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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we should have got a discount?

19 replies

TianiTargaryen · 29/03/2022 12:49

I just want to start by saying I am by no means opposed to paying full price, nor do I want to undervalue someone for their work, especially those who are self-employed. I am self-employed myself so I understand the struggles etc.

I have been looking into getting a 1-1 tennis coach, I found a lovely, well-reviewed coach who charges £40 per 45 minutes. The coach requires that you book 6 sessions in advance, so the total bill was £240. I was happy to pay the fee. Then, my cousin mentioned she would like to do tennis coaching with me. We have done lots of things together in the past (personal training, pilates). I messaged the coach and asked if my cousin could join our session, the exact same day/time, so it would be 2-1 instead of 1-1. The coach said that was fine, and sent a revised invoice of £480!

I haven't replied yet as I'm not really sure what to say. I'm not expecting the coach to do it for £40 for both of us, but surely asking for double the price (exact same time and day) is unreasonable. When we have done joint lessons before (for example the personal training) we were charged a 1/3 on top, which we were happy to pay... Charging us both £40 each gives us no financial incentive to do it together, we might as well both just do it separately and take up 1 hour and a half of the coaches time?

As said, I am not stingy, I am self-employed myself. If I had two clients prepared to do the same session with little variation I wouldn't charge them both the price for 1-1, there would be some discount involved as I would still be making above my usual rate.

AIBU? Have people had joint lessons before and how does it usually work fee wise?

OP posts:
YoYoYoYoSup · 29/03/2022 12:51

Yeah I don't think he should be charging double. I'd reply saying OK rather than attend the sessions together can we do one after then other since there's no point splitting the time together if it's the same price. Maybe then he'll realise he's then losing another 45 session in his day. Bit weird anyway. He couldn't give you full 121 coaching if you're there together so it shouldn't be double the price.

emmathedilemma · 29/03/2022 13:04

I agree with you, most things like that have a "discount" or cheaper rate per person if you share them. You pay the premium for having one to one coaching / tuition so if there's more people it should be less.

nancy75 · 29/03/2022 13:08

I run a tennis club, no it is not usual to charge double when doing a private lesson for 2 people. The normally the coach would charge about £10 extra for the extra person.
I'm interested to know roughly where you live - £40 for 45 minutes is VERY expensive for a private lesson (unless it's a performance coach) I'm in London so used to everything costing a lot!

SickAndTiredAgain · 29/03/2022 13:12

YANBU, I’d have expected the 1-1 to be at a premium, with 2-1 being less per person.

Usinlimbo · 29/03/2022 13:32

I give tennis lessons and you definitely are not in the wrong. She should make 10 - 20% more as 2 people is more work and you have to have the experience to teach effectively for 2 different characters, playing levels and styles but not 100% more.

Dutchesss · 29/03/2022 13:34

YANBU
And as you said, you may as well do separate lessons and get your money's worth.

LordEmsworth · 29/03/2022 13:36

My PT charges the same, regardless of number. Some of his clients like to do a small group and it costs the same as 1:1. I'd be asking what more you're getting for the extra money, because it isn't his time...

Usinlimbo · 29/03/2022 13:49

@LordEmsworth

My PT charges the same, regardless of number. Some of his clients like to do a small group and it costs the same as 1:1. I'd be asking what more you're getting for the extra money, because it isn't his time...
I disagree, if you are teaching effectively, there is a lot more work teaching 2, 3 or 4 people. The pro is also running a business and presumably trying to make a living, and it should be more financially viable to do 2 or 3 or 4 people so that you get more for multiple clients than for 1. However the rate should not be double, just an additional 5 quid or so pp.
LordEmsworth · 29/03/2022 14:04

@Usinlimbo - sorry but I don't understand what's wrong with asking the coach why he's charging double?

As PP have pointed out, the 2 of them could do a session each and take twice as much of his time but not give him any more money. Why shouldn't he explain to paying customers why they're not getting less value by doing a single session?

stripeyflowers · 29/03/2022 14:08

YANBU. I agree. You are bringing custom to him he probably would not have had and it is in the same time slot.

Beautiful3 · 29/03/2022 14:36

I would ask why there's no discount, in a nice way. Otherwise book separately, there's no incentive (discount) to do it together.

DarkBlueEyes · 29/03/2022 14:41

That is definitely not right. I'd probably message to ask if it was a typo. And yes, £40 for 45 mins is VERY expensive. I'm within the M25 and pay £35 for one hour. I wouldn't be surprised if it were a tenner more, but double? That's nuts!

Crunchymum · 29/03/2022 15:16

1:1 swimming lessons are the same.

Double the price for half the 1:1 experience. There is no incentive at all, unless you are very short of time?

CloudPop · 29/03/2022 16:05

I've been paying for tennis lessons for many years and the price per hour has never changed if it is 2 people rather than 1.

Usinlimbo · 29/03/2022 16:54

[quote LordEmsworth]@Usinlimbo - sorry but I don't understand what's wrong with asking the coach why he's charging double?

As PP have pointed out, the 2 of them could do a session each and take twice as much of his time but not give him any more money. Why shouldn't he explain to paying customers why they're not getting less value by doing a single session?[/quote]
I agreed with the OP that the coach is charging too much. Nothing wrong with asking why the coach is charging double.

Original poster
TianiTargaryen · 29/03/2022 16:55

I have contacted another coach (£35 per hour) who is happy to charge £5 extra an hour for my cousin. It feels a little awkward with the original coach now, as I'd got far down the process in agreeing location / day / time etc. Not sure what to say back to them really, other than I wasn't expecting to pay the same price as for 1-1...

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 29/03/2022 17:00

Contact, as soon as possible as you are backtracking on arrangements, and say that while you expected an extra charge for the 2nd person you weren't expecting an additional full 121 charge and therefore investigated other options. You have now been offered the new price and feel it is much better value and so will be going with that and won't need his services.

Or, if you don't want to burn any bridges...

Put him off (due to covid), go with the new coach and see if you feel they are good enough and then do the above if they are.

nancy75 · 29/03/2022 17:19

The new coach sounds much more reasonably priced & an hour is better than 45 minutes for a lesson.
What’s the cancellation policy for the other one? Have you had your 6 lessons or will you need to get money back?

Thewindwhispers · 29/03/2022 17:30

@YoYoYoYoSup

Yeah I don't think he should be charging double. I'd reply saying OK rather than attend the sessions together can we do one after then other since there's no point splitting the time together if it's the same price. Maybe then he'll realise he's then losing another 45 session in his day. Bit weird anyway. He couldn't give you full 121 coaching if you're there together so it shouldn't be double the price.
I’d do this. It’s very cheeky of him to charge you both full price when you’re each only getting half his attention. Either he discounts or you do the sessions back to back is what is normal.
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