic size of the two countries, anything that affects the southern economy has repurcussions north of the border. It is rare that the reverse is true though.