My friend Sommer (a designer in Dallas) thinks that if we initially charge, we can also then have coupons or vouchers. "Buy a bike, get free lessons, a $100 value!" Might help sell some bicycles too!

$45 is okay, but [confession] John and I paid $190 a person for a weekend of all day ski lessons a fee weeks ago. "For $190 a person, it better be good!" was what I said.... and it was!

I think most people care more about saving time than saving money. The ski class advertised "Improve your skiing by 3-5 years in a weekend." Now, that's value! The CCC course offers the same kind of knowledge, eliminating years of trial and error. So, we should pitch it more from that angle.

"save 3-5 years" justifies a substantial price, doesn't it?

there were 15-20 people in the ski class and every one said they'd persuade friends to take it in the future. the price definitely didn't hurt enrollment.

aira

On Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 1:56 PM, Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree with Aira and Chip.  The question is, how much should we charge to get the most people to take the course?  If we're going to change the price, we must change it ASAP since we already have pricing info on the course calendar.

Here's how I arrived at the current $45 price.  Three years ago, before I started teaching Traffic Skills 101, I did a very cursory search of the web for other cities' pricing.  I found prices at 3 cities.  Prices ranged from $30 to $90.  $90 was in CA.  $30 was in NC.  So, I set a strawman price of $60.  Then, on rides with MonBikeClub cyclists, I asked 6 riders separately what they thought of the $60 price.  A couple said it was too high but $30-35 seemed reasonable.  I set the price at $45.  

I think it would be an excellent idea for someone to do more research on prevailing pricing.

Just FYI, if we teach 4 participants/class with 2 instructors getting paid $25/hr, we'd have to charge $163/participant to break even (includes text books and other necessary expenses).  If we had 8 participants, we would break even at $89/participant.  So, Ryan, don't get your hopes up for a pay raise.  (Remember, the grant absorbs losses.)

So, what should we charge?

Frank


On Feb 8, 2011, at 5:41 PM, Ryan Post wrote:

Ya, I’m fine with that, then you can pay the instructors more!
 
That principle was actually talked about during the LCI class, put a value on something and people want it more.  However, I’d still argue that it doesn’t matter if they don’t know about the course. So problem is still getting word out.  I wonder if businesses are willing to incorporate it into their bonus programs?  I know my old company required everyone to take some extra classes to get bonuses.
 
On Feb 8, 2011, at 5:40 PM, Chip Wamsley wrote:

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Aira Loren Burkhart <airaloren@gmail.com>
Date:  Tue, 8 Feb 2011 17:35:32 -0500

I agree with Aira, putting a value on the course is important and if people pay, they will show up.  I think we are already requiring folks to pay first, and then complete the course to get money back--correct?
Chip

From: Aira Loren Burkhart [mailto:airaloren@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 5:36 PM
To: chip@wamsleycycles.com
Cc: Jim Rye; Gunnar Shogren; Marilyn Newcome; Ryan Post; Elizabeth Shogren; Hugh.Kierig@mail.wvu.edu; chip wamsley; Don Spencer; Paul Becker; Frank Gmeindl; Bicycle Board
Subject: Re: Course participation
 

I know this will sound funny, but maybe this course should cost more? 

(I'm just brainstorming, so you might disagree) 

There is definitely a psychology to pricing and making the course free/very cheap might be making it seem like it's not an important class or like the content is low quality or something. 

Maybe the course should be advertised as costing $100 or another high number more similar to classes people pay to take, like dancing, or music, or art classes? Charging a lot might make it seem exclusive and legitimize the course content. 

I think people pay more attention and have better attendance when they have already committed their money to something. They have to then "get their money's worth" by working hard and focusing. People sell out expensive rock concerts but you can't expect to "pack the park" for a free community concert. And that's because it's free, not because the content is different.

Is this making sense to anyone else?

"You get what you pay for" and so far, no one is getting [from us] what they aren't paying for, right?

So, let's charge a lot for it and see if people would prefer to pay to play.

aira

On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 5:16 PM, Chip Wamsley <chip@wamsleycycles.com> wrote:
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Frank Gmeindl <fgmeindl@gmail.com>
Date:  Tue, 8 Feb 2011 15:52:54 -0500

Frank et al,

I think the new business cards will be a help, 1) if bike board members hand them out to friends to direct them to the website to get the CCC class schedule--I'll be able to use lots at the shop 2) an 8 1/2 x 11 poster on heavier paper that could be put up at the bike shops, rec center, coop, moose, black bear, laundromats,  around campus etc. . . to briefly describe course and drive people to the class--the same poster in slide form on the city TV channel should also work well.

Chip

>Education Committee members,
>
>The Mar - Sep 2010 courses are scheduled at  http://bikemorgantown.com/calendar.php .  Recommendations for getting people to attend?
>
>Ads in the Dominion Post and Daily Athenaeum might make sense although I'd say last year, the ad in the paper actually brought less than 4 participants.
>
>Other ideas?
>
>Frank