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Glossary entry

español term or phrase:

“al cliente hay que darle liebre por gato, en lugar de gato por liebre”

inglés translation:

Always exceed the customer\'s expectations; never sell the customer short.

Added to glossary by Raul Becerra
Aug 20, 2022 11:37
1 yr ago
51 viewers *
español term

“al cliente hay que darle liebre por gato, en lugar de gato por liebre”

español al inglés Mercadeo Publicidad / Relaciones públicas Marketing, presentation of a company's philosophy
Sentence extracted from a web presentation of a company's philosophy. It is a word play with the saying "dar gato por liebre"

Source:
Mi padre siempre decía “al cliente hay que darle liebre por gato, en lugar de gato por liebre”

Possible free translation.
My father always said: "always give the customer the best deal"
My father always said: "make sure the customer draws the long straw"
My father always said: "make sure the customer doesn't buy a pig in a poke"

Thank you for any imput.
Proposed translations (inglés)
4 +2 Always exceed the customer's expectations; never sell the customer short.
3 +3 the client must get more than his money's worth
4 +1 one should always exercise honesty when dealing with a customer, and should never try to pull the...
4 "always be a straight shooter with customers, don't try to pull a fast one"
4 one should never sell a pup to a customer
3 treat your customer to the best deal

Discussion

AllegroTrans Aug 22, 2022:
Also... Everything depends on whether the translation is needed for an English language website or simply for "understanding only". If this is for a website, careful consideration needs to be given to the appropriate register and this will depend on many factors, especially on the type of company, its ethos, what it sells, etc. etc.
Thomas Walker Aug 21, 2022:
Context, please The proposed answers are over a wide range of register. I think having more context could help us get a feel for what the appropriate translation might be- maybe post the whole company philosophy statement, if there aren't confidentiality considerations. or or other issues.
philgoddard Aug 21, 2022:
I think these answers are too bland The Spanish is colorful and amusing, and this gets lost in most of the English versions.
Wilsonn Perez Reyes Aug 20, 2022:
Sin comillas... 1.4 Glossary form must be maintained
Question marks, quote marks, unnecessary capitalization and anything else that would not be found in a dictionary, should not be entered.
https://eng.proz.com/siterules/kudoz_general/1.4#1.4

Proposed translations

+2
3 horas
Selected

Always exceed the customer's expectations; never sell the customer short.

En la antigüedad, las posadas, los mesones y tabernas tenían muy mala fama sobre todo en materia de alimentación, ya que se sospechaba que servían carne de gato en lugar de conejo o cabrito, cuando se estaba pagando por conejo o por cabrito. Es decir, como hoy las cadenas de restaurantes fastfood. (no es que te den gato, pero un poco de conservante de más…)
Entre otras acusaciones estaba la de que los posaderos echaban un asno en adobo y lo vendían como carne de ternera. A tal punto llegó la desconfianza que los clientes solían decir en voz alta antes de comer: «Si eres cabrito, mantente frito»
Peer comment(s):
agree Francois Boye
2 horas
Thank you!
agree Carol Gullidge : This makes sense, although something briefer would be ideal
2 horas
Yep, thanks.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Tnank you very much for your help. I like that your option keeps the contrast of the original. "
2 horas

"always be a straight shooter with customers, don't try to pull a fast one"

I agree with Barbara's translation. Here is another possibility that using two different idioms. Unfortunately I can't think of a way to achieve the same meaning using an idiom + a word play on an idiom in English. Hopefully someone else can! This one has an interaction between shooting straight and pulling, which perhaps achieves some of that (but not much, admittedly).
Another possibility that plays on the sales angle:
"always be a straight shooter with customers, not a snake oil salesman"
Note from asker:
Thank you for your help
Peer comment(s):
neutral Wilsonn Perez Reyes : Sin comillas ni al preguntar ni al responder https://www.proz.com/siterules/kudoz_general/1.4#1.4
6 horas
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hora

one should always exercise honesty when dealing with a customer, and should never try to pull the...

...wool over her/his eyes...

One should never trick anyone into buying something, by saying things about it that aren't true/by taking advantage of their lack of knowledge about the product or service in question.

https://www.dicoz.es/la-expresion-dar-gato-por-liebre-signif...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2022-08-20 14:21:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

avoid being a con artist
Note from asker:
Tnaks for you help
Peer comment(s):
agree Myriam Seers
21 minutos
Thanks, Myriam.
neutral philgoddard : This is more of an explanation than a translation, and it's also very wordy. Why not just "be honest with customers"?
2 horas
Something went wrong...
+3
2 horas

the client must get more than his money's worth

Example sentence:

o I make sure he gets more than his money's worth when he watches my film.”

This guy gets more than his money's worth at this all-you-can-eat buffet and it's quite the sight.

Note from asker:
Thank you for your imput.
Peer comment(s):
agree Andrew Bramhall
7 minutos
Thank you, Andrew!
agree Carol Gullidge
2 horas
Thank you, Carol!
agree Cecilia Gowar
3 horas
Thank you, Cecilia!
Something went wrong...
3 horas

one should never sell a pup to a customer

This could be a close equivalent to the Spanish idiom.

With the idea being of a puppy being sold to someone instead of a trained dog. Thus, it maintains both the reference to selling and to being given an animal of inferior value.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2022-08-20 15:33:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://wordhistories.net/2016/12/22/to-sell-a-pup/

Its somewhat 'old fashioned' appeal might suit your context of a handed-down saying from the father
Reference:

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/sell+someone+a+pup

Note from asker:
Thanks for you help.
Thank you for your imput.
Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : I like this as far as it goes, but you lose the contrast of the original. How about "don't sell them a pup, sell them a fully housetrained pedigree dog"?
11 minutos
Yes, I was trying to keep it short but that could be an idea!
neutral Andrew Bramhall : Agree with Phil;
4 horas
neutral AllegroTrans : Good suggestion by Phil
8 horas
neutral Carol Gullidge : without "instead of a trained dog..." or similar, as this stands,it doesn't really make sense! Why should you not sell a pup to a customer (e.g., if you're a pet shop...)? //yes, that would have made all the difference :))
2 días 1 hora
:)) indeed! I explained the idiom in the body of the text but should have put it in the translation!
Something went wrong...
1 día 23 minutos
español term (edited): al cliente hay que darle liebre por gato, en lugar de gato por liebre

treat your customer to the best deal

Your first proposal fits nicely with the ST.

Or maybe: "treat your customer to the very best"
Note from asker:
Thank you for your input
Something went wrong...
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