5 Most Common Pole Consumer Money Traps to Avoid

Pole dancing classes (compared to non-apparatus based boutique fitness classes like yoga) can be expensive.

Check out these tips for how to be a knowledgeable pole consumer when signing up for pole dancing classes!

Paying Drop-In Class Prices

Most studios will have a price list that will offer class packages you can buy in bulk or a price you can pay per class.

Some studios even offer memberships where you pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited access to certain training or classes or discounted.

The fear of committing to several classes and/or the lump sum you have to pay may have people veering towards paying the drop-in price but that’s where mistakes are made.

You end up paying more by paying per class than you were at the package and typically have a generous amount of time to use the pre-purchased classes.

Even if you are new and not sure if pole is for you, it’s still better to do a “new student discount pass” if available as it’s your only chance to get that discount and a 5-class pass is often just enough for you to decide if this is the sport/hobby/activities for you and try different instructors and class styles.

Below is an example of what a studio’s pricing may look like and the full breakdown of costs.

As you see, though some of the discounts are not much, over time they can add up and are worth consideration.

Yas Queen Studios

Item	Cost	Break Down	Total At Full Price
New Student Deal Class	$35	$35 per class	$35
New Student Deal 3-Class package	$99	$33 per class	$105
New Student Deal 10-Class package	$299	$29.90 per class	$350
Regular Single Class	$38	$38 per class	$38
5-Class Package	$175	$35 Per Class	$190
10-Class Package	$330	$33	$380
Workshop Session	$45	$45 per class	$45
Workshop 5-Sessions	$199	$39.80 per class	$225
Workshop 10-Sessions	$375	$37.50 per class	$450
Open Pole 1 – Session	$20	$20 per class	$20
Open Pole 10-Class Package	$149	$14.90 per class	$200

Buying Low Quality

We’ve all seen those great pole blooper videos of people whose at-home poles have collapsed or a heel breaking off in their hand.

While it provides good entertainment and the consumers usually walk away with nothing more than a bruised knee and ego, from a safety and money perspective, it’s a red flag. 

The average pole from top-name brands like X-Pole ranges from $120 to anywhere near $500.  Quality heels like Pleasers and Hella Heels can start at around $70 and go up from there.  These prices will have consumers looking at Amazon.com and Temu for more budget-friendly options.

The irony is you end up spending more money replacing these items as they are not made for the longevity and wear and tear of a typical pole workout.

Below is a table to compare top companies versus cheap knockoffs.

Faux Leather Ankle Boot with an 8inch Heel

	Top Company Shoe	Budget Brand Shoe
Price	$90	$41
Quality Protection Guarantee	3-month guarantee on soles.	N/A
Return Policy	Return up to 45 Days of purchase date, unused, for full refund of store credit.	Most Contact Seller for return options. 75 Buyer Protection Guarantee on selected items.
Rewards Program	Earn points towards discounts towards future purchases with every order, friend referal, and social media interactions.	N/A

Not Paying Attention to Pole-Student Ratios in Classes

The structure of pole classes can vary. 

Some group classes will have 2 students to a pole and have everyone take turns learning a combo or skill.  Everyone learns the same thing and it’s broken down into skill levels.

Other classes may be 1 or 2 people to a pole and everyone is working on something different while the instructor goes from student to student and works with them independently.  This means you could be paying for a whole hour of class or paying for an hour but potentially only using the pole half of that time.

Maybe both of these studios offer open pole practice sessions where students practice what they’ve learned in class or routines they are working on for one hour without any instructors, like a pole “study hall.”

 

	Students Per Pole	Class Style	Price
Studio A	1 student	Open Pole Practie (No Instructor)	$20
Studio B	Up to 2 students	Open Pole Play (No Instructor)	$25

As you can see in this example, Studio B is less of a deal because you are paying more for the same amount of time and could have to share a pole therefore not getting the full hour.  This is why it is always good to do your research on classes and the structure of the classes you are booking.

Check out our list of pole studios here.

And check out our member directory for even more qualified instructors and studios.

 

Pole dancing can be a (more) expensive hobby than other boutique options BUT if you follow these tips, you’ll get the most “bang for your buck!”