Internet insurance cutting out agents

by TLE » Tue Jan 20, 2009 04:48 am
Posts: 20
Joined: 17 Dec 2008

I was wondering if all these company's I see on TV that sell insurance on the internet and do not use an agent and they give a discount if you buy on line,does this hurt sales for some agents, and is it possible this could eliminate the agents job.

Total Comments: 81

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 03:46 pm Post Subject:

Lori,

:? I have no idea what point you are attempting to make. :?

The crux of TLE's topic was that it's less money for consumers to buy insurance online rather than through an agent.

That is a false premise.

I don't know what point you are attempting to make by quoting Progressive's own double talk from their site.

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 05:28 pm Post Subject:

It will definitely cut off insurance agents jobs. I'm not an insurance agent but working for a insurance company on internet & I get paid only to give them valid leads. In short I'm marketing their product on internet as per their requirements. But frankly there is some risk involved in applying for an insurance online. After all it's individual choice.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:23 am Post Subject:

Would you care to tell me whether there's any other advantage (apart from the rates) of getting it directly from Progressive rather than getting it from an agent!

No Fatman I can't and let me say without question I AM NOT ADVOCATING buying ins direct, rather than thru an agent, nor do I know the price difference, all I know is there is one...I'm old school and think darn near everyone needs an agent to help them..Now after my agent retires, I may consider it but then again I have over twenty years in P&C little different than the average Joe... :wink:

I have no idea what point you are attempting to make.

Gary the only point I am making is when we/you say that there is NO DIFFERENCE IN PRICE between an agent and buying direct

That is a false premise.

we are not making an acurate statement...there is (apparently) a difference...that's all...I didn't say it Gary you did...I just want to be clear that there is a difference...I NEVER said it was more or less...and I'm willing to be that other sites say the same, unless they are a captive agent company......

I don't know what point you are attempting to make by quoting Progressive's own double talk from their site.


What double talk? All I did was look at the site, right there in the FAQ it says there is a difference...period Gary....All I'm doing is making it clear that there is indeed a difference that's (again) it...what is your point in posting there is no difference? :?

It will definitely cut off insurance agents jobs.

I have that concern as well especially in the P&C lines...already have witnessed it... :(

But frankly there is some risk involved in applying for an insurance online

You aren't kidding there is had a claim i handled today perfect example...the kid truly thought he had chosen a 1k deductible, but he chose 2k, he agreed it was ''all'' him because he completed it himself on line...but I can't help think an agent setting in front of him would've made sure he understood the ramification of a 2k deductible...especially when you in your early 20's and 2k is pretty dog gone hard to come up with.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 05:39 am Post Subject:

Horizon,

But frankly there is some risk involved in applying for an insurance online. After all it's individual choice.



Do care to explain the risks associated with shopping for insurance online? You seem to have a great deal of knowledge in marketing insurance products online, but being in the same profession, why do you think its not a good idea?

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:51 am Post Subject:

For those of you who need marriage counseling do you see :shock: why :shock: men and women argue?

Dear Lori,

The MAIN point, the ISSUE, the TOPIC of this thread is not whether or not there may be a price difference. (There is no such difference for life insurance, it's EXACTLY the same premium.)

The sales and marketing of those TV commercials promoting someone go online to buy their insurance *infer that buying online is LESS money than buying from an agent.

That's the hook. You'll save money generically. AND that is also patently FALSE.

Now for some bIzZaRre reason you want to argue there MAY be a price difference.

I will bet my :P Properly and Casually :wink: license right now you won't be able to get quote online from Progressive that is less money than what a Progressive agent can sell the exact same contract.

A TV commercial is a form of prospecting for new clients, if the commercial actually said you may pay more online than through an agent, that wouldn't motivate someone buy insurance online....would it?

There has to a perceived benefit for doing it and saving mythical dollars is always the advertizing hook.

*infer
3. to guess; speculate; surmise.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:55 am Post Subject:

Now for some bIzZaRre reason you want to argue there MAY be a price difference.

Gary, why is something/anything 'bissarre' ( :? ) because they disagree with you? :roll: The only thing I disagreed with was your statement that there is NO difference...apparently per that particular carrier there IS a difference...period...again my only point and argument is you posted inaccurate information by saying there is NO difference in the price when there clearly is...(or atleast that site says there is)...my ONLY point was to make sure accruate information is being posted...period..

I will bet my Properly and Casually license right now you won't be able to get quote online from Progressive that is less money than what a Progressive agent can sell the exact same contract

THAT my friend is a HUGE wager (oh wait you don't use/sell it do you? :lol: )...When did I say it was less money? I didn't EVER all I did say was it wasn't the same (for the umteenths time in direct opposition of what you said)...the agent price could be less I don't know...

I don't know that I've seen any commercials that say it's cheaper to buy on line, could be out there, but I rarely pay much attention to commercials...what I do get from the ones I've seen are 'convenience' ie you can shop for insurance at midnight in your jammies...that's all I've got from them...

(by the way I DO know the definition of 'infer' do you know the definition of 'i made a mistake'? :wink: )

The MAIN point, the ISSUE, the TOPIC of this thread is not whether or not there may be a price difference.

Then why did you say there was no difference? And I believe the ''original'' main topic/point and issue of the thread was is the internet hurting the agent pool? (IMO it has to hurting agents, not due to cost at all but anyone buying direct on line ISN'T buying from an agent...isn't that what you like to call third grade math Gary? :wink: )

(There is no such difference for life insurance, it's EXACTLY the same premium.)

I'll take your word for that Gary.....

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:36 pm Post Subject:

Dear Friends,

What we got goin' on here is an Internet THREAD WAR!

I'll play!

No, Ms. Show-Me state you NEVER said it was less money. AND NEITHER DO THOSE COMMERCIALS!

They NEVER, EVER, not one time, EVER state it's less money to buy online than through an agent. Because it's NOT!

Yes, you're right....there is a price difference....it's MORE MONEY TO BUY ONLINE than through an agent.

That's MY STAND......not Allstate's....and until a real P & C agent or someone posts credible information to the contrary I will proffer your OPINION is just that....your opinion.

Will someone PLEASE go waste their time and effort and get a quote online from Progressive, then PLEASE go get a quote from a Progressive agent and see for yourself if it's less money to buy online.

However, please DO NOT waste an agent's time if you have no intention of buying or changing your auto insurance.

Then send me your online quote and the Progressive agent's quote and I'll post the facts on this thread.

Two (2) SHOW-ME state person's MUST be shown the facts.

:P THIS IS WAR!!!!!! :wink:

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 01:37 pm Post Subject:

Do care to explain the risks associated with shopping for insurance online?


I guess its quite like the risks associated with other natural online purchases..you'd never know the actual identity of the seller...you'd risk your credit card info to complete strangers...you'd dispatch a certain amount without knowing what you'd receive in return...you could never rest assured of whether you're 'covered' in its true sense or not!

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 01:47 pm Post Subject:

GARY, for the love of all that's good, why are you finding it so difficult to understand that my ONLY disagreement with your post is that the progressive site clearly says there IS a difference in the premium...that's it...nothing more...you clearly posted there is NO difference in premium...now have pity on this old woman and answer this one simply question that you continue to avoid...Does the progressive site say that the premiums are the same as you posted? OR does it say NO they are not the same! Your typing big and in color does not change the fact...nor does it make you correct...

Yes, you're right....there is a price difference....it's MORE MONEY TO BUY ONLINE than through an agent.

Right there that's all I wanted (in bold)...you posted there was no difference, which was not correct, there is a difference, as to costing more on line, I'd say per your own admission you really don't know that to be true...nor do I that's why I didn't make that claim!

I will proffer your OPINION is just that....your opinion.

As is yours diffence is the ONLY opinion I offered was fact based, that the particular site we were discussing clearly stated the opposite of what you stated (no diffence in premium)...For (i hope) the last time...My ONLY agrument on this thread is that I stand counter from your orginal (non-fact based) claim that the premiums are 'the same'...that's all now you've admitted that was an incorrect statement that you made...I'm happy...

THIS IS WAR!!!!!!

Not unless you're fighting it with yourself...I won... :wink:

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:18 am Post Subject:

Dear Lori,

To date there has only been two (2) Internet Thread WARS that I have lost in my entire *SAFE carreer and this wasn't one of them because you can't claim victory without credible and verifiable facts which YOU my dear have not provided.

SHOW ME the difference in price from buying online or through an agent with the exact same company with the exact same contract.

SHOW ME.

For those of you who are wondering about my two losses both were on very, very, very extremely technical issues.

One was regarding an IRC Section 72t exception for SEPP prior to age 59 1/2 from qualified pension plans and the other was on this board regarding the actual crediting method of guaranteed interest on a company specific Indexed Univeral Life policy. I am eternally grateful for the posters who took me to the woodshed on those threads so that I may provide exactly correct information to my clients in the future.

Also Missy......you are quoting me out of context....I was specifically typing about LIFE INSURANCE not auto insurance when I made that quote before TLE ever asked about Progressive's online rates.

Back to the facts, SHOW ME the auto insurance policy proposal whereby auto insurance with Progressive is a differrent premium for the EXACT same contract and the only thing that was "different" was the method by which the policy was purchased.

SHOW ME!

ONLY then can you claim victory and I'll eat crow and have three (3) losses in my entire *SAFE carreer vs hundreds of victories with a winning percent of 99.9475896%

Pfffffffffffffffffffffffttt!


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