Is chess coaching a scam or no?

I keep having bad experiences with chess coaches.
The last coach I tried, I wanted him to teach me chess theory, but he just insisted that I use the database.
Problem is that All those lines don't stick and I'm not a good independent chess student.
I specifically paid him to train me, but he just took my money, played me in 4games and said, if you want to improve, learn to memorize the database. WTF!?

Are there any chess TRAINERS, not coaches?

Just stick to youtube opening vids

Don't think opening lines is something as such is hot topic in coaching. Well maybe with explaining how why theory thinks some move is best. But if you look for training with particular intent you should discuss with trainer before hand if you do have matching goals for training.

I know quite few very strong player who have benefited from chess coach. So in large scale of things is not scam.

You are lucky: I don't charge money for my postings/training. :D

-No

No maybe

Like anything else in life, there are good coaches and bad coaches. If you keep finding only bad ones, maybe you need a different way of finding coaches.

Regardless of the coach/trainer nuance, paying people to teach you chess is indeed a thing; even GMs have teachers and analysts when they need them. The thing is that you need to find a coach that works for you, and I'm talking about communication, specialization, and stuff like that. A coach telling you what you have to work on is a legit thing too. He's not gonna do the work for you, but he can diagnose you and tell you what to study.
@DontShadowBan said in #1:
> Problem is that All those lines don't stick and I'm not a good independent chess student.
I get it, but that's a problem on your side, not the coach's. Figure out how to become good at studying chess by yourself. I don't know how to, but yeah.

Remember: anybody with a title can hang their shingle out there. Doesn't matter whether they're dedicated or even particularly interested in teaching (maybe they just thought it would be an easy way for them to make money--and certainly easier than having to win tournaments).

Also bear in mind that a lot of recipients look upon it as both status symbol and a means to "lighten the load" (as though having a teacher means that you won't have to do quite so much work yourself). I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a scam...but it can be a bit of a con (and sometimes I'm afraid that's a self-con).