Need advice!

[superiorword]

Hi folks,


A US based translation company(one of the biggest in the USA) sub-contracts their translation projects to us(most of them are gaming/gambling related). We have also signed a non disclosure agreement with them. One of their clients is an online gaming company(non-gambling) and we get tons of translations from that client, through the US based translation company.


Now the problem is, I don't know from where that online gaming company got our details and contacted us directly yesterday, they are interested in working with us and they want to end their contract with the US translation company. I don't know whether they know that we do all their projects through sub-contract, and I won't tell them this because of non-disclosure agreement. Problem is, I'm not able to decide what should I do. If I accept their proposal, it will be like cheating your trusted partner. If I say no to them, they will STILL leave the US translation company and go with some other one.


That US translation company charges them pretty high rates, around 0.22-0.28 USD/source word! And that's the reason the gaming company wants to cut their expenses. If I accept the gaming company's proposal and somehow the translation company comes to know about it, they will assume that we approached the gaming company


So should I accept that gaming company's proposal or not? Please let me know what do you guys think...

[OPC]

That is a tough decision. Though, it boils down to the following: If you don't accept, you lose the business. If you do accept, you get the business.

You know that they contacted you, and surely you could prove that if it ever became necessary. I say save the business and take them on as a customer - but that's just my opinion.

Mike

[Giorgio]

What about telling the US translation company that the client has approached you and come with a solution you both benefit from?

[CK]

I dont think its that easy OPC. If you take the client on can pretty much assume you wont be getting any more business from the original company. Don't say they cant find anyone else. When push comes to shove and your upset with someone you can. Even if it means paying a bit more.

You need to think of it from their perspective. Do you think its going to matter to the original company that they went to you first? I doubt it. Would you be ok with a client of yours moving to the person that you were outsourcing to? Probably not.

tbh if it were me I'd be straight with them and say this person contacted me and this is where I'm at. If you dont say anything and take the position you risk losing them as a client.

Something else to consider. If the only reason for the switch is they want to cut costs, Likely hood of them dropping you for someone cheaper down the road is pretty high.

Though, it boils down to the following: If you don't accept, you lose the business. If you do accept, you get the business.

If you dont accept it you lose the new client. You do accept it you could lose the old client that you've built a relationship with.

trusted partner

If the US company is a "trusted partner" you should be totally honest with them.

A really good person to ask about this might be LadyH

[xYassassinYx]

tbh if it were me I'd be straight with them and say this person contacted me and this is where I'm at. If you dont say anything and take the position you risk losing them as a client.

Totally agree with that

[superiorword]

BTW, I just come to know that the gaming company got my details from one of my clients who promotes online backgammon and bingo. So now the gaming company must be knowing the rates we charge, and there is almost no chance that they still work with the US translation company even if they cut their rates down to some extent. FYI, our rates are less than half what they charge.


So obviously I don't think telling the US translation company about this would help....they have almost lost that client and even if I decline the gaming company's offer(after telling the translation company about this), the translation company would still think they are working with me! So it's risky.

[CK]

Sounds like you had your mind made up

[superiorword]

Sounds like you had your mind made up

Yes Cheryle. Just wanna rethink for next half an hour....will update this thread in a short while about my decision.


This is WORST situation for any service provider

[CK]

Yeah it sucks bad..like a big hit to the stomach..makes ya feel kinda sick doesnt it.

It really doesnt matter if the new client will continue working with the old client or not or what you charge or they charge. What you want is to be able to come to some neutral ground and by discussing it with your existing partner that option is there. No conversation means no options.

How important is the relationship you have with your first client?

How much of the business does that client make up for you?

How much of the business does this client make up for them?

If the new client was to leave and go with someone else in 2 mths, would you be ok without the business from your first client?

Whatever you decide to do, my best advice is to speak with your original guy no matter what. If you dont and you do take this guy on, there is a really strong possibility that they will be super pissed and the last thing you want them to think is you were shady with them.

the translation company would still think they are working with me!

Thats not always the case. Have you ever given them a reason not to trust you. Not guaranteed or anything but if someone came to me and said "hey here's the deal" I would be appreciative that they didnt go behind my back and was straight with me.

[superiorword]

How important is the relationship you have with your first client?

Very important.

How much of the business does that client(you mean Gaming company, right?) make up for you?

(edited) figures in sales every year! Now think how tough this is for me!

How much of the business does this client make up for them?

Obviously the translation company saves a big chunk by outsourcing the gaming company's projects to us.