Charge my customers zero?

[stevef]

I'm starting a new venture called "E-learning Bootcamp" which is a 4 week online professional development program about e-learning.

The thing is.. I want the cost to be a voluntary payment by the participants. Reasons: (a) I want them to pay me what they feel the program was worth to them, (b) I know what small business is like - you can't afford high consultancy type services - this way they can pay what they can afford when they can afford it, (c) I believe that my customers will respond to this and (d), this sounds like an innovative idea and I'd like to try it!

Am I crazy? Has anybody you know done this before?

Steve

[kathiemt]

From my own experience I find that people who don't have to pay money for something do not value it. They drop out at the last moment, or don't follow through. They have no investment in whatever that thing is therefore hold no value in it.

Personally I think you should charge them but offer a money back guarantee if they don't feel they got the value.

[Premier Audio Visual]

I am in agreement with Kathy, you are asking for trouble, do you have income from other sources? If you are relying on this to create a decent profit then you should proceed with caution. It could however be a good promotional tool for your business!

[MissieK]

I agree with Kathie. If you are going to let them pay what they think it's worth, then you are undervaluing yourself too. Charge them for it. I know of so many who will see it, take part, and then never pay - not because they don't think it's valuable, but more because they don't think about it, or just want a freebie.

Melissa

[Paul_N]

Totally agree with the other comments - if you don't charge, there's no commitment & no perceived value.

We run seminars & use to offer a "send four, get a fifth delegate free". Guess who were the ones who never showed up, that's right, the freebies! They had not made a commitment, so they didn't care. We on the other hand had expenses to cover for the people who didn't show, so we lost out.

You would be better charging, but offering a money back guarantee. That shows more confidence in what you are providing in the first place & your clients know that if they really don't want to pay, they can get their money back. Very few will actually ask for it.

Paul

[Red Press]

As a one-off I would not hesitate to offer it for free. Given you are just starting out, this would be a good opportunity to "test run" your boot camp and make adjustments for the next boot camp, for which you should start charging.

If you run it perfectly the first time then all the better - you have your course and you have a class full of boot campers that can offer you testimonials for it and spread by word of mouth or otherwise the merits of enrolment to others.

Good luck!

[Burgo]

Nothing is for FREE in this world. so I have been told over and over again.

Not charging for your services is a good way to go broke.

Why not a weekly fee instead of a fee for 4 weeks to start, cash only no refunds.

It is all very noble being nice but I sorry NO one appreciates it in todays society. 25 years ago it may have been appreciated but not today.

Charge what you feel you are worth. The only competition you have is YOU.

[staceybarr]

I recall my business coach of a few years ago spoke at a meeting about leadership. She was wonderful and everyone raved about her. At the event she allowed people to take a copy of her book with them, and if they loved it, to pay for it later.

As much as everyone raved about her (she was great), and everyone left taking a copy of her book, not a single person paid for their copy of the book.

Not sure why. But I really believe what others have said here, that you only value what you invest in. Perhaps it doesn't have to always be money we're investing. But in business, it's hard to find some other form of currency.

I love to offer free teleseminars and webcasts so people can get a taste of what I teach in my programs and workshops, so they know what they're investing in beforehand.

As Kathie suggested, I too offer a money-back guarantee on my information products and workshops too. And like Paul, I find that the freebies are the ones that don't value the experience.

If you're still keen on testing it, perhaps try it small scale, with just one small course?

[kathiemt]

Originally Posted by staceybarr

I recall my business coach of a few years ago spoke at a meeting about leadership. She was wonderful and everyone raved about her. At the event she allowed people to take a copy of her book with them, and if they loved it, to pay for it later.

As much as everyone raved about her (she was great), and everyone left taking a copy of her book, not a single person paid for their copy of the book.

That reminds me of a conference I was speaking at last year. My book was promoted and showing on the table, along with a very clearly marked price for copies. I didn't have anyone looking after the table. Others bought copies but someone clearly just walked off with one. It makes me wonder if people are being born without consciences these days, or perhaps it's getting stifled by all the media stuff and TV.

[JMLBusinessServices]

Hi Steve

When I lived in Prahran, there was a coffee shop which invited customers to eat/drink coffee and at the end pay what they thought it was worth. I believe it was quite successful. But the social conditions of a 20 min lunch/coffee (with peer pressure to pay for the meal, often more than it was worth) are quite different to a four week internet programme.

The internet is virtually anonymous. There is no incentive to pay. There is no outside pressure to encourage the person receiving the service to "do the right thing"

Basically, I don't think that depending on anonyous goodwill will pay the bills.

Penny