Tonight is our “Progress Check” at the dance studio where we take classes. That means that Steven and I will demonstrate three of the dances we have been learning to the owner of the dance studio, then she will pull us into her little office and try to sell us 50 more dance lessons at over $75 a lesson.
We will sit there, and tell her we have decided to end dance lessons to save money, and she will sit there and try to convince us that it is “worth it” and we can afford it.
Steven and I started dance lessons in August to prepare for our wedding dance. We had fun with the lessons so we signed on for more. But once we signed on for more they started pushing us to buy all of their dance studio paraphernalia.
For about three months they have been telling us that we both need to buy $100 dancing shoes. We still haven’t bought them. And we won’t buy them. We tell them “no,” then they act like we can’t dance without them, and that we will never advance to “bronze level” (the 50 lesson level) if we don’t have them. We still say no.
They get upset when we can only schedule one lesson a week. And we have to rearrange our schedules and leave work early just to make it to that one lesson! We never look forward to it anymore because we don’t want to waste what little free time we have with being pressured to buy new dance shoes.
I have a feeling that trying to terminate dance lessons is going to be like breaking up with that persistent boyfriend who keeps calling and saying “are we still broken up?” (Yeah, that happened to me. Did it happen to you?)
i can’t stand it when people pressure me like that or try to guilt trip me for something that i’m paying for…
eww, pushy people bother me! i’m sorry that’s happening to you guys. i say, just do it and get it over with. dancing should be fun, not filled with pressure and stress, right? once you’ve ended it, you’ll probably feel better…even maybe like dancing!
Heehee, the same situation happened to me when i got a physical trainer. He kept pushing me to buy weights, fancy attire, $40 water bottles, etc. Absolutely ridiculous and it toally took all the fun out of the activity that was supposed to relax me. Good luck with your break-up – stay strong 😛
CourtneyInControl – They are so unbelievably pushy! And our logic is, “why should we spend more when we already spend nearly $100 on each lesson?!”
sizzle – I could never be a salesperson! They can be so pushy and nasty just to get a sale! I wish they would take a hint! I hope Steven and I will still find time to dance… 😉
Elaine – That is so funny! You were in almost the exact same situation so you can understand my pain and frustration 😉 And you are right about it taking all the fun out – we usually are enjoying our lesson.. then they start to talk about money and we leave upset! EVERY TIME!!!
If I were you, I would tell them that their pushiness is one of the reasons you are not taking any more classes. Seriously, you are probably not the only one experiencing this and someone needs to let them know!
One of the main reasons E. and I joined the new gym was because we did not once feel like we were being pressured or “up-sold”. It’s amazing how few salespeople get that the pressure tactic turns most people off!
HA! Haven’t had that boyfriend (yet)….but I sure am going to a tanning place for the first time (wanna look good for the office Christmas party…HA) and they sure won’t stop trying to sell their dang tanning lotion to me EVERY time I come in. It’s like, “PEOPLE….WHY WOULD I SPEND $30 TO BUY IT FROM YOU WHEN I CAN GET IT AT WALGREENS FOR $8?!?!?” HA!
Diane – after we refused anymore lessons tonight, she asked us if there was anything we didn’t like. I quickly said “no” before Steven could tell her how much we hate their stupid sales pitches. Then later he told me he wanted to say something to them… oops… I just don’t think it’s worth it – they won’t listen!
Kimberly – ha ha ha! That is like when they try to get you to buy expensive shampoo at the salon! And you’re like, “no, thanks. I’ll stick with the Suave I have at home!” 😉
50 x $75 = GAHHHHHH!!!
Seriously?!?!?
kapgar – actually, when she calculated all 50 lessons she showed us a bill of 5350. Seriously. So it seems the price per lesson went up? 😉
wow, the dance studio just sucked all the fun out of that, didn’t they. Sheesh.