Training fee and Range fee?

**Olav** · 10-14-08, 14:45

Just a quick question regarding people's experience with training.

When you take a course and pay the training fee do you also pay a "range" fee on top?

Example:

Two day course: $350.00
Two day range fee: $20.00

Total: $370.00

If you do pay an extra range fee, do you know in advance about it (mentioned that additional range fees might be charged) or is it mentioned to the students once they are already at the training facility kind of like a surprise.

Thanks!

ToddG · 10-14-08, 14:51

If there is a range fee, it should either be incorporated invisibly into the cost of the class (you're paying the instructor $370, and he pays the range $20 per student) or it should be listed along with the tuition right from the start.

If I showed up for a class and was told on the spot that I needed to pay more money for the class, I would probably walk out.

**uscbigdawg** · 10-14-08, 21:32

I've coordinated a lot of training for folks and will tell you that here is my basic rule of thumb. If the range isn't "anal" about signing waivers and such, then I just incorporate it into the class fee.

If the range is anal about the legal junk, well since the student has to go to the shack anyways, I'll let them know WELL IN ADVANCE that there is a range fee. Case in point is the Magpul Dynamics class I'm coordinating. There is a range fee. However, I am trying to negotiate that down a bit to help cut some costs with the students. It's not high, but every dollar I can save folks, the better.

Rich

**andy t** · 10-15-08, 08:00

Usually it is announced in advance that there is a range fee. However, a few courses failed to state how much, and it ended being $60-80 extra for a 3 day class.

**Cold Zero** · 10-15-08, 08:14

The instructor wants their fee and the range is not free and they want their fee.

From what I have seen, the fees generally run $15-25 per day. If the class coordinator is trying to keep the costs down then he will calculate on short notice how much per man is necesary to cover the range rental. I.E. more guys in the class, lower range fee per man, less guys in class, higher range fee per man. By separating the range fee from the tuition, that is also showing the student that the instructor is not getting that money, or setting prices that seem too high.

To roll the range fee into the tuition, you would have to have a cystral ball to know how many guys will attend, if you are trying to keep costs down and don't want to be stuck with making up for a shortfall.

A range fee, or any additional fee for that matter should be clearly disclosed in the class announcement. If guys don't want to pay it, at least they know up front.

**jackinfl** · 10-18-08, 21:50

deleted

**The Archangel** · 10-20-08, 12:16

Most ranges charges the training company $500+ to reserve private space for a weekend. The company setting up the class should let the students know that up front IF they don't include it in the cost of tuition.

As unfortunate as it is, a lot of people based their purchase decisions on cost, than overall value.

If Company A doesn't include the cost of the range fee into their tuition ($400.00) and Company B does ($425.00), then Company B could possibly loose out because their price was not as competitive... or so it seems (initially). Sad, but trueism of human nature. Do your research on your clientele, their demographics, what motivates them and market your company accordingly to give it the best chance of capturing their business.

You would like to think that most people can see that... you would think.

**rob_s** · 10-20-08, 13:04

If I was in a class, and it wasn't made clear from the beginning that the range fees were extra, I would expect the instructor or the class organizer (who is probably getting a free class and who's fault the situation really is) to foot the bill. As a student, you have no way to know ahead of time what the range fee situation is, but the instructor and/or class organizer should know better, and both should pay the price for not being professional about the issue.

With that said, every class I've ever taken had a separate range fee, payable to the range at the start of TD1. If I was an instructor this is the model I'd prefer so as not to be funneling money around. However, as a student, I'd prefer that it was all-inclusive so I just write one check. I don't really care either way though, as long as it's clear from the start.