Because of the SARS-2 outbreak/ lockdowns, I’m not allowed to ride and my instructor isn’t able to leave her house. She’s been helping me for about a year and I know her income must have gone to near zero.
Do you think it’s a reasonable idea to offer to pre-pay for lessons? I don’t want to be insensitive or offensive.
I don’t think it’s weird. Some trainers offer package deals and one part of that is usually pre-payment for the package. Even if that’s not her usual practice, I think she’d appreciate you asking about doing that to help her keep some cash flow going.
Your trainer will be delighted if you do this.
I’ve done that numerous times in the past. Under the current circumstances, I think it’s a very nice thought.
Nice idea. Same idea as purchasing a gift card for a restaurant or your favorite small business right now. Or sending your gardener or other helper a couple months worth of their usual fee when you pay them for the current month.
I can’t imagine she’d be offended. I already made that offer to my dressage and jumping coaches, and they both thanked me for thinking of them.
A number of us at the barn where I take lessons are doing this. I am paying my usual monthly lesson fees in exchange for additional lessons/practice rides down the road (when the lockdown ends).
Doing this with everyone- hair dressers, tutors, lessons of all kinds.
I always pad my board check to including exercise rides - mostly a selfish reason on my part so I wouldn’t get a surprise at the end of the month. You could potentially also pre-pay lessons and let trainer know these are for additional training/exercise rides or future lessons. And what a nice gesture on your part.
Just make sure it is documented to avoid future misunderstandings.
T;m assuming your reference to Sars, is actually reference to COVID-19, an entirely different breed of virus.
Yes, your instructor should be delighted with your support.
The DISEASE is Covid-19.
The VIRUS is SARS-CoV-2.
The DISEASE SARS is caused by the VIRUS SARS-CoV-1.
They are two different strains of the same species of virus. NOT “an entirely different breed of virus”
Back to the original question I prepaid for some lessons as did someone else in my barn because my trainer is completely unable to work right now due to the shelter in place orders. Because she is self employed she is not able to apply for unemployment although the rules about that may change shortly. I am fortunate to be able to afford to do so.
I believe the COVID relief bill actually created a temporary provision for the self-employed to be able to file for unemployment. My older sister runs a daycare out of her house and as far as I know has filed. I’d have your trainer look into it.
Yeah, the rules are changing as we speak so she should be able to file, but I think not for three weeks…
I pre-pay my lessons every year! I pay in the fall for the rest of the year (running fall to spring). It is how my barn handles group lessons. Just make sure you have in writing what the payment covers (IE: one weekly lesson in May, or 12 lessons to be taken between June and August 2020) or something. Great thought!
Thank you for the elucidation.
Us too…nails, hair, all “vendors” And service people we work with.
I think your trainer would be delighted by the offer, as well as appreciative. Everyone is struggling right now, especially those that are self employed.
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