Refunds and returns vary by product / class /service. Quick reference table below!
If you need to request a refund, please use the Refund Request Form so we can get to your request quickly.
If a refund is possible and you have done the required steps, if any, for your product / class /service, refunds will be processed within 48 hours.
Refund windows start from date of purchase or shipping.
Unused classes or lessons that expire must be used in a certain amount of time. Paused live courses and access passes must resume after a certain amount of time.
Sambucks
Non-refundable.
The Refunds policy details for purchases of Sambucks can be found on the Sambucks page.
Purchases made with Sambucks follow the policies below.
online, live courses
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Not started and no access | Yes | N/A |
| Started / has access | No | Yes |
| Refund window | Anytime | |
| Unused expiration | 1 year | |
| In form of | Original payment method | Sambucks |
Courses that fall under this category include:
- Teens’ Japanese courses
- any courses taught in real time online
Full refund to your original form of payment if your order hasn’t been completely processed yet.
Once the order processing is complete and you get access to the course materials, the value of the workbook and video course, if any, will be subtracted from the refund.
Individual classes in a course cannot be refunded. There are several ways to catch up and you’ll still benefit from being in the course even if you can’t make it to a class.
But, message me to pause their enrollment if student will be missing two classes or more in a row. Activity can be suspended once for up to a year.
Once the course starts, you can ask for a refund at any time and the refund in Sambucks will be prorated for upcoming classes minus the value of the workbook and video course, if any. Refunds aren’t given for classes already held.
Self-study courses / workbooks
Non-refundable.
Courses that fall under this category include:
- digital courses labeled ‘self-study’
- digital workbooks
- courses where you learn completely on your own
What would make the self-study course or workbook better? You get any updates to these courses for free!
Tutoring
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Not started | Yes | N/A |
| Used / started | No | Yes |
| Refund window | Anytime | |
| Unused expiration | 180 days | |
| In form of | Original payment method | Original payment method / Sambucks* |
Scheduling tutoring lessons is very flexible.
The first time you miss a lesson each quarter (so every 3 months), there’s no charge. We’ll just reschedule. Any other lessons you miss after that, the fee for the missed lesson won’t roll over but you’re welcome to purchase more lessons.
If something comes up, just message me
- 3 hours or more before your in-person lesson
- 30 minutes or more before your online lesson
to cancel now and schedule later / reschedule now. The payment for that lesson goes towards your next lesson.
Cancellations / Rescheduling after those times costs 25% of your session fee.
Full refund to your original form of payment if student hasn’t started lessons yet.
Once student begins attending, you can ask for a refund at any time and the refund to your original form of payment will be prorated for lessons remaining. Except when your refund request is for:
* Lessons scheduled within the next 24 hours but not less than the required notification time. These will be refunded in Sambucks.
* Lessons scheduled within the next 3 hours (in-person) or 30 minutes (online). These will be refunded in Sambucks minus the 25% session fee.
Ongoing Courses
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Not started | Yes | N/A |
| Used / started | No | Yes |
| Refund window | Anytime | |
| Unused expiration | Classes don’t expire | |
| In form of | Original payment method | |
Courses that fall under this category include:
- こどものにほんご Japanese for Kids
- かいわのれんしゅう Speaking practice for beginners
- courses with rolling enrollment; no hard start and end dates
Full refund to your original form of payment if student hasn’t started going to lessons yet.
Once student begins attending, the refund to your original form of payment will be whatever is left after subtracting the number of used classes at the 2x-a-month rate. (Packages are discounted since you’re buying in bulk).
You can convert the remaining classes (at the discounted rate) to Sambucks and use it to join a different class or course.
Trials are available. Do a trial to see if the class is for you before committing to a package.
Physical orders and pre-orders
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Not shipped | Yes | N/A |
| Shipped | No | Yes |
| Refund window | 180 days | 45 days |
| Unused expiration | None | |
| In form of | Original payment method | |
Products that fall under this category include:
- physical items that will be shipped
Full refund to your original form of payment if the order hasn’t been shipped yet. You have 180 days from date of purchase to request a refund.
Once the order has shipped, shipping and handling are non-refundable. If you wish to return the item and be refunded the remaining amount, you assume the responsibility of packing and mailing it. You have 45 days from when it ships to request a refund.
Your refund will be processed via your original form of payment when we receive the item and the item is:
- still in the original packaging, unopened or
- opened but in pristine condition, complete and whole.
in-person courses
If you cancel . . .
| 4 days or more before program start date |
100% refund |
| 1 – 3 days before program start date |
50% refund |
| day of or after program start date |
No refund |
No discounted rates or refunds for joining late, leaving early or being dismissed early.
Japanese Summer language programs are very short. Please consider giving another child the chance to join in if your child can only make it 1 or 2 days.
Students can catch up through the online mini-lessons if they miss part or all of a day’s lessons.
Students who 1) disrupt or endanger the class and are sent home and/or 2) break the Class Agreement will be dismissed from the program and not be allowed to return.
On-demand / Video courses
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Used / started | Yes | No |
| Refund window | 24 hours* | N/A |
| Unused expiration | N/A | |
| In form of | Original payment method | |
Courses that fall under this category include:
- digital courses with any combination of text, audio and video
- courses with limited live instructor involvement; students are taught through recorded media
Full refund to your original form of payment if within 24 hours of purchase and *you send me the completed worksheet or activity listed in the description of the specific course you want refunded.
Access Passes
Refund possible.
| Full | Partial | |
|---|---|---|
| Used / started | Yes | Yes / No* |
| Refund window | 3 hours / 24 hours* | Anytime |
| Unused expiration | Expires on the last date of the pass / N/A* | |
| In form of | Original payment method | |
You can request a refund at any time unless it’s a Lifetime Access Pass (see below).
Full refund to original form of payment within 3 hours of purchase. After that, you’ll be refunded for any days remaining on your pass from the date the refund is processed.
Consider pausing your access if you need to take a break. Access passes can be paused once for up to a year.
* Lifetime Access Passes
Full refund granted within 24 hours of purchase only.
Try it out before committing to an annual or lifetime access pass.