I thought all Ideal Protein food purchased from a coach would be the same price. Then I was looking around on-line and found a place that charges $28 per box or $4 each - even for the RTD products. My coach charges $30 per box or $4.29 each but then for all the RTD its $5.00 each. It made me wonder how much it varies between coaches.

It definitely varies by clinic. But you have to look at overall costs. My clinic charges $30-$38/box, but the startup fee was much lower than others and they give me one free individual item to try at each appointment.

Yes - my start up fee was only $50.00 - so after reading that some people have paid over $300.00 I felt very thankful for that. I don't get any free samples but I am able to buy each packet individually so I haven't got stuck with any I don't like
I was really hoping that after I am in maintenance I would get a discount on the food since there would not be any counseling time, but I think I am dreaming. So I will probably be using alternatives to fill in at that time.

I went with a friend to our local clinic this week, and the start up fee there is close to $300. That includes a week of food and a month of supplements. There's a $5 monthly Body Composition Analysis fee. Foods are $28/box.

I read on another site that IP is changing how they handle maintenance clients, since the money kind of dries up if they're only coming in occasionally. This post said IP would be starting a "maintenance fee" for anyone who hasn't already been in maintenance.

I just got back from my first info-workshop, and here in Oakland, CA it costs as follows:

533.50 for start up, supplements and 4 boxes of food (1 week?)
25.00 per week for coaching, measurements etc.

87.00 - 105 per week for food until you are at 100% target weight.

of the 533.50 - 250.00 is a non-refundable fee that lets you come back at any time to restart the program.

DH and I went to different Clinics. The food was the same, but my Clinic charged a fee each month and his didn't. Thus, now on reboot, I get all of my food from his Clinic. I can weigh and measure myself at home. Plus his Clinic is happy to have my extra business.

It sounds like my clinic just rounds up the price of each box but doesn't charge the clinic fee. I am usually in and out within 15 minutes. I have all my receipts since I started going, but I haven't added them up to see how much I have paid per pound yet - I don't think I want to know
And I know my husband doesn't!!

Curliegirl - I was laughing so hard at your post.

I never thought to figure out the cost per pound lost.

My DH is pretty good about going along with expensive things, but likes to see the "due diligence" done before making a huge purchase.

I do know that despite the sticker shock, everyone I've worked with at my clinic so far has been upbeat, positive and a real joy.

My clinic's start-up fee is $400, which includes lifetime free return, samples of almost all the foods and the 'admin charge.' I pay between $28-$30 /box, but there are no other fees.

My sister, out in Berkeley, pays a $20 weekly fee and pays more per box, plus she had to pay a start-up fee too.

Obviously it's location, location, location...

Yes - I used to be in accounting - so I'm kind of a spreadsheet girl

I started looking into alternatives that are 1/2 the price. I do a mix between IP products and alternative. Search and join the ideal protein alternatives group on Facebook

$25 a week plus food!? $533 to start?! you're getting robbed

I started in VA (and recently moved to FL). My start up was $400 and 3 boxes of food a week is ~$90. My new coach in Florida didn't charge me the start up or transfer fee. Her start up fee is $280.
My per week cost is the same in Florida as it was in Virginia. But I have NEVER heard of a coaching fee.

Here in Western Canada my clinic charged a start-up fee of $350 (I won an auction coupon worth $100 so it only cost me $250) which included a full week of foods (all sample packs so you could try a lot of different things) and a month worth of supplements. They customized my pack since I had to be gluten free and at that time they couldn't guarantee some of their supplements were GF so they substituted extra food packs and I used my own potassium and one other I can't remember now. There was no weekly coaching fee charge, just food boxes ($28.00) and if you wished, $5 for the Body Comp Analyzer. There was also a basket for pack trades if there was something you didn't like.

Maintenance meant no extra charges just 'tapering off' the visits until comfortable. 1 month weekly, next 2 months biweekly, 3 months monthly. Even now I could go back and get a coaching visit w/o charge, but I'm not sure if they have changed the system to be like WW. If you are within 5 lbs of your goal weight or something like that - no charge - but over that probably a coaching visit fee while you reboot with help. I can still go in & just buy food packs if I like but I haven't for a while.

They still keep in touch with emails of what's new & happening at the clinic.
This clinic is very successful! Lots of grads with continued healthy weights through several years. The coaches were also very knowledgeable about the protocol, and had certificates in life coaching for great emotional support, not just weigh & measure. There was always a customized to the client handout every week about planning, the psychology of dieting, healthy exercise while on protocol, how to handle stress without resorting to food, etc...

Liana

Mine was $75 initial fee, $30 per box of food. No other weekly fee or anything..