Franchise Pressure

[Yarnist]

For those of you dancing at a franchise, or who used to dance there, how did you manage the sales pressure from your instructors?
I'm a people pleaser, and saying no is hard for me. Having said that, I do enforce limits and boundaries, and I also communicate my goals and expectations. Somehow though, my words appear to become forgotten at my studio. I find myself confronted with a push for a competition, showcase, mini match, even though I explained my situation clearly to the instructors. I have been trying to handle it with grace so far, but find it more and more off-putting, and it impacts on my joy for the reason I go there in the first place: learning how to dance. Going elsewhere is not an option without embarking on a 90 mile commute one way. Is it time for a difficult conversation? Have they ever helped in these situations?
Thanks for weighing in!!

 

[IndyLady]

Been there, done that, still doing it.

Don't over-explain your circumstances. "No thanks, that's not in my budget" is one of my favorite phrases. They are not interested in understanding you, they want to overcome your objections and make the sale. Be clear and direct about what you can and are willing to do (and vice versa). Don't be afraid to repeat the above phrase, or sit in silence if you've already said it three times. And you can still do that with a smile and pleasant demeanor if that's what comes naturally to you.

 

[RiseNFall]

I dance at a franchise and have danced at two different branches. At the current one, the instructors are told point-blank to not do that high-pressured over selling thing. The other one had teachers who did do that. I was very fortunate in that my primary teacher told other people to back off and leave me alone.

IF you have somebody there that you trust enough, have them help you decide how to spend your dancing budget. All, or most, of those things they are trying to sell you are good for your dancing, but you can obviously only do so many of them. By planning it out ahead, you are not faced with all of the "should I do this or not" decisions that come up during the year.

Finally, it's absolutely fair to talk to the manager and/or your primary teacher and explain that the sales pitches are not going over well. People have quit dancing over this, sometimes because it makes the overall experience too unpleasant and sometimes because they end up overspending.

In the studios' (very, very) slight defense, some students actually LIKE being talked into doing things. With me, my "no's" just become more entrenched.

 

[LateToTheDance]

I see the pressure at our franchise, and I just say no. I say it politely, time after time, year after year. The minute that I realize I'm doing something that I really had no interest in preparing for and doing or really don't want to do at all, and paying for it as well, is the minute that I'll really be upset with myself.

Of course I have no idea how our local franchise's sales pressure compares to other studios. I realize they need to be profitable to stay in business, and I love most aspects of my franchise, but as soon as it stops being fun I will stop taking lessons there. We just like to dance socially every week, but at a higher skill level than we can find elsewhere nearby, and so we take weekly lessons. But the extras - comps and showcases in particular - just aren't for us.

I also think that they would rather continue to have you as a regular student paying just for regular lessons - say once a week - and little else, than to lose your presence and revenue altogether.

 

[Well Rounded]

I told my teacher I wanted to be made aware of all opportunities but I don't want high pressure. I even want him to tell me why he thinks something would be a good choice for me. If my answer is "maybe", then they are free to ask me again. If I say "no", then they are not to keep after me about it. I made it clear that such approach would result in me leaving the studio. If I had the money, I would do everything they offer. There is no need to sell me on anything. It is sad for me to have to decline opportunities and when I have to decline the same ones over and over, it is like rubbing salt in a wound. I've been there 7 years and they have respected my boundaries ever since I established them.

 

[scullystwin42]

I always just refer to my budget as well. They know I will do what I can afford and what I want, and don't want to be pushed. If they do ask more than once, they absolutely know that I will come back with counter-proposal on costs! (and sometimes, that's accepted, so win/win) But again, I've been with this owner for almost 8 years, so they are used to it.

I will say that when I do agree to do something that i've said no to for the past several years, their shocked reaction is hilarious.

But I see other students who do seem to like to be asked to do things, and are willing to do them. Some are people who just can't say no, and some are people who do like to be cajoled. I agree with the other commenters that you have to be clear and direct about it, and let them know what the consequences are if they don't follow your requests.

I had a big meeting last year about what I wasn't getting from the studio, and I had contacted other teachers in the area for availability and had a plan to leave if we couldn't come to an agreement. I'm glad we were able to work it out, but you do have to be really willing to just go.