When the Cheap is Expensive

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Those translations sounded like such a bargain, but I've been paying for them ever since in ways I didn't anticipate!

You're eyeing the latest home entertainment center. The one you want is state of the art, cutting edge, and several other clichés. The only problem is it is expensive: $2500, not counting taxes and the doctor bills from moving it in and out of the SUV (if it will even fit). You know the store carrying the item is first rate and reliable and stands behind what it sells. But whoo-eee, if only you could get it cheaper

No problem. You've heard of someone who can get you the same thing for less. A lot less. Here's how you weigh the pros and cons:

Reliable Resource
Someone Else
Name brand manufacturer with proven track record Same product, at least that's the claim
Reputable store that's been reliable for years Not an outlet you're familiar with; no track record
Incredible customer service Unknown
Price: $2500 Price: $1195

Everyone likes a bargain (so do we). And sometimes you can get one. But can you really get something that everyone else sells for, give or take, $2500 for only $1195?

Or $250 for only $25?

And how can you tell when you're really getting a bargain? If you know nothing about professional translations and foreign languages and cultures, shouldn't you rely on a company you can trust?

It's not surprising that most nations have wise sayings that can be boiled down to:

1) "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is."

2) "The cheap can be very expensive."

NOW Translations has been around since December 1993 (longer, if you count our freelance years). When we first started, Berlitz Translations was the biggest name in localization and our biggest competitor and the most affordable country to do translations was Ireland. Today, Berlitz is no longer in the translation business and Ireland's economy has nearly doubled, driving up its prices to the point where they're no longer a translation competitor.

We get hundreds of resumes a year from people who want to work with us. Most of the applicants just aren't qualified: they don't meet our professional expectations, don't have the language expertise, and often try and give us ridiculously low prices (we've learned that this is a bad sign).

The translators, editors, proofers, and layout people we use are, for the most part, pros we've been using for a decade or more. We use people we can rely on so you can rely on us.

So next time someone offers you a translation "bargain," ask us what corners they have to cut to get to that price. And find out why we don't cut those corners. NOW Translations is happy to provide a free proposal based on your project. Just click here: Request A Free Quote.

Back to Bad Translations