Should Coacing Be a Refundable Proposition?

I make it clear right up front and have them sign an iron clad contract...there
are NO REFUNDS ON MY TIME.

If they don't like it, they can go look for somebody else.

It's a moot point with me anyway because my screening process is so
strict that I turn down a good % of the people who apply for my services.

You can usually weed the problem ones out by the way they approach you
if you know what to look for.

But to answer your question, NO, there should be NO refunds on your time.

A teacher can teach, but it is up to the student to absorb and apply. Coaching not working is someone not using what they are paying for; but they can't give back the information...so I'd say no refunds!

Andie

When I do coaching, if the client has all the steps documented and does not get the desired, pre-determined outcome ... I refund.

Quitting half way through would make it impossible to document all the steps.

Troy

agree with both. either make it extremely clear that there are absoultley NO refunds, or make it clear that in order to get a refund, you have to provide satisfactory proof that the steps advised were taken.

In this case, i would do a pro-rated refund to at least sort the matter and show some good will. Obviously, the person that is asking for the refund is in a different state mentally and no amount of coaching may help until they fix their mindset.

I would always do a refund policy upfront on the site up page for your services. At least then clients know what to expect.

I know a guy who provide a coaching service, 7 days no ask refund and 30 days 50% refund, even some schools provide free trial courses, right?

When someone pays for coaching they are paying for the coach's time. If they do not like what the coach teaches them then that's still too bad. They should of done a better job selecting the coach is all. It's not like the coach can get a refund on the time he or she spent teaching the student.

All terms have to be clearly stated up front (especially the "no refunds" term).

If someone got 1 month of coaching and before the start of the second session fell ill or had a decent reason as to why they couldn't continue, I would issue a refund.

Otherwise time spent is just that...can't get it back.

As for a desired outcome....they have those in IM? I mean of course there's a desired outcome, but can anyone guarantee the outcome? Doubt it.

Mike

Can I ask a refund for an engineering degree because I couldn't get a job afterwards?

I've given up what this thread is trying to teach me.

So I'm requesting a refund because this thread isn't working for me.

It also depends on what the coach promised.

If it's something like guaranteeing results, then I would think Troy's suggestion seems fair enough

But if what the coach promised was to basically teach them what the coach knew/did before, then it's a case of no refund. Just my 2 cents.

You cannot get the time back when you are coaching, so I strictly give No refunds when it comes to coaching, and another point is ALWAYS make sure you get the money upfront, as the old saying goes "Time is Money!"

Why should I refund my time and knowledge?

Not everybody can be a eagle, some have to stay a seagull.

Here's what I'd say...

As clearly outlined before the coaching began, I do not offer refunds on my time. As you can probably understand, when I spend time with a mentee - I provide my time and expertise. My years of experience have a certain value, however, my time is priceless. I gave you my time, which could have been spent with other students, running my other businesses or with my family.

[optional]

I have calculated that I have spent xxxx hours working with you. The coaching was for yyyy hours and cost zzzz.

As a gesture of goodwill, I am refunding a proportion of the coaching fee - proportionate to the remainder of time owed.

I consider this to be more than fair, as I have shared my very valuable experience with you - and feel that if you follow the steps outlined you will have an advantage in your business.

Kindest regards,
Karl.

My opinion is, the customer should not ask for refund and thus your friend should not agree with the refund. As far as I know coaches are just our guide since you take time listening to the coach advice it's up to you to either implement the advice or not....Coach is just a guide and they really can't tell what lies ahead...

I DO have a written guarantee. 100% total refund.

After one year.

If they drop out at any time during the year, NO refund.
If they don't follow the instructions. NO refund.
If they die. NO refund.

But other than that, 100% total refund after one year of following my instructions.

They KNOW this before they pay.

Works for me.

gjabiz

I think a good coach and teacher has to motivate his students to take action
but with that said it's ultimately to the student to implement.
And some students will not try at all once they realize
there's more work involved on their part than they thought or
for whatever reason they might decide that's not right for them.

The hours have been spent already so you can't refund that
but if the student actually gave his best and implemented all the things
he learned during the coaching and didn't get the results you promised to deliver
I think you should give him a refund because you have failed as a coach.

And you also have to make it very clear upfront what exactly are you offering.
And what will be expected out of them so they know what are they getting into.

So no one gets dissappointed.

depends on lots of things really;
what was agreed up front ref refunds
how long into the course is the person
what was used to measure the persons ability to successfully complete the course should they sign up. i.e. in a lot of technical courses a prometric test is not un common
if the course was for say 12 months and they completed 3 months then I would refund 9 months worth of money assuming it was paid up front
and lastly bad news travels a lot faster and wider than good news

i think there should be a clause. the person has to actually apply the knowledge before any chance of a refund. and if the product is good, then once applied, a refund becomes moot

Paying someone for a job is like paying joe blow to produce an ebook cover for me.
I pay him for the JOB and it doesn't matter if it takes him 10 minutes or 10 hours
he still only gets $xx for the task.

I've hired people on a job type basis. I would hire people to come in and
remove staples from files before we created negatives. They had to
complete 20 boxes before they could leave/get paid. Some finished in 5 hours
and others it took longer but they all received the same amount of pay.

Have a Great Day!
Michael

No way. Once the coaching session has been done, I can't get that time back.

No, because you can't refund someone's time.

If I send you a product and it doesn't work, you can just send it back.

If I give you my time and it doesn't work, can you give me back the time?

Absolutely no refunds for coaching in my opinion.

Here's the sad thing in that refund request:



REALLY? OK then, off you go.

As far as refunds, it would of course depend on what the coach offered. I wouldn't personally offer a full refund with a coaching gig - perhaps a partial for unused time as others have suggested, but if you used it, you pay for it IMHO.

For those considering a coach - evaluate carefully before you just jump on the next coaching WSO. Realize it's an investment in yourself that will require a LOT from YOU and from your coach.

For the coaches... well, you probably just need a hug. It's not easy doing any kind of training or mentoring.

For about 18 months, I taught US Marines how to use computers - the big wig officer sitting right beside the lowly private. Try to balance that act, knowing if you embarrass the officer, he or she can ruin your career.

This is kinda like going to college. You can't start college, pay them for a semester and then decide halfway through the semester that you don't want to do it anymore. I mean, you're welcome to make that decision, but a college isn't going to give you a refund. I feel like internet coaching is in the same boat because it is ultimately the same thing. If you don't think you will have the will power to complete a program, don't sign up for it. If you do and still want to quit, you should be willing to eat your losses and not put the coach out of their time and money - because they did their job.

Dear [NAME],

Thank you for participating in my coaching program up to this point. I truly hope you were able to learn something of value, and that you will experience much success in all of your future endeavors.

As a token of goodwill, I am including one final coaching lesson at no additional cost to you.

Final Lesson: Don't assume you can get refunds because you choose to quit.

Now, I'm sure you will agree that is a very valuable lesson, indeed. Due to its incredible value, I believe we can call it even.

Sincerley,
[COACH NAME]

. . . doesn't it depend upon what the
coach guaranteed in his sales-copy?

I'm not thinking about if he wrote that
he would refund a student's fees for
any specific reason, but rather did the
coach make a firm promise to improve
his students' businesses?

When you enrol in a college no-one
guarantees you will become a doctor
at the conclusion of your study.

If the college fails to deliver the material
in the prospectus, however, you have
several ways to seek redress.

Some on-line make pretty substantial
claims for their services.

For example suppose a coach decided
to 'blind-sell' their service but claimed that
the techniques they were offering were
original and new.

Subsequently the students discovered
these 'new' topics were about how to
set up an AWeber account, create a
youTube Channel, or a Facebook Fan
Page?

Isn't the buyer entitled to a refund because
they've been deceived, even if they 'fell'
for the coach's sales hook?

It seems to me quite simple. If someone
signs up for coaching, takes part in the
first session and dissatisfied then s/he
should be able to contact the coach and
work something out.

On the other hand if the person waits until
several modules have been delivered before
asking questions then the coach really
has every right to refuse to refund them.

Stephen

Well said my friend. I am sure the guys on here who give coaching have a lot of integrity and do their best to do the right thing by their students.
I have a different experience and not a good one with coaching. I won't mention their name as I think they will delete it so I will say it was a coaching company based in Utah. I paid US$4,500 for a course. I signed a contract and they promised me that they would help me make back my investment in 6-12 months. I was all excited and motivated and thought I was in for a really good experience. Having no clue about web design, traffic etc, I thought everything was gonna be sorted. When I started I found out I was only going to have 12 thirty minute sessions. After that I was left on my own and told to email them if I needed to ask a question. I also had access to some web tutorials but that involves just watching a video. I can get that other places for free. I was rather frustrated and angry as this kind of program is not worth $4,500 from any fair minded person's point of view and to be honest I haven't made the money I spent back. I barely got through a bit of web design and I found out later how crap my website has been looking. I didn't even get to learn about traffic from them. I learnt most of my traffic knowledge from forums and blogs. Basically I am giving my account of why in some cases a refund should be given, especially when what was promised and what was delivered are vastly far apart. I plan to pursue the matter further and see what I can do to get my money back. They are palying harball but I am not going to let them off. I will publish review articles everywhere if I have to.
I learnt a lesson to be very careful and not to trust anyone lightly. I should have vetted them more but when you have some conversations with them and they have a contract you think everything is gonna be ok. Especially when they are based in the US, a country I respect a lot. The funny thing is the contract was stored online and now it has disappeared and they won't let me look at it LOL.
I am sure some of you may not believe me but that is ok. It is still the truth.