I received an order for a translation from a private person. I analyze the document, I voiced the tariff - X rubles per page of translation, consisting of 1800 printed characters, including gaps (for those who are not in the topic - there are other ways to measure the volume of text, but traditionally - this is the way). The client agrees, the work begins.



The day before the deadline for delivery of the material the customer (suddenly!) “It sees” and ultimately demands a reduction in the cost of the order, because “What shit I have to pay for the gaps, you didn’t translate them?” All attempts to prove that an agreed unit of measurement of a page is a generally accepted standard, and gaps are the same part of the text as letters and intersection signs, have failed. The customer stood firmly on his own, the negotiations went to an impasse.



The first emotion was to send the customer through the forest, but it was a pity for the time and effort spent, and the professional pride was affected, so the upset brain immediately threw up a plan for revenge. I offered to reduce 10% of the price for the translation "without gaps", the satisfied customer favorably agreed.



The challenge accepted! The Internet helpfully suggested the decision, and after an hour on the email to the customer sent a consistent text without a single gap. In the accompanying letter, I advised him to sort them by taste.



The reaction to the desired result is truly unknown to me, but the next morning there was a phone call, and the customer's voice, slightly murmuring, said: "I agree... to pay for the gaps."