A test drive won't tell you
Test translations never work. They only provide a distorted perception of a translation company's abilities. Given the time, any translation company can put lipstick and make-up on any single page document that'll bring smiles to all. The true litmus test is how they would perform under a tight deadline with a 300-page manual.
You can't teach an old dog new dialect
Gone are the days when translation companies consisted of a few erudite, multilingual wordsmiths who wore stained, tweed jackets and spoke funny. Today, the variety of technical fields is just too great.
Tails I win. Heads you lose
There's no luck involved in the selection of a first-rate translation company. When it comes to picking translation services, it's best to ask the right questions. And more importantly, to get the right answers.