Dan Heisman's Chess Fees
Chess Instructor - FIDE Rated 2285 with international title Candidate Master
rated National Master by the US Chess Federation - Novice Nook at Chess Cafe
Contact Information: 1359 Garden Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096 - (610) 649-0750 - e-mail danheisman@comcast.net - "danheisman" on Skype, Twitter, and Facebook
Provides private chess instruction for players of any age; seminars and chess club support.
Tuesday is my only off day! I work six days a week, but do not schedule lessons on Tuesdays - Thanks!
Base Fees - Payment Methods - Specials - Discounts - Group Lessons, Simuls, and Seminars - Cancellation Policy
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Current Fee Schedule (Last updated 03/14/2012 )
Private Lessons (live and ICC/phone/Skype):
 |
Adults and Students: $85/hr. Please also see Special Rates and Payment methods below.
 Compare to nationally
known music instructors! 
No extra cost for me to call you in US and
Canada.
For
established customers, payment is
due within 30 days of the lesson. Late fee: $5 per month after that time
period. Payment may be made before or after lessons.
|
Special
introductory rate of $25/hr for group lessons via Internet Chess Club and Skype.
Email me and specify "Group lesson
email list" or call 610-649-0750 for infoFor
the beginning of 2012, I am keeping all my rates the same with two exceptions: I
have had extensive request for weekday evening time, so starting Jan 1, 2012
for new students only I am asking a $5/hr surcharge, just for lessons
scheduled 5-9:30 PM Mon-Fri. I will also be tinkering with my
Top Junior
Program.
Senior
Citizens:
$65/hr -
available Mon-Fri 9 AM - 5 PM Eastern.
For those retired & fixed income & unable to afford
regular rate.
Top
Junior Program
for
ages <19) on the
USCF
"Top-100" lists:
$15/hr
off
for 1st 20 lessons in calendar year, then 5
FREE,
then reduced for remainder of year (take
link for more info)
Discounts
1)
No money-back guarantee for prepaid discounts; all prepaid discounts are
non-refundable.
2)
Only one discount
or special rate at a time.
If multiple discounts/special rates are applicable, customer may choose the most
advantageous one.
Multiple hour session: 10% per session (min 2 hour lesson). Note: this is NOT multiple lessons but a single lesson of 2+ hours. For example a two hour lesson 9-11 at $85/hr is only $153.
Depending on the circumstances, I may accept offers of pre-paid lessons: pay for N, get a final one free, e.g. 10 for the price of 9. As noted above, no fee paid under this discount will be rebated if lessons are not taken. Therefore, if you pay ahead for multiple lessons and get an extra lesson do not ask for a rebate; the money back guarantee no longer applies. This discount is not valid for a student's first 3-4 lessons, since I don't want new students to get into a no money-back situation.
First time special for non-ICC
members: I pay for your first membership if you pre-pay for 2 (junior) or 4 (adult) lessons. No rebate on this offer if you decide not to take all the lessons pre-paid. Optional Bonus: If you want me to also help you with the ICC "Blitzin" interface for PCs, I offer a free half hour introductory (non-chess) session before your first chess lesson if you take this special.
Want to be notified when a lesson special is offered? e-mail "Please add me to your 'lesson discount email list'"
Please
note that fees may change at any time. Raised fees do not
apply to a lesson already paid at the lower rate. Moreover, to
protect my students, if a fee for a set of prepaid lessons is agreed upon, those fees are fixed at the lower,
prepaid rate unless the
student postpones the original schedule into a later time frame when higher
fees are in effect. A student on a regular schedule may eventually be
subject to eventually higher fees when rates rise and a new payment is due.
Additional $15/hr for each extra student. Negotiable for large groups. I only accept single, one-time outside group lessons - I do not do weekly groups outside my home (at my home periodic group lessons is great).
Starting a Scholastic Chess Club: Free phone consultation. That's for answering questions. If someone wants to start a club and wishes me to train a parent or teacher to run the club, my consultation fee for training is $75/hr by phone or at my home (it usually only takes an hour or two).
All Simultaneous/Seminars/Lectures, including School, Camp, and University Chess Program Support: Negotiable. Minimum charge is $75/hour + travel costs. A discounted rate may apply for programs that wish ongoing support, depending on the amount of effort required. I may do a free simul for a local group raising money for charity.
Speaker Charges: Negotiable - will speak to chess and non-chess groups for low (or in some cases, free) rates
Travel Charge (does not apply to speaking engagement): Same rate for all travel time (in addition to lesson time) as adult lessons.
Money back guarantee: If you are not satisfied with your lesson, please state the reason why at the end of the lesson and any plausible reason will be accepted. Please understand that, depending on the circumstances, I may not offer the party further lessons. Guarantee is not applicable if you do not notify me at the end of the lesson (later is beyond the "statute of limitations").
Payment Methods (in order of preference: checks preferred)
1. Send a check to: "Dan Heisman" 1359 Garden Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096. Please specify the date(s) of lessons on the check, if known - thanks! Personal or bank check (in US Dollars) is the preferred method - thanks!
2. Paying by credit card via Paypal (if you open a free Paypal account):
Note: There is a small PayPal fee (4-5%) each time. So I receive less than if you send a check, but it is for your convenience! If you want me to receive the entire amount, you should add ~4-5% - thanks if you do!
If you do not have an account and wish to open one, you can go to www.paypal.com and open an account to pay or receive money by credit card.
3. Non-US ICC members can pay by opening a chekel account, but ICC takes 10% so PayPal (which takes only 4-5%) is much preferred. Type "c-offer Phillytutor NN For a X-hr lesson" where NN is the $$ payment.
Payment Methods for "Live" Students: Check or cash, thanks!
Cancellation Policy: I understand that sometimes one cannot make a lesson, even at the last moment. There is no charge for canceling an appointment in advance with at least 1 hour notice (can leave a message on my answering machine, 610-649-0750); a $10 cancellation charge may be made for less than 1 hour notice; full charge if notice is not given or notice after lesson time has started, or for repeat offenders. Also, please do not e-mail cancellations at less than 24 hours notice - instead call 610-649-0750 since I may not check my e-mail before each lesson. Last minute emergencies are excused, but – please find 30 seconds to call and let me know if at all possible!
I once had a student cancel a lesson, not due to an emergency, with five minutes notice - by email! So not only was I lucky to find out, I had no time to reschedule and just lose the opportunity to schedule someone else or even just go out to the gym.
If I fail to appear, I may have just forgotten to book you. Most of the time when I miss the start of a lesson I am home! So please call me If I am more than 3-4 minutes late past the starting time and I am probably there to call you back for the lesson. If I fail to appear for a scheduled lesson, I don’t leave a message or contact you in advance, and you call me at the lesson start time and leave a message (or you live outside the US/Canada and call "danheisman" on Skype), your next lesson is free!
Scheduling Policy: - Students who reserve a time weekly have the highest priority for time slots and may reserve their time slot for as long as they take lessons. Students who request a periodic (but not weekly) lesson have second priority. Note: Tuesday is my off day.