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FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

Last post 06-21-2008, 7:02 AM by Helen42. 112 replies.
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  •  07-18-2007, 5:47 AM 10384 in reply to 10373

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    I remember reading your post the first time - wonder where it went. 

    Never mind the content is worth repeating. This all smacks to me of blatant profiteering. I have no problem with companies making money - but not excessively.

    DVDs and CDs are dirt cheap to manufacture - and judging by recent Fitpro copies that show up as CD-RW in the machine's they've been produced in someones garage. The National Trainers get paid little for the QWs, the venues are often provided free using the clubs often useless sound systems, the education sessions have been pulled back to an inadequate 1/4 hour which means that all we REALLY get these days is a Masterclass.

     All this justifies a 36% increase in materials?

     


    I'm damned, I'm hot and I just can't stop
  •  07-18-2007, 6:31 AM 10390 in reply to 10384

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Don't know where you got your inf about what the national trainers get paid but i think you are way off the mark....... they DO get paid quite well.. much more than what you or i could dream of getting paid for a class!!

    i agree with the venues... some are complete *****!!.. apparently at the ipswich venue last time the headmic and stereo conked out 1/2 way through combat and they had to put up with a ghetto blaster for the rest of the day.....AND YET... the same venue is being used all over again this time round!!!! How does that make any sense!!???.....

     i totally agree with regards to educational content... I do think that we should get MORE of this at our 1/4lies rather than a meagre 1/4 hr... We used to.....whats happened!!??

    Surely alll these issues need to go way higher than anyone at fitpro and need to be addressed at LMI???............

  •  07-18-2007, 6:42 AM 10391 in reply to 10390

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    angiebabe78:

    Don't know where you got your inf about what the national trainers get paid but i think you are way off the mark....... they DO get paid quite well.. much more than what you or i could dream of getting paid for a class!!

    The info came from a BS trainer last year....I passed it on.Wink

    though I know they're paid well for module trainingSmile

  •  07-18-2007, 7:07 AM 10394 in reply to 10391

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    I suppose it depends on your definition of "quite well". I don't know how much they get, but i do know some of the assessment processes they have to go through and considering they will be travelling half way round the country, taking several classes in a row and acting the role of the instructors' instructor, they probably deserve it.

    I doubt they will be getting a 36% pay rise for taking quarterlies from september.


    Never criticise someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. That way when you do, you´re a mile away and you have their shoes.
  •  07-18-2007, 7:26 AM 10395 in reply to 10394

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    As i have worked very closely with one trainer in particular i know of the payment process that they go through...... They do get paid exspenses... as well as for the day(s) in question they are presenting.........As for my definition "quite well"... well lets just say it would more that cover a couple of heavy nights out on the town!!!

    i also agree that they WON'T be receiving a 36% pay rise!!!!

    Fitpro seem to have forgotten the people who actually provide all their jobs/profits etc.......!! - Us - the passionate instructors around the UK... The fact that they can't even explain WHY they have decided upon such a dramatic increase is just a joke.

  •  07-18-2007, 7:44 AM 10396 in reply to 10395

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    angiebabe78:

    Fitpro seem to have forgotten the people who actually provide all their jobs/profits etc.......!! - Us - the passionate instructors around the UK...

    Have they forgotten that it is us who provide their profits or do they just want to us to contribute even more to those profits!!!!


    I'm damned, I'm hot and I just can't stop
  •  07-18-2007, 8:17 AM 10397 in reply to 10394

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    OK, just for comparison purposes here's what we get in the US.

    The US is divided into regions and each region is managed by independent agents on behalf of LMI. Some are ok at management, some not so good. I'm in the SouthEast region which I guess is about average, they sometimes get it right, sometimes not so right. They are a nice group though, and I've never had any problems communicating with them directly. My Combat cert email did go to my bulk email folder, so I didn't know for almost two more weeks I had passed, but the assessor had turned it around in about three weeks. My husband got his BP assessment back in about the same time, but he's had trouble getting his Autoship set up. 

    Which leads to your main topic. In the US we are expected to be on Autoship which means we are automatically charged, then shipped the materials for each program we teach. This has always been $29.95/program, discounted from the "retail" price of $35.00. Each packet contains a music CD, DVD with masterclass and educational materials and a full-color chorey booklet. The production quality is pretty high. It is required to be on Autoship to retain certification, so, since my husband and I both teach Pump, we have to pay for two sets of materials. I've never had trouble with my Autoship and usually receive my package with all three programs within two to seven days of my credit card being charged. I do know other instructors who have waited weeks for their programs even though they have been charged, so it's kind of an unknown.

    About two weeks ago we did get an email that production and mailing costs are being increased for the next release, I think it's $4.50 for the materials plus $1.00 extra for shipping costs, for a new total of $35.00 approx for each program. Supposedly this is to facilitate delivery to everyone by using a more expedited shipper. We'll see in September...

    As for Quarterlies, they are completely optional, no requirement to attend. We try to go at least twice a year when the venues are within a few hours drive. Some quarterlies are quite large, in convention centers with over 500 participants (similar to the Super Quarterly in Stockholm in Sept this year) and others are in smaller venues, usually larger gyms or clubs, with room for about 120 participants. Both types of quarterlies include all seven of the new program releases with regional and national master trainers presenting. There are usually one to three international trainers at the large venues. There used to be education or challenge sessions for each program, but recently the educational sessions have only been included for one or two programs, with a quick cover of new moves, etc. for all the others. Prices for the quarterlies have gone up, though early registration gets you a cheaper price, so about eight weeks out it's $69.95, four weeks out it's $79.95 and one week out it's $89.95. Hotel rooms run about $100.00/night so depending on how far you have to go, you could spend a fair bit on accommodation. We usually get a group and share, four to a room.

    Oh, and US instructors pay varies, but I'd say the range is probably $14.00 to $25.00/class depending on experience and location.

    Sorry this is so long, but I hope that helps.

    Mrs Smith
     

  •  07-18-2007, 1:12 PM 10406 in reply to 10227

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Couldnt agree more... It is just out of control the sudden increase without any explanation.

    Come on Fitpro and LMI you have us trained , you get our money now help us to get a better rate of pay from all those clubs who pay you lots of money to licence the classes that we pay you for to deliver them in these clubs.... makes sense to me!


    Life is for living and kicking some serious ass......
  •  07-18-2007, 3:13 PM 10412 in reply to 10406

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    I think the fact that no-one from LMI or FitPro has yet made any sort of response speaks volumes...

    I love the LMI programmes - but I'm seriously considering dropping them at the moment... the interesting thing is that no-one from these organisations seems to be that bothered about the feelings of their instructors. So much for the Les Mills family!

  •  07-18-2007, 3:58 PM 10413 in reply to 10412

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Its interesting that in all the time I've been involved with LMI programmes this is the first time I've seen this type of response from the UK instructors....which speaks volumes in itself!

    I don't blame Angiebabe for being frustrated as I think she teaches every LMI programme out there (and I know she's not the only one) and the cost increase for these guys is mad!

    I've no doubt that Fitpro will try and keep quiet and hope that everyone accepts the change and all goes quiet!! However I think we all need to make a point by...

    A) Writing to Fitpro in the first instance to register your feelings and request an explanation.

    B) Do likewise to LMI if no response is forthcoming, and

    C) Consider a boycott of the December QWs across the country by all UK instructors

    Just my thoughts but given the stance by Philip Mills on global obesity I'd like to see him back our corner on this one. Give us the chance to continue our work by making it affordable for us.

    So far the comments from our international brethren suggests that in the UK we get paid approx a third more for teaching our classes but we pay 3 TIMES more for our releases!!

    I do believe that if Fitpro continue with their current course of action then their programmes will be replaced by the likes of Fitness FX et al....harsh but a reality methinks!

     


    “The only thing which comes without effort is old age” “Courage is never letting your actions be influenced by your fears”
  •  07-18-2007, 4:19 PM 10414 in reply to 10413

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    We had our team meeting after classes tonight and all the instructors agreed they could not afford this increase,they all teach minimum of 4 programmes and they all agreed they will be buying just one and giving each other a copy. It used to be great for each to have there own original version but not anymore im afraid to say.

    Im also interested to know why if im paying to go to the swedish convention it does not include a cd and dvd. So i have to pay TWICE if i want to receive my training material and cd's? Im told as an instructor i can teach all over the world with my certification, so why cant i be trained anywhere in the world if i want to take advantage of these great conventions?


    never wear black pants!!!!
  •  07-18-2007, 5:21 PM 10418 in reply to 10414

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Hiya, I  originally posted this under the bodypump thread. 

    I am a UK instructor of Pump and Attack. In the UK the company who license Les Mills programmes is called Fitpro and they have just become a money grabbing disgrace. 

    Been teaching Pump for years and have always strived to attend all 4 quaterly workshops when possible. I thought that getting a master class and receiving education notes and dvd was worth every penny it cost-even when it meant me getting up majorly early to attend.

    Fitpro have now deceided that the dvd will no longer come free in the quaterly package and that if you want to have one, you have to buy it.Its just money grabbing. For the next release they have put up the cost of CD, attending Quaterlies and now we have to BUY the educational DVD.

    Personally I find the DVD 100 times more useful than going to quaterlies, as all the information I need is on the DVD and I can go back to it time and time again. I attend quaterlies to catch up with friends, experience the new release and pick up my DVD - (and because I'm required to attend 2 out of the 4 a year).

    Having to buy the DVD will not improve the standard of BTS classes countrywide but will lower the standard, as people will just choose not to buy them. I'm gonna go the other way. I'm going to buy the DVD and not go to quaterlies.

    Honestly I've never really learnt anything new from quaterlies that I havn't been able to get from the DVD. And personally I'd rather get the educational aspect of quaterlies from the comfort of my sofa, at a time that suits me.

    I'm gonna get off my soap box now - but I would love to know what the costs elsewhere are.

    For attending quaterlies £23.44 for the 1st programme, then £17.57 for additional progs (slightly cheaper online). CD/DVD combined price £25.99 or DVD on its own £11.74. Hopefully the price of just the music CD hasn't gone up - last release it was £16.50.

    Yep - still very angry at them.

  •  07-21-2007, 5:35 PM 10570 in reply to 10148

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Well said Angie............................

    It's something like another £11 for the DVD isn't it?

    Think of an American most expensive blockbuster, now think how long it took to make the movie then all the other expense that goes along with it, we are talking millions of pounds, you find theses movies in the shops for less then £10 and we are expected to pay to have 2 -3 instrucctors on a stage to film a program which takes no more then a day and then get ripped off, i will longer be doing all the 1/4s from now on, only 2 per year.

    There are alot of instructors who were thinking of doing other modules, now they are thinking twice about it and most probably go freestyle.

    Not a good move at all

     

     


    MAK
  •  07-22-2007, 7:26 AM 10590 in reply to 10570

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    Fistly my posted has not been posted:( and secondly not one peron from LMI or Fitpro have said or replyed dont ya think that sucks..Do you think this will be the end of Lesmills in the uk less 1/4ilies too expensive less motivation= low member numbers clubs getting rid of licencing and getting fx systems or freestyle or mayberadical or someone will come to the uk now and strike will the instructors are hot...

     

    Why is there no reply???????? I dont think its gonna go away if you ignore it!!!


    The More You Sweat In Practice The Less You Bleed In Battle..
  •  07-22-2007, 3:37 PM 10620 in reply to 10590

    Re: FITPRO - PRICES GO UP!!!..........

    mrmina:

    Fistly my posted has not been posted:( and secondly not one peron from LMI or Fitpro have said or replyed dont ya think that sucks...

    ...

    Why is there no reply???????? I dont think its gonna go away if you ignore it!!!

    I suppose that proportionally the UK is a small country with a proportionally small number of instructors. If you were all annoyed and American (bigger country), or kiwis (home turf), LMI might be interested - but us lot in the UK are not only in a smaller country, we're also antipodean to them, so I doubt they're going to bother to respond if they haven't by now, which is a shame because you instructors deliver great service to us participants, and we'll be the ones who lose out in the end. Again though, the UK is a small place, so they're probably not that bothered in the grand scheme of things.

    On the other hand [quoting myself from the "Money Grabbing Fitpro" thread on the BodyPump board];
    You *can* claim all that (DVDs, quarterlies, CDs, training...) ,except the lost income from missing classes that clash, back on your Tax-Return though. It's fine as it is expense for 'purely business' purposes. 
    As all instructors - even those who don't turn a profit from their instructor gigs because they only do the odd one or two or something - will be filling one in anyway, unless they're dodgy people with no regard for the law, that means that by the end of the tax year at the start April it shouldn't have any effect on whether you buy the DVD, go to workshops or whatever. 

    It must be irritating, and is always really difficult as a person with a purely freelance lifestyle, to have to make a bigger outlay (especially given that the universal opinon about FitPro (Sh!tPro?) is that they are an unmitigated disaster and irredeemable waste of space), but at least you get it back eventually in the form of it being knocked off of your self-employed tax bill.

    I've been invisible for a while - profile got deleted, so I'm back and 'friendless' with a post-count of about zero - so hello again everyone. Big Smile
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