Reasonable Packages?

[Peaches]

In various threads there have been comments about students being pressured to purchase lesson/other packages, and how the number of lessons/cost can be inappropriate.

What, then, can be considered a reasonable number of lessons to purchase at a time? Or a reasonable cost?

 

[fascination]

ours were never less than buying ten at a time at @$60 for ea 50 minute lesson....I am pretty sure that is on the cheap side of reasonable

 

[Purr]

Generally, I purchase lessons 8 or 10 lessons at a time. At $65 per lesson, that's $520 or $650. Sometimes I may add to that, if there's coaching or a competition coming up, or if I want to work on something special. But I don't buy huge blocks of lessons, because 1) it isn't necessary - I pay the same no matter many I buy; 2) you can't predict the future, where you might not be able to take all the lessons you bought; and 3) it's too hard to keep track of how many lessons you used past that.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

For us, there are packages of all sizes. You can start from 5 Units and go to 120 and even more. A Unit is a private plus a group lesson, which means 2 hours of lessons. Supposedly the hour is 45 minutes but it usually stretches a bit more than that. Example: A 10 Unit package costs 380-390 euros (can't recall), a 60 unit package costs 2800-2900 euros. Sounds like a lot but it comes down to 25 euros per hour or so if you calculate it. So it's not that bad.

T_E

 

[Chris Stratton]

What real justification exists for having packages at all?

 

[Peaches]

Convenience--paying for a block of lessons up front, so as to not have to be writing checks every week? month? I just prefer not to have to be discussing the business side of it.

Discounts--some studios will offer a package deal whereby they throw in free group classes/social dances when lessons are purchased in a block.

Imminent price increase--ability to purchase a block of lessons at the current, lesser price. if you're going to use them one way or another, you might as well pay less for them.

At least, those are my reasons for purchasing in blocks.

 

[fascination]

What real justification exists for having packages at all?

word

 

[Purr]

Discounts--some studios will offer a package deal whereby they throw in free group classes/social dances when lessons are purchased in a block.

Some studios will throw in an extra lesson (or lessons) for buying a block of lessons, as well.

 

[fascination]

all true but I have alot of respect for folks who don't care what increment I pay in ...it takes a level of confidence to do that

 

[redhead]

never bought any packages (except for group lessons - because of a 33% discount... and they were not many lessons either)

 

[Chris Stratton]

Some studios will throw in an extra lesson (or lessons) for buying a block of lessons, as well.

That's just playing games with pricing though.

To me a package says that they feel they need to keep your business even if the relationship isn't proving beneficial...

 

[Laura]

My previous Pro/Am teacher used to let me pay for ten lessons at a time, but no discount. The paperwork consisted of me putting a page in a notebook he kept at the studio with the date, number, and amount of the check. Then, we'd both sign under that line every time I had a lesson. And when we had signed ten times, I'd write him another check. I liked not having to write him a check every single time I had a lesson. Wish my new teacher would do that, but he said no -- and I just ran out of checks so now I'm having to pay him cash until my new check order arrives.

 

[fascination]

yep, L. I just like it b/c it is easier for me to keep track of my balance...and less frustrating when he cancels or whatever

 

[Chris Stratton]

I'd have a different feeling about it if it were the student saying "can I write you a check for the next ten lessons?"

But that's not usually the case - most of the time when a package becomes the cause of bad feelings, it was the seller's idea, not the buyer's.

Also, in terms of discounts, when packages are offered with them, usually it's only the effective package rate after the discount is spread over all the lessons that is competitively priced - if the buy a single lesson price is higher, it tends to be out of line with what comparable teachers in the area who only offer single lessons are charging.

 

[Medira]

ours were never less than buying ten at a time at @$60 for ea 50 minute lesson....I am pretty sure that is on the cheap side of reasonable

I pay the same for mine, if I buy a package of 10. It's $65 for a package of 5 (which is what I usually get) and $75 each, otherwise. After what I have paid at other studios and the quality of instruction that I receive, I'm satisfied that I'm getting a really good deal.