Proofing charges

[Kerry F]

I just wondered what everyone thinks is reasonable on a proofreader charging extra for 24 hour turnaround  when they are caught up.  For example, I have someone reading a 550 page job of four witnesses that I asked the proofer about her availability over the holiday week, not counting Thanksgiving Day.  She wanted the work.  Her normal turnaround is 48 hours, which I think is totally reasonable, but she agreed to read this job for her regular rates and I've been sending it to her in increments all week.  My job is all she's working on right now.  I will get the last 100 pages to her by tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, and need it back by Sunday afternoon so I can get the whole job out Monday.  She wants to now charge me extra for this last 100 pages because it's 24 hour turnaround.  I think that's not reasonable given this situation.  I am certainly never opposed to paying a proofreader extra when I'm getting expedite.  What do you think?

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

All that matters to me in figuring how much I owe my proofreader is when do I send it and when do I need it back.  When sending a job in increments, I keep track of exactly what I'm sending when and pay whatever that increment merits.  If I send something one day and need it back 24 hours later, I pay $.65.   I might have paid her $.35 and $.50 on earlier increments but  if it's sent 24 hours before I need it, I have to pay the 24-hour rate.   And I often have to pay that higher rate on a non-expedite because I've been busy with life or other expedited work.    I don't love paying expedite on proofreading on non-expedite work but I figure fair is fair.  

[Laurie H.]

That's not how I work.  Generally, when I receive an expedite from a client, I'm moving someone else out of the way to do that job.  Therefore, you'll get the 24-hour rate.  However, if you put yourself on my calendar on Monday and send me sections over the week that are due by Sunday, at the latest, I'm not charging you a different rate for each section.  It doesn't matter if I get the last one Sunday morning.  Each section will get my regular rate because I was forewarned and expected them.

[Judy]

I have a new client.  They've set three depos with me so far (same witness - the first two were non-appearances).  They always call me the working day before, usually in the afternoon (argh!).  Anyways, they finally get the depo taken on Tuesday of this week.  Within two hours of finishing the depo they e-mail me and ask when they can expect to receive the transcript because they need it for a motion, and trial's coming up soon too.  I quote my rate sheet (which they have a copy of) of normal turnaround and what my expedite charges are.  They're shocked at the extra expense and say they'll get back to me (still haven't heard back from them). 

I talked to my husband about it, whether I should just get it to them at normal charges because I am fairly caught up, or should I remain firm about the expedite fee.  He said do not back down, an expedite is an expedite (he's an attorney and does take depos, so he understands the process). 

So I guess my answer is I'd be happy that I was only paying my proofreader for 100 expedited pages instead of the whole 550 pages.    

 

[Mary Ann Payonk]

I don't think the value of someone's services is dependent upon how busy they are.
MA

[Janet]

If I give someone a job and expect it back the next day, whether I'm getting expedite or not, I'd pay them expedite.  I'd be happy that she dropped her plans to help me meet my deadline. 

 

As a reminder, please don't mention specific rates here.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I agree with Janet; if you want something back the next day, you pay an expedited rate. 

When I'm going on vacation, I always pay my scopists extra to get the work back to me sooner so I can leave the country with all my work turned in.  I'm not getting paid extra.  Peace of mind is worth a lot in my book.

[Kerry F]

I totally agree with paying more for next day............but given an agreement to read almost 600 pages that I needed back by a certain day and I'm sending it to her as I get them edited, I just don't like being dinged for only 100 pages left with next-day turnaround.  It's really not a big deal financially, just the point in this kind of a situation.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

As I said above, I don't consider it being dinged.  To me, it's fair to the proofreader that the rate for any group of pages I send her depends entirely on when I send and when I need it back.  I try to save myself money by getting it to her in time for her lowest rate but I often don't succeed.   I go on this chart and I'll delete the numbers but will share them with anyone who wants it:

1.  the lowest rate: (48 hours or more)
2.  48 hours or more when due date is on a weekend or holiday)
3.  24-48 hours 
4.  24 hours or less
5.  8-hour delivery or less (the highest rate, which is $.45 higher than the lowest rate)

[Kerry F]

I guess most proofers I'ved worked with over the years don't charge extra for weekends (though some do and I respect that) because we reporters are usually working weekends.

I am finding too many corrections she missed, though, which concerns me.  It's because she was reading too fast, which is my biggest gripe about proofreaders, they go too fast.  I know they can't always catch everything.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

I forgot to say that I dock (at her suggestion) $.50 for each error she misses.  I'm talking obvious.  I have never had a proofer that didn't miss important stuff.  After I scope, I do a second read-through on the screen and purposely don't make many obvious corrections but note them in hidden text and in order to see what she missed.  It's scary and that second read-through always saves me from major humiliation.  But she also catches many things that I miss.   Line item number 2, I recently added that.  My idea.  It's just 05 extra.  It's more the principle of me saying thanks for being willing to proof whenever I need it.