Beginner's Course Fees - what's fair?

[clickerati]

What do you think is a fair price to pay for a beginner's course? Greater London clubs are charging between £30 and £70. That latter seems extreme.</p>

So what's fair?</p>

[Doc_Haynes]

£70 is steeeep, but what are you getting for that - is it just the 6 lessons? My club charge £40 with a £5 discount off your first years club fees if you subsequently join the club. We normally have 20 on each course and are always oversubscribed so our price would appear to be fair.

A quick look round the websites of the clubs here in the North West the average is in the £25 - £30 range.

[clickerati]

Yes, my jaw dropped and I had to ask twice when I heard the fee. I wanted to make sure it didn't include club fees, etc. But he said £12/session for the six week course. All the other clubs in my area charge £30-£40.</p>

Would I be better off elsewhere? What would be the justification of £70 if all the others are half the price?</p>

[Doc_Haynes]

The course is of a national standard content, in theory at least. You should be taught the basics of archery and coached to a level where you can compentently and safely shoot by yourself at a club unsupervised.

Most of the Archery Shops in the UK are charging £20 to £25 per hour and maybe this club is in competition with one them, therefore £70 would to be an attractive alternative, other than that I really couldn't begin to justify that sort of price. Most, if not all clubs, use beginners courses as a means of raising funds, and we don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg!

[clickerati]

Well, we have Quicks nearby, but there are so many other clubs in this area that charge £30-£40 for the same beginners course. That's why I was a bit shocked and excepted a club fee to be included. Would the fee reflect the level of coaching?</p>

[Barry C]

Im not sure the level of coaching is relevant at beginner level. Most clubs#can get you shooting arrows in a respectable fashion to begin with. I never realised public#clubs charge beginners so much, we have been coaching our private non-student members for free with free equipment use for as long as they wish!

[Haywain]

My sons club ran a beginners course recently and charged £30 a head. That seems the norm among most, for £70 I would want personal one on one tuition.

[TJ Mason]

My club charges £20 for ages 18 and under, £30 for over 18s. That's six lessons, and it nearly always means one-to-one tuition. £70 to me sounds like a club in financial difficulties is trying to gouge beginners. Not good for the sport.

[clickerati]

Barry C - 15/4/2005 12:56 AM ...we have been coaching our private non-student members for free with free equipment use for as long as they wish!

</p>

Wow! Sign me up for that course!!</p>

Free is the best fee!</p>

[radsbow]

From what I have seen around here in the north, the norm is about £30 for 6 lessons. The club I attend charges £30 for 4, 2 hour sessions, with plenty of qualified coaches on hand.