Originally Posted by
DSchles
Let me take a shot at being peacemaker or, at the very least, offering my opinion. I'll start off by saying that G.Man is my very good friend whom I have known for a very long time and who is one of the most knowledgeable players that we have. I have also "known" bjarg over the years, as well, and he, too, is a very respected authority on the game. So, the credentials of the two above, who disagree, are not to be disputed or challenged. Here's my take:
We live (or at least used to--can never be very sure these days!) in a laissez-faire, capitalist, and also caveat emptor society. And, I have always believed, and continue to do so, that something--anything-- is worth what someone will pay for it. Whether that amount is "too much" or "too little" is often a purely subjective matter, especially when we are discussing a service. If Colin's $2,000 were "too much," then I think it would be merely a matter of time before the word got around, from disgruntled participants, that the weekend wasn't worth it, and that they felt that they had been ripped off. Of course, there may be such individuals and reviews, but for the most part, we don't see that happening. So, it is probably more likely that those who have attended have felt, for the most part, that they have gotten their money's worth.
Some background: As many of you know, in the 1980s, for three years, I ran the NY metropolitan area franchise of the Jerry Patterson Blackjack Clinic. This, of course, was before Jerry decided to go rogue, with his TARGET nonsense, which caused me to immediately sever all ties with him. The course was a five-week program, three hours of instruction one night a week, for which we charged $495 (and sometimes $395, "on sale") for the 15 hours of instruction (plus newsletters plus ongoing "reunions" and access to the teachers, one of whom was me). The class was impeccable and taught basic strategy, a simplified version of Hi-Lo, bet sizing, and casino comportment. Every class finished with a good hour of play at the table, implementing the night's main points. Now, I wasn't sure what $495 in 1982 is worth in today's money, but I researched it, and it is $1,371.
I'm not sure how many hours Colin crams into his weekend, but it may very well be 15--maybe even more. So, being as objective as I can be, I wouldn't say that $2,000 is an outrageous amount, considering that it is somewhat in line with the price of the course we offered, which taught hundreds of people how to count, some of whom became wonderful friends who have gone on to play on high-stakes teams with million-dollar bankrolls (!)--so I guess the $495 was "worth it"!
Bottom line: If the course, or Colin, was a fraud or rip-off, it's likely, given the speed with which information is disseminated online nowadays, that it would have disappeared a long time ago. The fact that it hasn't is probably evidence that it has value. Now, whether all the information can be found online, by an ambitious person, somewhat begs the question. As Norm mentioned, people learn differently, and some enjoy being taught. So, to each his own. And the overriding principle, once again, is that anything is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Or so it seems to me.
Don
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