r/Preply

AMA

I’ve spoken to a couple of my students to notify them that I am increasing my prices and then sent the request. And the request just sits there. I think it’s outrageous that we have no control over this. So now I have to keep badgering them about it? It’s not a nice feeling for either of us. They should be a clear option for me as a tutor to say it’s either they accept the price increase or they can find another tutor. I know I can refuse their classes, block them etc but this is so much work for us tutors. It’s already an awkward when you have to raise your rates.

How do you deal with this situation when a price increase request remains unacknowledged?

I feel sorry for all the tutors that end up being a spare wheel for a clueless student who simply doesn't give a fuck and just wants to use up his two free trial slots anyway. To him, it's just a fun experiment, but to the tutor, it's a commitment and a serious engagement that they have to attend or else risk their profile stats.

This happened with me today and I'm certain I was just a plan B to some Azerbaijani student. I asked her politely for a reschedule so I can deliver the trial in the best logistical conditions (I can't do it at home at that time for some reasons). My message was simply met with a seen. So, instead of blocking her and cancelling the lesson (as I should without consequences), I had to go out of my way, go to a crowded coffee shop, awkwardly ask the waiter for a special room where I can talk, and pay for extra service JUST for her. Guess what? No-show. Utterly disrespectful.

We always have to carry the burden. Get ignored and still make it on time to avoid penalties. This thing feels so one-sided. It's like you're chasing students instead of the other way around.

I would understand trying to make the best out of the free offer, but at least attend a segment of the lesson out of respect to the tutor who is dedicating their time to conduct a lesson for 0 bucks to try to convert your sorry ass. If you're a student and you know this by now, the moral burden is ON YOU. Understand that trials are always 100% commission for PREPLY and a a total loss with ZERO earnings for tutors. Have some decency and, even if you use up you free perk, show some maturtiy and attend just for that one lesson, even if you don't want to subscribe.

I've been taking Japanese lessons for 2 months (about to renew for my 3rd month.) At first, my lessons were 2500 yen each, but after 8 lessons, my tutor proposed raising to 3500 yen. because "the number of students increased", and as a result, so had her workload. (I'm in education myself, so I do understand that.) To be totally honest, that seemed like a massive jump, especially after just one month, and I explained to her that I hadn't budgeted for that much so soon, but that I could probably manage it from the next month, and she agreed, so I declined the increase with the understanding that I would accept next time. This month, as agreed, she proposed to raise it again... but for 3700 yen.

Is this normal/reasonable, or am I being taken advantage of here? I'm already paying a lot for these (17,700 going up to at first 27,000 ish and now 28,000 ish), and I did explain to her that if I pay the new NEW price, I definitely can't afford any more, and she said she wouldn't raise it again... for 3 months.

I'm torn, because I really do like her lessons, but I feel like I was kind of duped here. Her starting price is still set at 2500 yen, so I don't know enough about how Preply works to determine if she's actually raising her fees across the board, or just existing students. She also told me that if I can't afford the new price, I had to find a different tutor completely. Should I cut my losses and run? I like her, but a jump of over 30% in one month seems... extreme. Considering I am working towards taking the JLPT in December, if I have to change tutors anyway because I can't afford another 30% increase in 3 months, I'm not totally sure what to do. Part of me wants to decline it, but I think she'll drop me as a student if I do.

Any advice is welcome here, I'm just trying to decide what is reasonable, as a customer, but also fair to a worker in what is effectively a gig economy.

Im currently in $28 and have 1 trial lesson lined up. I was on $25 but didnt stay there for long.

How much difference does this small difference in price make?

I would rather have 5 students on 25$ than 1 on $28 if you get what i mean.

Thanks

Hey.

I have been on Preply for less than 1 month. I have one subscribed student and I've done a few lessons with them. Besides that, nothing, except some notifications that students added me as their favorite. I get these every day. I send them a message, however, nobody replies. Only 1 student replied but they didn't book the lesson yet.

My question, for the *experienced* Preply tutors: does any of these people, who added you as their favorite, ever books your lesson? 🤣 What do you do when you receive this notification, do you message them?

Because to me it looks like a window shopping and the illusion of endless choice for the students.😅

Is preply having some kind of promotion right now for 50min trials? Cause im getting so many 50 min trials lately that aren’t even converting even after they were great trials that seemed like they were going to subscribe. I feel like im losing money like this cause my regular students cant book the slots taken by this trials, i also don’t want to hide my profile cause i am open to new students but the lack of trials converting is concerning me.

I teach Korean, and even though around 1,000 people viewed my profile, I haven’t gotten that many trial lessons yet… But I’m so thankful that all 4 students who took a trial lesson decided to subscribe. It makes me want to work even harder!

Is anyone else interested in learning Korean?? Why do you want to learn Korean?!

Has anyone experienced a sudden drop in engagement with a student who was previously doing very well?

For the past few months, everything has been going smoothly — regular lessons, good participation, and steady progress. Recently, though, there’s been a noticeable change. The student has become disengaged during lessons, often responding with “I don’t know” even to questions that are well within their level and that they previously had no issues with.

On top of that, they’ve started leaving lessons 5–10 minutes early while we are still working, which is a new behaviour.

I’ve tried reaching out to the parent to discuss what might be going on, but haven’t had a response yet.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, and if so, what approaches worked for you in re-engaging the student?

The platform, while greedy AF, actually provides some useful tools. All your students and calendar in one place, payment escrow, and a subscription system that pushes students to "keep learning" (i.e. "keep paying").

You may be tempted to take someone off the platform to save the 20% or whatever you're paying for commission. I too have been tempted. It always ends badly.

The site maintains a certain formality, and in the absence of that, the students become too friendly, messaging you like a friend, asking for last-minute lessons, cancelling last minute, etc. Also in the absence of a subscription they often take a break and then disappear. Finally, if you make a mistake of doing post-paid, you get people who you have to chase for cash.

So overall, I'd say the 20% commission is worth it.

Other things like unpaid trials are still a problem. I hope preply fixes it.

What are the best ways to approach new students that are thinking about booking a trial lesson?

Anyone else? Just checking because I can't find any info.

How do students and tutors alike feel about other people being in the room during lessons? I have a new tutor and there always seems to be someone else in the room during lessons. I don’t mind, but today it felt like my tutor’s attention was in two places. I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into a problem down the line and will try to forget about it. What do you all think?

I have had many students tell me that they love the way I teach and book multiple classes per week, just to cancel their lessons and subscription randomly.
I don’t know if this is inappropriate, but I generally ask why the cancelled and if there was anything I could do to be a better tutor for others in the future/just ask them why. They ALWAYS leave me on seen. This becomes very annoying at times because I would like to know wtf is going on and why they cancelled their 5 lessons a week with me out of no where!

I adapt my lessons according to their tastes; if a student just wants to practice conversation then I can do that, the same with grammar, reading and writing. I get tons of positive feedback from my teaching and yet so many of these people just unsubscribe from me for no reason.

If any students come across this post, can you give me some clarification on why you do this? Even if any teachers come across this, any info is helpful.

EDIT: I do this full time as I’m currently saving up money to further my studies next year so I barely reschedule.

hii I speak both languages fluently but idk which one to teach. I know english is probably very competative but also has much more online material than german. What would you do?

I've had some ups and downs on the platform, but in the last months have really really studied and figured out how to (maybe) make it work, made my profile excellent, pay attention to my stats etc and things seem to be going well. I'm feeling positive, finally, but have this nagging paranoia that it's all just going to fall to shit again. I think I have tactics in place, like dropping my rate for summer if I need to, and I know roughly how it seems to work now but I'm just scared that things are going to dry up and I'll have to start from scratch again.

SO - I feel I need some success stories and tips... to keep positive but also savvy. Anyone been on the platform for years and ridden these waves out successfully? Please share and keep a sister sane : ))))))

Hi Tutors, when a student starts booking a lesson with you and does not complete or adds you to favorite do you always respond immediately or never?

Some of my students have requested workbooks. I am used to creating lessons and don't use them. Any recommendations? I teach English.