At LanguageTran, we sometimes receive requests from clients for whom this is their first translation project. Often, they come to us after having tried to DIY their translation, or after trying to use an inexpensive service.
There’s a place for DIY translations, and there are times when a quick and dirty translation is all you need. But, as Corinne MacKay tells us below, everyone should know that, like many other industries, there are different segments in the translation industry, and clients should be aware of what they need. Ideally, before the project starts.

But it’s surprising to think that huge companies (like Wal Mart) wouldn’t take the time to learn the culture of the countries they want to expand into. 
More and more, companies are heeding the battle cry of overseas expansion, assuming that because of “globalization” doing business overseas is a snap.
But just because you have wifi access doesn’t mean that you’re going to be well received in a new country. There are more examples of failures in overseas expansion than successes, but for whatever reason, leaders feel that since they can go overseas, they should.