It is pretty typical for anyone selling anything to NOT tell you prices over the phone because some kind of studies have shown it is harder for people to say "no" in person. Over the phone, it is a lot less awkward to simply hang up.
It's more the ability to establish value before discussing price. If price is the only variable you have in front of you then it is all you will use to make your choice. But it is not the only thing you should look at.
Think about it in any other context, if you where buying a tv, you wouldn't just call a place and ask how much a tv is. You'd look at size, resolution, colour quality, etc. Just calling 2 places and getting 2 prices then going with the cheapest option without actually looking at the product would be a poor way to make a choice.
This practice might change as the way we make choices changes. A few years back if you wanted to train you grabbed the yellow pages. Now you can visit a website, see online reviews, probably see pictures and videos from classes. You can find out a lot more about a place without leaving the house now, so prices up front might become less of a issue.
But there will always be bottom feeders that try to promote themselves as the cheapest option. I don't want to compete with them, nor would any other full time school. You just can't do it and offer the same sort of service.
The fees are not out of line for a full time school, 130 / month is pretty normal. As for the promotion cycle, it really depends. That is not enough to make any sort of call. The biggest changes in your ability are going to happen at the beginning. So if the belts go quick in the beginning to reflect this that's fine. What really matters is the quality of what you are learning, the safety involved and whether or not you are enjoying it. How they assign belts doesn't make much difference. all they are is to show progress within he school / organization and improve retention through goal setting.
