petanque don: aussiejane: Great point Lorna, and remember Don, there was a chance for Ray to sell this site?
I guess it is also about priorities? I would rather cut out a few take away meals, scale down some social stuff, not buy that bottle of red wine (or ciggarettes if I was smoker) stuff like that, and pay for the occassional session with a decent trainer with the savings.
This is the ongoing economic problem people have unlimited wants and limited resources.
Most of us can think of people who constantly grizzle about being broke but seem to regularly be able to afford luxuries.
I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with Ray charging a premium price for his services.
Logically if Ray was to offer a free service he would probably be able to book between 1000 and 10,000 hours of sessions per week.
Also having no income would make it very hard to pay the bills and have a reasonable quality of life for himself and his family.
I would suggest that to do a good job 20-30 hours per week would be more realistic and probably quite busy (but I don’t really know the fitness industry very well).
If Ray is too busy he can probably raise his prices.
Equally if things are slow it may be appropriate to postpone any price rises and try some sort of promotion.
If a venture such as The New Me is a Veblen good is a different question.
Any way last time I checked this site was not about economics.
What's your point Don!?
Economics!?..or do you have an issue with people charging money for their services that you feel "normal" ppl are not able to access?
Welcome to the real world!
It's not rocket science!
You work you get paid!
Are you suggesting that Ray should become some super benevolent trainer and offer his services for free?
Would you? Do you?
If you want pretty much one on one services with anyone...you pay for the privilege. My accountant charges $200 per hour and I also pay for every phone call, every email and every stamp!
Personally, it would be a privilege to add a few healthy years to my life..if that means paying for Ray to equip me with those tools, then I would do it (if I didn't live in WA)
Of course, as Lorna pointed out..we ALL get that for free right here. TG for that too!
There will always be those who do get such services for free!..but don't take full advantage of what's on offer...still wanting more because they blame other influences for their failures to succeed.
it's those people who try to drag others down with them...(In Australia,we call that Tall Poppy Syndrome)
I think those kinds of people no matter who much, or who they pay money too, don't really want to put in the effort, but will poohoo those that do.
Whether they pay for it at The New Me..or get it for free...I doubt would make little difference in certain ppl,long term.
If someone is on a limited income and is *truly* making the best of themselves and are educated enough to want to change, they will find a way to get whatever help they require to reach their goals!
JMO 
SW-104.3 (April 06)
CW- TBA
GW-65 kgs
~*It's not rocket science...eat less,move more!!*
*If you do what you always do, you'll get what you always got*