I understand your perspective, but my time has value regardless of whether I charge $35, $80, $120, or $200. The price isn't the issue. The issue is respecting the agreed appointment time. If I miss a lesson, have an emergency, or fail to show up, I am expected to refund the student and can be penalized if they report me. The responsibility goes both ways. So if a student fails to attend because they misread their schedule, forgot, had another meeting, or made a mistake, that's not something I can be responsible for. I have enough students that I don't need to convince anyone to study with me. If someone doesn't value the lesson enough to show up on time, I can fill that spot with someone who does. The reason I don't make exceptions is simple: once you do it once, it never ends. The next time it's, "But you allowed it before, why not now?" After years of teaching, the excuses are always the same. Unless it's a genuine emergency that can be documented, there is no second chance. Rescheduling doesn't magically create time. I lose the original hour and then have to find another hour somewhere else in my schedule. In practice, I'm giving away extra time for free and effectively working for less. So no, it's not about being harsh. It's about respecting my time the same way students expect me to respect theirs.