Aug 2, 2007 20:56
16 yrs ago
German term
20yrs experience. Style & fluidity.
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
sehen hier einfach nicht klar
German to English
Marketing
Business/Commerce (general)
Kommunikationsgesellschaft
Kleiner Start-up oder grosee Marke?
Wir passen uns sehr gerne an.
Der Presis spielt fuer uns keine grosse Rolle. Tatsache is- wir reden selten ueber Kosten. Es sei denn, neue Kunden sehen hier einfach nicht klar
Wir passen uns sehr gerne an.
Der Presis spielt fuer uns keine grosse Rolle. Tatsache is- wir reden selten ueber Kosten. Es sei denn, neue Kunden sehen hier einfach nicht klar
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Aug 2, 2007 20:56: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
Proposed translations
+3
2 hrs
Selected
have a problem with something
Obviously this phrase (and sentence) must be understood in direct conjunction with the preceeding sentence, and to borrow some excellent advice from a peer with regard to another question, the first rule in advertising is not to insult potential customers.
I'd thus suggest for:
Tatsache is- wir reden selten ueber Kosten. Es sei denn, neue Kunden sehen hier einfach nicht klar.
the following:
In fact, we rarely talk about costs. Unless of course a new client needs a rundown.
Other options:
... a new customer needs convincing
... a new customer doesn't see the light [risky!]
IMO the underlying message is 'we don't talk costs, we talk results -- and our regular clients know that we deliver value for money, so they don't make an issue of costs'.
It's a bit of a snob-appeal approach: if you have to ask what it costs, you're in the wrong place.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-08-02 23:53:12 GMT)
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Sorry, make that 'client' in the suggestions above.
I'd thus suggest for:
Tatsache is- wir reden selten ueber Kosten. Es sei denn, neue Kunden sehen hier einfach nicht klar.
the following:
In fact, we rarely talk about costs. Unless of course a new client needs a rundown.
Other options:
... a new customer needs convincing
... a new customer doesn't see the light [risky!]
IMO the underlying message is 'we don't talk costs, we talk results -- and our regular clients know that we deliver value for money, so they don't make an issue of costs'.
It's a bit of a snob-appeal approach: if you have to ask what it costs, you're in the wrong place.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-08-02 23:53:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, make that 'client' in the suggestions above.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Paul Cohen
: Way to go, Ken! I'd make that one sentence: "In fact, we rarely talk about costs - unless of course a new client needs a rundown."
45 mins
|
| agree |
Nicole Schnell
: I do like the "needs a rundown"-version
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Francis Lee (X)
: or: require enlightenment
9 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks for the great response from all. It's been a great help."
10 mins
have unrealistic ideas in this regard
Free translation, but that seems to be the meaning.
12 mins
Dr. Fred Thomson
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
A lawyer, technician, nuclear power optr
Native in: English
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
148
simply do not realize ( or understand or get it)
Klarsehen generally means to realize,but the context leads me to believe that "to get it" might be better.
The text is somewhat slangy in the first place and it would surprise me if the author meant to say: "unless new customers simply to not get it."
The text is somewhat slangy in the first place and it would surprise me if the author meant to say: "unless new customers simply to not get it."
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susan Zimmer
: all other answers are viable, but I'd probably say "simply don't get the point" or something
11 mins
|
| disagree |
Paul Cohen
: I'm afraid your answer could be interpreted as an insult. Would you feel inclined to give your business to a company that implies that some its new customers "just don't get it"?! That's not the message that this company wants to convey!
2 hrs
|
|
Good point, Paul, and Nicole's answer would be more realistice, if one would disregard the tone evident in the rest of the text.
|
19 mins
have simply not understood sthg.
Unless new customers have simply not understood them (our costs).
or
Unless they are simply not clear to our new customers.
or
Unless they are simply not clear to our new customers.
27 mins
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Specializes in field
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
29
are simply not aware
:)
+1
3 hrs
Nicole Schnell
United States
United States
Native in German
Specializes in field
United States
Award winning Advertising/Marketing
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
112
but we will be happy to walk you through
BTW, I absolutely agree with Paul Cohen.
The tonality of this website appears to be kind of "cheeky", a kind of "humor" that might not work everywhere...
The tonality of this website appears to be kind of "cheeky", a kind of "humor" that might not work everywhere...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Paul Cohen
: Exactly! The text is cheeky and slightly snobby, and this needs to be toned down in the translation. "... but we'd be happy to walk you through..." is definitely the right tone!
24 mins
|
|
Thanks, Paul! :)
|
+3
3 hrs
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Specializes in field
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
64
have questions concerning
Ken Cox is right - and he's got my vote! - except I wouldn't use the word "problem" here or imply that some clients don't "see the light" - very risky, indeed!
Your question has provided us with a typical example of the kind of writing produced by German "Kommunikationsexperten" - and we can see how easily this can lead to misunderstandings.
The idea is NOT that customers "don't get it" or "unrealistic expectations" etc.
This is the gist of the message, as I see it:
Of course if new clients have questions concerning our rates, we would be more than happy to give them a rundown.
That's slightly less snobby than the original (good point about snob-appeal, Ken).
Remember, you're trying to win over new customers, not imply that they have knocked on the wrong door.
Your question has provided us with a typical example of the kind of writing produced by German "Kommunikationsexperten" - and we can see how easily this can lead to misunderstandings.
The idea is NOT that customers "don't get it" or "unrealistic expectations" etc.
This is the gist of the message, as I see it:
Of course if new clients have questions concerning our rates, we would be more than happy to give them a rundown.
That's slightly less snobby than the original (good point about snob-appeal, Ken).
Remember, you're trying to win over new customers, not imply that they have knocked on the wrong door.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
9 mins
|
| agree |
Nicole Schnell
: Yep. the text obviously was written by "greenhorns".//Ouch!!!!
16 mins
|
|
Insults? Here's a good example from an ad aimed at automotive design engineers: "Sie wissen sicherlich am besten, dass zu spät entdeckte Fehler richtig Geld kosten." (In other words, "you've made so many mistakes, you must know how costly that can be.")
|
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| agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
: was thinking "questions" also. // Probably not. Elsewhere, they come across as babies with a mean streak.
46 mins
|
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"If you have questions, don't hestitate to ask..." That is if new clients are bold enough to actually question the rates of these masters of "Kommunikation"!
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Discussion