H&F - Ethics and $$ Question

[wawa]

My H and I take a swim conditioning class at the Y.  Like baby masters. You can sign up for Tuesday and Thursday for $75 or either of the two days for $60.  Previously the price break wasn't quite so steep for the second day (it was something like $50 and $90) so I signed each of us up seperately and paid $100.  But they made the single day more and the two days less - so now I'm REALLLLLLY tempted to just sign him up for both days and I just show up in his place on tuesdays and he shows up on thursdays.  The instructor will not care. Or notice most likely.  My lane mates have urged me to do just this.

I didn't see the point in being a rule breaker for $10 previously.  But...I mean...now it's a shitton more money to do it the "right" way.  But it's the Y - so it's not like it's a for profit entity here so I feel bad "cheating".  To my knowledge, we are the only people in this class who might do this - there are no other families trading off days like this.   People regularly sign up for say, Tuesday and if they can't make that tuesday they'll just show up on thursday.  The instructor does not seem to care as long as you're on her roster in some form.  There are probably people who only sign up for one day and sometimes come twice a week.

[Deleted]

I think I'd do it, but I'm not certain because it's a not-for-profit. One way you could see it is that you're giving them the commitment of someone attending both sessions, which is what the discount is for, so they can guarantee a certain 'occupancy' in the class. It shouldn't matter whether those slots are used by the same person.

But I see why it's bugging you.

[scm1011]

Yeah, my thought process is the same as @cheshire. The only thing that gives me pause is that its a non-profit. If the instructor is so breezy, maybe mention it to her and see what she says? If she doesn't see it as a big deal, I'd go ahead guilt free. I know that could backfire though.

[Deleted]

Yeah, maybe just casually ask 'is it okay if someone subs in my spot, I'm not sure if I can make Tuesdays but don't want to miss out?' to get a feel for it. They may say:
1. oh sure, just as long as we have numbers, that's all that matters
2. yeah, I suppose so (meaning occasionally)
3. no, it's got to be the named person

Number 1 means yeah, just buy it, number 2 means it's a bit dodgy or it would be noticed and 3 is a hard no. But to ease your conscience, I would ask. It's a $45 difference that at the end of the day, if you ended up paying, could consider as a donation to a worthy cause.

[labbie]

I would ask the question in terms of "what's your policy if Dh can't make it, do you allow subs in a given week?" If they say no problem, then you're guilt free.

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2017 8:51:06 GMT -5 labbie said:

I would ask the question in terms of "what's your policy if Dh can't make it, do you allow subs in a given week?" If they say no problem, then you're guilt free.

Hmmm - but this is only asking about 1 week. She's planning on doing it every week. 
Maybe you could say that you intend to go to both, but what happens if you can't - can someone take your place?

[wawa]

I mean, I guess I could just...ask. the truth. Like, Hey [name], do H and I have to sign up separately or can I just put one of us as attending both days and we switch off as we see fit? Does it matter?

If she says it matters...well then I pay the extra $45 and consider it my contribution to a worthy non-profit....

[wawa]

I really appreciate that all of you were willing to overthink this one with me.

[Deleted]

wawa, happy to help. It's not a massive amount of money, but yeah, it's something I would over-analyse as well and probably end up being honest out of guilt.

[mrs.jacinthe]

As a swim instructor/aquatics director, I'd just be blunt in your question: hey, instructor person, is there a chance that we could sign up together as a couple for the 2x per week session and just split the classes? He comes Tuesday, I'll be here Thursday?

I've heard stuff like that before and it's not offensive. People try to save money where they can. And personally, as an aquatics director, the only issue I'd have with that is maybe liability: you know, if you sign up for the class but somehow he gets injured, the insurance companies will have a field day. But if there's a way around it and you were up front about it to the instructor, I'd tell you it was fine.

[pixy0stix]

I wouldn't, because non-profit and all. Plus it might effect the pay of the trainer.

[Wines Not Whines]

I would ask the way you suggested in your follow up post.

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2017 11:55:31 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I wouldn't, because non-profit and all. Plus it might effect the pay of the trainer.

Oh I didn't think about that. Yeah, just pay if you can afford it. Plus non-profit is still in my head on this.

[emilyinchile]

Yeah, I'd ask directly. Gyms give family discounts all the time, so they might be fine with it, but unless that's been expressly stated then I think it would be wrong to just try to slide by without anyone noticing. And I don't think that asking the question is rude at all.