| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How do you address most of your clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you address most of your clients?".
This poll was originally submitted by Niraja. View the poll results »
| | | | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 15:10
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Other because.... | May 27, 2011 |
New clients are addressed as Ms./Mrs./Mr., especially when they're located in Germany.
Usually we switch to first names after the initial contact.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
Formal approach to start with, swiftly sliding into first names and maximum informality ASAP. I even tend to address some of my clients by their initials (such as JR, JC, JS instead of "Jose this that or the other") or nicknames...
However, I would not recommend this approach to anyone trying to build a client base and establish good customer relations. Better safe than sorry.
| | | | Fiona Kirton
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
I address my clients by whatever name they use for themselves (e.g. when signing off an email). Some people find it annoying when others decide on their behalf what they should be called, so I think it's safer just to follow their lead.
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| New contacts vs. old contacts | May 27, 2011 |
Hi,
New contacts = Dear Madam/Dear Sir
Old(er) contacts = their surname (by obligation).
I must admit that I am "unconsciously" miffed when I receive a e-mail from potential clients I never heard of before begining with "Dear Catherine". For me, it is very unpolite and disrespectful. Those persons are not old friends, I don't even know them, and I am not a servant.
Likewise, even if I am aware that, in English, the use of "Dear" before Sir/Madam/a surname... See more Hi,
New contacts = Dear Madam/Dear Sir
Old(er) contacts = their surname (by obligation).
I must admit that I am "unconsciously" miffed when I receive a e-mail from potential clients I never heard of before begining with "Dear Catherine". For me, it is very unpolite and disrespectful. Those persons are not old friends, I don't even know them, and I am not a servant.
Likewise, even if I am aware that, in English, the use of "Dear" before Sir/Madam/a surname is only a classical form of address without any particular real signification, it always bothers me to see it over-used this way because, in French, I use its equivalent (cher, chère) only for persons I like/know well, etc.
I know, politeness rules are not the same in all cultures, but I'd appreciate if my professional contacts could show as much respect for my culture as I am doing my utmost to respect theirs.
This was my today's rant
Catherine ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marta Brambilla
Switzerland
Local time: 15:10
Member (2007)
German to Italian
+ ...
Fiona Kirton wrote:
I address my clients by whatever name they use for themselves (e.g. when signing off an email). Some people find it annoying when others decide on their behalf what they should be called, so I think it's safer just to follow their lead.
I agree with Fiona!!!
Usually I also follow the way they address to me. I mean, if they use always Mrs. or so I respond in the same way, if the start with "Hi Marta" I simply answer with the same !!!
Have a nice week end, everybody
Marta
| | | | Rolf Kern
Switzerland
Local time: 15:10
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam
Most of my clients are agencies. I do not address them at all and go straight to the point. In most cases I just write "Kind regards" and send them an attachment.
| | | | | i do the same | May 27, 2011 |
Thayenga wrote: New clients are addressed as Ms./Mrs./Mr., especially when they're located in Germany. Usually we switch to first names after the initial contact.
In the beginning I always use Ms./Mrs./Mr. + their last name or even full name. With some clients I still continue communicating on this formal note. Others started addressing me by my first name and I switched to their first name too, but there is this client that I know is 40 years older than me and I simply can not write informal emails to him, even though he is addressing me by my first name.
Rolf Kern:
Most of my clients are agencies. I do not address them at all and go straight to the point. In most cases I just write "Kind regards" and send them an attachment.
Most of my clients are also agencies. I don't get your point. You are still addressing to people. I personally find it very rude and unprofessional to send emails with no text, salutation etc. But this is just my opinion. I see emails as official communication between me and my client. Emails can be used in court, for example. I wonder how serious would a "kind regards" email look in such a case. I write emails the same way I would write an official/formal (paper) letter from my company to my client's.
[Edited at 2011-05-27 10:15 GMT]
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Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
Member (2009)
English to French
| yes sometimes | May 27, 2011 |
Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote: Hi, New contacts = Dear Madam/Dear Sir Old(er) contacts = their surname (by obligation). I must admit that I am "unconsciously" miffed when I receive a e-mail from potential clients I never heard of before begining with "Dear Catherine". For me, it is very unpolite and disrespectful. Those persons are not old friends, I don't even know them, and I am not a servant. Likewise, even if I am aware that, in English, the use of "Dear" before Sir/Madam/a surname is only a classical form of address without any particular real signification, it always bothers me to see it over-used this way because, in French, I use its equivalent (cher, chère) only for persons I like/know well, etc. I know, politeness rules are not the same in all cultures, but I'd appreciate if my professional contacts could show as much respect for my culture as I am doing my utmost to respect theirs. This was my today's rant Catherine
Yes that is true the French speaking world is more formal, and I'm careful with this.
Although I've got quite a few French speakers who address me by my first name, I'm not offended, but I'm used to the Anglo-Saxon habbit of using the 1st name.
However, sometimes I've been keen on using the 1st name basis with French contacts, but I'm very formal face to face when doing interpreting. For tuition, and sometimes translation clients I've used the 1st name with some contacts, but I tend to follow the lead taken by my French speaking clients.
Personally, I think the French speakers should relax a bit - that formality is not necessarily particularly as in French we've got tu and vous - but the will of the majority is still to remain formal - I agree with you on that Catherine.
Maybe a change will come in relaxing attitudes in business in the French speaking world
[Edited at 2011-05-27 10:47 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Cultural differences | May 27, 2011 |
Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote:
Hi,
New contacts = Dear Madam/Dear Sir
Old(er) contacts = their surname (by obligation).
I must admit that I am "unconsciously" miffed when I receive a e-mail from potential clients I never heard of before begining with "Dear Catherine". For me, it is very unpolite and disrespectful. Those persons are not old friends, I don't even know them, and I am not a servant.
Catherine
A very important point to take into account is the cultural convention of each country or region, like the Vous/tu difference in French and use, however innocent, of terms such as Dear... or first names. I have a Spanish colleague who hates to be called "Usted" in Spanish as a term of deference, because "it makes me feel old"...
| | | | Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
Member (2009)
English to French
| yes sometimes | May 27, 2011 |
neilmac wrote: Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote:
Hi,
New contacts = Dear Madam/Dear Sir
Old(er) contacts = their surname (by obligation).
I must admit that I am "unconsciously" miffed when I receive a e-mail from potential clients I never heard of before begining with "Dear Catherine". For me, it is very unpolite and disrespectful. Those persons are not old friends, I don't even know them, and I am not a servant.
Catherine A very important point to take into account is the cultural convention of each country or region, like the Vous/tu difference in French and use, however innocent, of terms such as Dear... or first names. I have a Spanish colleague who hates to be called "Usted" in Spanish as a term of deference, because "it makes me feel old"...
What's the Spanish speaking world situation at the moment?
I know that with my German clients it has to be Frau/Herr - but what is the current trend with the Spanish speaking world? If I may ask?
| | | | Fiona Kirton
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
| 'Dear' is formal | May 27, 2011 |
Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote:
Likewise, even if I am aware that, in English, the use of "Dear" before Sir/Madam/a surname is only a classical form of address without any particular real signification, it always bothers me to see it over-used this way because, in French, I use its equivalent (cher, chère) only for persons I like/know well, etc.
It's not the case that 'dear' has no real significance. It's a formal (some might say too formal), polite form of address, and so to me it seems odd that anyone who expects a certain level of formality and respect would be bothered by being addressed in this way. If the French way is to use cher/chère for people you like and/or know well, then surely that means 'cher/chère' and 'dear' are not equivalent terms...
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 15:10
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Fiona Kirton wrote: Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote:
Likewise, even if I am aware that, in English, the use of "Dear" before Sir/Madam/a surname is only a classical form of address without any particular real signification, it always bothers me to see it over-used this way because, in French, I use its equivalent (cher, chère) only for persons I like/know well, etc.
It's not the case that 'dear' has no real significance. It's a formal (some might say too formal), polite form of address, and so to me it seems odd that anyone who expects a certain level of formality and respect would be bothered by being addressed in this way. If the French way is to use cher/chère for people you like and/or know well, then surely that means 'cher/chère' and 'dear' are not equivalent terms...
During my education as a translator, emphasis was placed on translating "Sehr geehrte/r" (which is very formal here in Germany) with "Dear" followed by either "Sir/Ma'am" (if the name is unknown) or Mr./Ms./Mrs. plus the person's last name.
| | | | m_temmer
Local time: 07:10
English to Dutch
+ ...
| always be polite | May 27, 2011 |
Rolf Kern wrote:
Most of my clients are agencies. I do not address them at all and go straight to the point. In most cases I just write "Kind regards" and send them an attachment.
It's not because we are using e-mail that we can forget about basic politeness. Even in a telephone conversation there's a hi and a goodbye. I always address the recipient of my e-mails. After all, we're businesses!
I tend to disregard "rude" e-mails by the way.
| | | | Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:10
English to Arabic
+ ...
| Last name in Germany, first name everywhere else! | May 27, 2011 |
First-time UK/US clients usually start their first email with "Dear Mrs. Amin" then sign with their first name, giving me the green light to address them by their first name and signing "Nesrin". Correspondence then continues on a first-name basis.
Germany - in my experience - is a different matter. I've been dealing with clients for years who still insist on addressing me "Liebe Frau Amin" and sign with their full name, so I'd never dare to do otherwise!!
[Edited at 2011-05-... See more First-time UK/US clients usually start their first email with "Dear Mrs. Amin" then sign with their first name, giving me the green light to address them by their first name and signing "Nesrin". Correspondence then continues on a first-name basis.
Germany - in my experience - is a different matter. I've been dealing with clients for years who still insist on addressing me "Liebe Frau Amin" and sign with their full name, so I'd never dare to do otherwise!!
[Edited at 2011-05-27 13:02 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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