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$8,000 coaching program.....is this request excessive?

by Ronnie Wright
19 replies
Hey there, one of the members of a local IM group I'm apart of is considering joining a coaching program. She requested that the coach provide her with 5-7 references of past students. She stated the coach told her, your request is excessive but he would allow her to speak with 1-2 people.

I think 5-7 is perfect for spending that kind of money. What do you think?
#coaching #excessive #programis #request
  • Profile picture of the author ElijahM
    I don't think 5-7 references for that kind of money is excessive at all. Without those references, I wouldn't even consider it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      No, but on the other hand, does this person have a sales page? Normally, someone will already have a sales page, either offline or online. That SHOULD have testimonials. If it does, then yes, I think her request is excessive.

      If the coach hasn't offered any other testimonials, then it's not excessive.

      Michelle
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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    $8,000 is a down payment on a house, not a coaching fee. Yeeps! ;-)
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    • Profile picture of the author petelta
      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      $8,000 is a down payment on a house, not a coaching fee. Yeeps! ;-)
      You forum readers are funny... $8,000 for a house payment can only return so much on your investment... $8,000 for the right coach can return unlimited amounts of money for the rest of your life.

      both decisions require research and good choices to get the return.

      5-7 references isn't out of line at all. If someone is charging that much per month, they should definitely have already coached more than that to success.

      Travis
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        I just totally disagree with this. Unlimited amounts of money can be on the Internet without having to spend 8K.

        Just hanging around here and keeping your ears open and researching people on the Web who will actually help you for free is a good way to start. ( And trust me there are)

        Keep your wallets closed


        Originally Posted by petelta View Post

        You forum readers are funny... $8,000 for a house payment can only return so much on your investment... $8,000 for the right coach can return unlimited amounts of money for the rest of your life.

        both decisions require research and good choices to get the return.

        5-7 references isn't out of line at all. If someone is charging that much per month, they should definitely have already coached more than that to success.

        Travis
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      $8,000 is a down payment on a house, not a coaching fee. Yeeps! ;-)
      Many consultants charge a lot more than that. It may be an investment you wouldn't personally make, but others have and will. It's all relevant to what you are trying to accomplish and what the consultant is offering.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnnyNight
    Hi Ronnie,

    How would U know if even the 1 - 2 references are legit...

    U would need to see some results from the any reference other than just good words..
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      I've given references, if the prospect insists, but they never turn into clients.

      Really, what they want is someone else to give them the information without paying for the coaching. That's based on the questions my clients get asked.

      I have a website full of testimonials. Any more, I just direct them there.


      And to me, references are just buddies that are willing to lie for you. Do you think someone will give you a reference where there is any chance that the reference won't sing the Guru's praises?
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    • Profile picture of the author Ronnie Wright
      That's what I told her.

      I said if you speak with people, you want to see concrete evidence.


      Originally Posted by JohnnyNight View Post

      Hi Ronnie,

      How would U know if even the 1 - 2 references are legit...

      U would need to see some results from the any reference other than just good words..
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      Retired Internet Marketer.
      Gone Fishing....
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Spending $8K for a coach she doesn't know enough about to make that investment without talking to references she doesn't know...

    Along with demands for "hard proof", as if prior successes will magically transfer over to her...

    This has all the makings of a future complaint thread - from either direction.
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  • Profile picture of the author Devin X
    Banned
    Sounds like your friend is being taken for a ride.
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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    Tell your friend to get on the Warrior Forum and find a coach, lol.

    Seems odd that the "coach" would say that 5-7 references were excessive. I think it's perfectly okay to ask for these, especially if she has no prior relationship with this coach.

    However, I'm concerned the "references" he will give her will not be true references.

    When it comes to coaching you have to be very very very careful as there are lots of sharks out there that will take the money and run.

    I had a friend that partnered up with a "coach" to provide coaching on the backside of one of his launches. They were only charging like $2,000 but the "coach" disappeared after he received his cut of the fees. My friend was then stuck with about $20,000 in charge backs and PayPal disputes as the students started figuring out what happened.

    You might just tell your friend to find another coach altogether. There are plenty of legit coaches that would (and could) provide tons of references.

    I wish your friend good luck.

    Cheers,
    Coby
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  • Profile picture of the author Luke Corden
    I wouldn't base an 8K layout on references. I would base it on the quality of past work. I would rather see a portfolio or the clear success of student. I have a mentor and he has been exactly what I needed. He hasn't disappointed at all and I based my investment on him on the success of his business ventures (including the coaching program) and the success and style of success of his former students. I would suggest doing a bit more homework before investing. Also, make sure you like them. They are going to become an important part of your life.

    I am currently blogging about this. Feel free to stop by.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    We don't know what the coaching is for, or what OP's friend is doing
    and wants to do.

    There better be other ways to check a coach at that level.
    In terms of performance, experience doing/teaching what OP's
    friend wants to do, and "fit".
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Originally Posted by Ronnie Wright View Post

    Hey there, one of the members of a local IM group I'm apart of is considering joining a coaching program. She requested that the coach provide her with 5-7 references of past students. She stated the coach told her, your request is excessive but he would allow her to speak with 1-2 people.

    I think 5-7 is perfect for spending that kind of money. What do you think?
    At that level, I would ask for verifiable case studies, instead of just references.
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    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    If I were spending that much money on a coach (and this year I am spending several times that amount on a coach) it would at least be someone I had heard of before or had some sort of rep in the industry. As EBR stated as well, references only mean so much since he is obviously not going to pass on any references or testimonials that were NOT in his favor. So I would be looking more for results based proof, such as verifiable case studies, and I would also be doing a lot of unbiased research online.

    Let us know what happens :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Jerry Higgins
    I'm thinking that an internet marketer should spend 8K on a coaching program only if they already have an up-and-running business with some decent cash flow. A good coach could then take them to the next level.

    If your friend is a newbie, spending that much for coaching out of the gate would be excessive I feel. It's not that hard to figure out what to do.... it's not doing it that holds people back. Throwing money at a problem doesn't usually solve it.

    If your friend feels that she really needs a coach, she might be better off finding one that she's already somewhat familiar with.... then she has as a good idea who she's getting involved with.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I said if you speak with people, you want to see concrete evidence.
      That's awkward - how do you ask someone to spend their time giving you a reference for a program they paid for....and then expect them to provide "concrete evidence" of their own business?

      If the coach's sales page and the references provided aren't enough for your friend to make a decision - it could be she's not ready for this program or for this price point. If the money is a stretch for her - she shouldn't do it.

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author cuie
    I just couldn't justify cost that high. If you really require $8,000 to figure out how to make money on the internet then I 'd suggest keeping their day job.

    $8,000 is totally fine if you are making $100,000 / year from IM and you need a coach to take it to the next level. And at that point you'd probably know that coach already by his/her reputation.

    The whole thing sound so shady that I'd skip it.
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