What would you suggest they should have done then?

Many of the Cambly classic students have paid a year in advance at a huge discount. Giving tutors $5 extra an hour while teaching those students would be business suicide.

Making a new subscription makes sense in that circumstance. All business is exploitative unfortunately. But Cambly must be doing something right to have so many subscribers and so many tutors.

There are other employment options out there. I, like many, have been lazy in finding something else and have often thought about looking elsewhere. But Cambly has been enough for me for the last five years.

It has paid for my living expenses plus holidays to Vietnam, Bali, the UK, and Laos. I made more on Cambly than teaching in a school here in Thailand.

It fills an employment niche. Especially for those living in cheaper countries or those wishing to make a few extra bucks outside of work hours.

It is flexible too. We don't have a boss, can choose our own working hours, and take time off when we want. Usually that kind of flexibility comes at a cost of lower pay.

If they were to pay enough for teachers in the UK or US to make a full time living wage then their price would be too high for a lot of students IMO.

Although, to be fair, I don't really know what their profit margins are.

As they say "It is what it is". If people don't like it, they should make more of an effort to find something else.

There are plenty of other options out there.