Fair payment to teacher

mhhhh

Well... if the student got lessons at discounted prices, it could be as much as $10/lesson discount per lesson... then they took only 10 lessons and all of a sudden want to leave just like that, then they have to pay the difference of regular prices to the discounted prices. that makes sense since they breached a contract.

I am not sure about how it would work if it was a student who wanted to leave because her teacher is leaving and she just wants to get a refund.... She/he is still breaking the contract, but in this case she has a good reason to. So in this case probably you wouldn't charge for the difference, since this is an unforseeable event?

Angel HI said:
I have operated much as Easy has described. I only offer 3 packages, and no more than a certain number of hours...basically because I do not want the liability. I do have some students who have been with me forever, and I allow them certain graces.

I am not certain of what you mean by refunding the student at the reg rate rather than a disc rate. are you saying that even if they paid a disc rate for a pkg, you would convert the refunded hours to a higher rate? Is this a punishment, or a way of instituting a fee of sorts? Or, am I just up too late, and being stupid?
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dancingirldancing said:
Well,

I was surely not informed of that and besides $250 will be a lot considering that I only buy a total of 15 lesson.

I mean, if it is a result of me just changing my mind then it is probably ok to impose this fee BUT if it is a result of the teacher changing circumstances like in my case I think should have been refunded all the unused amount without any fee. I mean it is not my fault if the teacher leave or is too busy for me....

At the start the agreement is that I get the teacher that I want !
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The fee is usually a percentage of the lessons remaining. The $250 amount is only the maximum they can charge...it's not a flat rate ;)
 
dancerman said:
In fact, part of the contract for one of the largest franchises in the world
(name withheld) states that a student will not associate in any way with an instructor outside the studio for any reason and will not do so for a period of one year after the expiration of the contract or the teacher leaves the employ of the studio franchise. The teacher is supposedly bound as well. This particular studio would not allow a teacher to go to a students wedding ( the couple both danced at the studio). These terms are spelled out on the back of the contract we signed when we purchased packages. This contract also stated, by the way, that the unused lesons were only refundable for a certain period of time.
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I have encountered this before, as well, and, IMO it is absurd. It is instituted by studios that are uncomfortable with their ethics. A studio manager told me ince that if I were walking down the street and saw a student approaching, and I did not think that I could avoid speaking to that student, then I should cross the street. I left the studio.
 
BestTeacher said:
Well... if the student got lessons at discounted prices, it could be as much as $10/lesson discount per lesson... then they took only 10 lessons and all of a sudden want to leave just like that, then they have to pay the difference of regular prices to the discounted prices. that makes sense since they breached a contract.
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Then, it would be, as I said, a type of punishment. I am not saying that there should not be some sort of remittance for breaking the contract. However, I believe the refund should be based on the price that they paid for the lessons. The studio offered the discount. The student shouldn't have to pay for that if he/she leaves. Further, a studio rarely guarantees a teacher, but, if a teacher leaves, and the student feels that they can not get the training that they desire from another, they should be entitled to shop wherever they like. It is not their fault that what they perceived they purchased suddenly changed.
 
mhhhh

Mmh.... so what you are saying is that anybody can just exploit the discount offered just because its their free will?

If a person is not sure if he/she will like it, why would they sign up for a package in the first place.

The package offered at a discount is a way to make it cheaper for loyal students who want to continue doing this very expansive hobby.


Angel HI said:
Then, it would be, as I said, a type of punishment. I am not saying that there should not be some sort of remittance for breaking the contract. However, I believe the refund should be based on the price that they paid for the lessons. The studio offered the discount. The student shouldn't have to pay for that if he/she leaves. Further, a studio rarely guarantees a teacher, but, if a teacher leaves, and the student feels that they can not get the training that they desire from another, they should be entitled to shop wherever they like. It is not their fault that what they perceived they purchased suddenly changed.
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After the initial programs which have cash discounts, I only offer a percentage of bonus lessons as an incentive. If they want to break the contract, they may, and they will receive a full refund for the lessons paid. The bonus lessons were just that and have no cash value...they don't get anything for them. It's an easier way of sorting things out, and at least they receive full compensation for what they paid for and didn't use.
 
what do you mean when you say initial programs with discounts? you mean you stop giving cash discounts after a certain period?

and then you only give bonus lessons?

Easy said:
After the initial programs which have cash discounts, I only offer a percentage of bonus lessons as an incentive. If they want to break the contract, they may, and they will receive a full refund for the lessons paid. The bonus lessons were just that and have no cash value...they don't get anything for them. It's an easier way of sorting things out, and at least they receive full compensation for what they paid for and didn't use.
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BestTeacher said:
Mmh.... so what you are saying is that anybody can just exploit the discount offered just because its their free will?

If a person is not sure if he/she will like it, why would they sign up for a package in the first place.
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Now, you are sounding like someone with an axe to grind rahter than one seeking a better way to handle an unfortunate situation. Why assume that students are out to exploit anything? A customer chooses a business and hopes for a mutual exhange for the betterment of both. A business should do the same.

As for your second point, it is ridiclous. If we all waited until we were abso;utely certain of everything before we did it, most of us would never get out of bed in the morning. Now, as Easy said...it's Zzz time.
 
Actually I am trying to understand your point....Anyways, i do like the bonus lessons idea as well....

I think its very much case by case as well.....

I don't think its punishing, I don;t think any student would look at it this way either. All I am saying is if you do is go to studios sign up to package which makes your lessons cheaper and then want to quit and do the same in another studio.... you are just taking advantage of people's discounts... and probably should be just paying the regular prices then.
 
Angel HI said:
I have encountered this before, as well, and, IMO it is absurd. It is instituted by studios that are uncomfortable with their ethics. A studio manager told me ince that if I were walking down the street and saw a student approaching, and I did not think that I could avoid speaking to that student, then I should cross the street. I left the studio.
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BRAVO!!!!
:applause:
We have such a short time on this earth, I try to appreciate any friendship I make. I develop relationships with employers, employees, and customers. The decision is mine to make, whether I am a dance teacher, a carpenter or an accountant. People can argue this point, but to have to avoid someone because a franchise is going to lose business is paranmoia infinitum. It wold also ber very hard to enforce or litigate against.

Also as far as the comments about refunding students for paid lessons as a student if I were to purchase a block of lessons after my initial sign up I would not expect to be given a refund. Unless it was extenuating circumstances, (dance ending injury, major illness, moving out of state), I can't imagine asking for any money back. The purpose, to me as a student, of buying a quantity of lessons is to save money. Your purpose of selling a block of lessons at a discount is to guarantee that you have lessons that will be used. It is a give and take contract. I think if this is laid out very clearly it would not be a problem. If someone buys a gift certificae it is the same thing. That money doesn't get refunded. It must be used on a purchase. Is there any difference?
Hope you all slept well.

:peace:
 
BestTeacher said:
Actually I am trying to understand your point....Anyways, i do like the bonus lessons idea as well....

I think its very much case by case as well.....

I don't think its punishing, I don;t think any student would look at it this way either. All I am saying is if you do is go to studios sign up to package which makes your lessons cheaper and then want to quit and do the same in another studio.... you are just taking advantage of people's discounts... and probably should be just paying the regular prices then.
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Some studios does not offer other type of payments. You HAVE to buy packages !
 
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