HELP! DID I Just get Ripped Off!!

[1fastmx5]

I just went to a Tiger Schulmann’s Karate dojo and joined up. The costs was after a speacial discount 1300.00 for 65 lessons. If I go twice a week that's like $160.00 roughly. Looking around here this price seems insane. WTF! I believe I have 3 days to back out without obligation. I really like the mixed martial arts they teach and the instructors but it seems too be way higher then I ever anticipated. This was at a Brooklyn NY school. What should I do. Does this sound right?? Thanks for your thoughts.

[Draven Chen Zhen]

wtf !!! I can have 3 lessons a week for a hole year for 400 €

 

and € and $ are alsmost the same...

[italian_guy]

Ok I know that the NY area is expensive but 1300$ is very expensive IMO. For something like 32 weeks (65 lessons twice a week) which is about 8 months I pay 320 E (I do tai chi chuan) which is about 400$.

 

You should make a search of how much karate costs in your area, in the past we had a thread about costs of MA tutorship you can start looking there

[White Warlock]

$1300 / 65 lessons = $20 a lesson ... sounds reasonable

 

$20 * 2 = $40 per week, or $160 a month

 

$20 * 4 = $80 per week, or $320 a month

 

One thing you didn't mention... how long is a lesson? Five hours? Five minutes? Are the lessons private?

 

If a lesson is 2 hours or less, and they are group lessons, this is not even remotely a deal ($10 per hour). Get your money back and move on.

 

If it is 2 hours or more, and they are private lessons... it's not a rip off, but it is better if you go for a standard group lesson plan. Private lessons don't benefit you too much at the early stages of learning, so you'll be wasting your money.

 

If a lesson isn't defined, i.e., they don't state how long, and whether it is group or private, then get your money back. You may get 65 lessons on your first day, in 30 minutes.... and there goes $1300. *poof*

 

I, personally, don't touch contracts. I pay by the month, or not at all. There are plenty of 'excellent' instructors that can provide a monthly program.

[1fastmx5]

Here are the details as told to me:

 

1 hour lessons

 

Group lessons

 

includes testing, promotion, and belt fees (how valuable are these?)

 

I can't imagine how this very well known franchise could be in business when there rates seem so out of line with everyone else. It's easily double what most seem to cost and that's assuming no more then twice a week. I even got a corporate discount, as it would have been an additional $250.00 for a total of $1500.00 for 65 (group) lessons Just curious, should one treat these schools like dealing with a car saleperson at a dealership. I mean to say, do they change prices from person to person in trying to gauge what one can afford? Thanks again for all the quick replies.

[White Warlock]

Some of the most successful martial art franchises get rich off people's ignorance.

 

Yes, get your money back. You're in an area with a good variety of 'skilled' instructors. No need to get suckered in by a mcdojo.

[WolverineGuy]

Belt tests can range from 20-30 bucks a piece. It sounds a bit expensive still, if you ask me.

[Draven Chen Zhen]

... No need to get suckered in by a mcdojo.

 

I'm from Europe, what do you mean with mcdojo, those this realy exist or is this just a funny name to discribe a bad dojo?

[1fastmx5]

From what I gathered here a Mcdojo is defined as either an expensive highly commercialized Dojo, or a Dojo that values money before training, safety and proper testing when awarding belts. It describes a bad Dojo, It's prefix stemming from McDonalds(bad for you) I would assume.

Edited April 1, 2004 by 1fastmx5

[Draven Chen Zhen]

From what I gathered here a Mcdojo is defined as either an expensive commercialized Dojo, or a Dojo that values money before training, safety and proper testing when awarding belts. It describes a bad Dojo and the prefix is McDonalds most likely (bad for you)

hihi