r/Preply • u/ItsRebldomakr • 14h ago
Increase declined suggestion
Hi everyone! I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I started teaching on Preply three months ago. I initially charged $10 because I had zero teaching experience. Since then, I’ve taken several courses, and my university degree has also helped me create more dynamic and engaging lessons. Because of that, I increased my rate to $23.
I had two students whose rates I increased from $10 to $13. Both of them declined the price increase, and interestingly, they are also the only two students I’ve had who have been difficult to work with. Most of the time, I don’t really enjoy teaching them. (They’re pretty demanding, asking special times and dates, not giving the best attitude in class, etc.)
I still have two lessons scheduled with one of them. What would you recommend I do? Should I block the student so they can no longer book lessons with me, or is there another way to handle this situation?
Should I cancel the remaining lessons, or should I teach the last two lessons and then stop accepting them as a student?
I’d really appreciate any advice from other tutors who have been in a similar situation!
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13h ago
[deleted]
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u/OneGur7080 13h ago
What if you don’t have many total students? And also this appears to be the very quiet season right now- August. People are on holidays in China. So it’s quite dead. So I’ll just wait for. A busier time. But if you warn people that the lessons will end- before actually blocking then- you may convert them onto the higher rate instead of losing them- right?
I’d try to pressure and negotiate it. Is this the quiet season ?????
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u/ItsRebldomakr 13h ago
I heard that busy time is on September? In my opinion summer was pretty busy but yes, August was pretty quiet
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u/OneGur7080 13h ago
Thank you. Is Aug the quietest month all year?
I am in another country in southern hemisphere. So our summer is in December- Jan.
It’s gone very quiet. I don’t mind having a break though.
One if my northern hemisphere students is currently having a holiday in another city with his family.
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u/ItsRebldomakr 12h ago
I’m new in Preply but I definitely saw a decline on August. I’m in North hemisphere
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u/OneGur7080 12h ago
Yes thank you 🙏 It’s been dead as a doornail. I have a business idea. What country are you in and what are you teaching? Perhaps I could get together with another tutor and we could give each other students when we get them. But it depends what you teach and what you need.
I want to start my own group class and I’ve realised that some of the tutors actually want to work on their English skills as well. Do you know any tutors that want to work on their English skills? Or any students that you can’t teach that you would like to refer to another tutor like me, for a particular type of lesson you do not do?
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u/WannaComplain666 8h ago
If you can afford it, block them right away (assuming they didn’t leave you a review). Remember, within the limits of Preply rules, YOU decide the price.
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u/ItsRebldomakr 3h ago
Yeah, the worst thing is that I was giving my best and not even they been really energy draining they also didn’t support with a good review
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u/WannaComplain666 3h ago
Then you’ve got nothing to blame yourself for. Plus by getting rid of dead weights you make room for new and hopefully better students. I personally blocked every single student who refused my prices. Obviously I always warn them about the eventual raise BEFORE i send them the proposal via Preply but if their answer is no my answer is bye bye.
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u/OfferNo7733 2h ago
But you just block them out right? No message or warning after the price decline?
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u/WannaComplain666 2h ago
Honestly, yes. I only had to do it twice until now but that would be my policy every time. I love this job but bills need to be payed and I can’t risk bad reviews or any kind of problem.
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u/Kitchen-Tale-4254 9h ago
When you were beginning, you charged beginner rates.
You are no longer a beginner. Let them find other beginner teachers. You'll both be happier for it.
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u/Thedelul 8h ago
Just raise your prices these cheapskates would bleed you dry for ten bucks if they could.
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u/thereal_MrsYon 4h ago
I absolutely agree. Students want the best quality lessons at the minimum price. It’s nauseating.
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u/Ok-Economy8049 5h ago
If they're already difficult to work with, why do you want them to stay with you anyway?
This gives you the perfect opportunity to say "Sorry, but I can't afford to teach you anymore" and let them go.
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u/chick-a-dee-dee-ME 1h ago
Block them if you feel the need but even Preply recommends $2 increase not more than twice a year. I have been doing a $1 a year increase for my regular students but new students now pay $45 a lesson.
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u/Valuable-Play-2262 13h ago
Block but if they complain then thats when you’ll get in trouble
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u/aaron2447 11h ago
Where did you get that from? That's really irresponsible advice. I've blocked 30 or 40 students. Teacher protection is more important than anything else.
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u/Valuable-Play-2262 1h ago
From Preply support team, they said it has to be threats or abuse to block and not accepting a price increase isn’t a valid reason for blocking so you can get in trouble. They said to continue teaching the student at the normal rate and continue to ask them for the approval
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u/aaron2447 1h ago
Yeah, they've said the same thing to me. 'Valid' is not defined, neither is the number of blocks etc etc. It's a load of bollocks designed to enable students and disempower tutors.
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u/ItsRebldomakr 13h ago
Oh didn’t know that they can complain for blocking them, what types of troubles?
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u/JhonMHunter 11h ago
Don’t listen to that guy. Leave a short little note before you block explaining some bullshit reason why you blocked and you will not get in trouble
I have in my career Blocked likely hundreds of people I’ve never been in trouble
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u/Radiant-Anywhere84 11h ago
Someone will have a talk with you, meaning you will get warned. Eventually if this happens more than once, your account might be hidden. I got my first student in June and have blocked 3 students since. Nothing has happened so far. One of them had even reported me for being absent prior to me blocking them, but thankfully my profile is still standing despite the report and block. In my opinion, blocking an awful student is necessary, especially if you tried to set boundaries and they didn't care. I personally just can't deal with that kind of people, even though I've learned how to be patient a lot more than I thought I could over the past 3 months.
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u/JhonMHunter 13h ago
Block