Concerns with Hometown Quotes

[Crabcake Johnny]

Under this kind of comp plan it seems to me that the vendor could charge a very modest per-lead increase and ditch the Ehealth redirect.

 

[Justin Bilyj]

John should set up his own IHIAA lead center LOL

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I wouldn't wish running a lead company on anyone. If I had serious cash and had my choice of running 50 businesses, running a lead business would be 51.

 

[Hunter]

Bob...thanks for the info. I can see the value in having it. Here is what we are going to do. Due to the feedback of this forum we will be adding a filter that allows agents to filter med conditions for ALL applicants. I have no ETA or price at this point but I have cleared it for IT to work on. Thanks for the feedback.

I'd like to know, and I'm dead serious, what it would take for any lead vendor to route all leads to my page instead of Ehealth's.

Good question. We are willing to talk to any agent about linking directly to their website. We plan on opening it up to all agents before long but IT is swamped right now and hasn't built the interface to be able to do it quickly. Right now we are only doing it for larger agents due to the cost associated with getting the IT work done. I see a lot of value in bringing this functionality to everyone because ultimately if it is good for the consumer and the agent then it is good for us.

I mean, if it's all about money and no one cares if the agent is screwed then let's start the bidding and redirect all leads to my site.

The reason our company got started was because I, as an agent, was tired of the agent getting screwed. I have never professed to be right all the time and I will tell you that our company does and will make mistakes. The one thing I can say is that we are trying. We are trying to make a difference in our lives, agents lives and consumers lives. Think that is BS? Well...ok but we are passionate about it and we can agree to disagree.

As some have pointed out this is not a cakewalk of a business to be in, on either side. We are doing our best to get good leads, not charge too much, give the filters that are needed, give credits on leads that we have to pay for regardless and compete with carriers who can bid $35 a CLICK while keeping our company profitable. AHHH!!!

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Redirecting to Eheath is screwing the agents who buy leads. Period. Ehealth is large enough - let 'em generate their own leads.

And it is indeed getting to be all BS. All the affiliate nonsense and "secret" trading partnerships (which are about as as much of a secret as a bad Hair Club for Men rug) are starting to wear out our patience. This is not directed at HTQ - just the shennigans in general. Enough already.

It is a SHITTY consumer experience when they get pummeled with agent calls. Go survey a single prospect who is happy when 5 agents call.

Let's price out solid leads where vendors make a profit without all the games. Forget all the agents who want "cheap" garbage leads. Do they last? No.

I keep hearing from lead vendors "but it doesn't matter that we redirect to Ehealth." Great, since it doesn't matter just direct everyone to my site.

 

[MikeLevy]

I'd like to know, and I'm dead serious, what it would take for any lead vendor to route all leads to my page instead of Ehealth's.

From what I understand Ehealth doesn't pay per lead, just a spiff when and app's completed.

I mean, if it's all about money and no one cares if the agent is screwed then let's start the bidding and redirect all leads to my site.

They pay per quote as well as completed app and that is where the difference is. Completed app alone is not enough. You wouldn't want to pay for the traffic. Trust me on this one, while I'm not questioning eHealth's business model, you wouldn't want to spend money like they do. Just let them keep your lead costs down!
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And it is indeed getting to be all BS. All the affiliate nonsense and "secret" trading partnerships (which are about as as much of a secret as a bad Hair Club for Men rug) are starting to wear out our patience. This is not directed at HTQ - just the shennigans in general. Enough already.

It is a SHITTY consumer experience when they get pummeled with agent calls. Go survey a single prospect who is happy when 5 agents call.

Let's price out solid leads where vendors make a profit without all the games. Forget all the agents who want "cheap" garbage leads. Do they last? No.

LOL. Hair club for men. I agree with all of this, especially the part about 5 agents. Even 5 is too much for an individual lead, even most business leads. No one want's 5 phone calls during dinner. The real shame is that so many lead services are selling to more than 5. Some even say up to 8 on the forms and we've heard of much, much more in these forums alone.
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The reason our company got started was because I, as an agent, was tired of the agent getting screwed. I have never professed to be right all the time and I will tell you that our company does and will make mistakes. The one thing I can say is that we are trying. We are trying to make a difference in our lives, agents lives and consumers lives. Think that is BS? Well...ok but we are passionate about it and we can agree to disagree.

As some have pointed out this is not a cakewalk of a business to be in, on either side. We are doing our best to get good leads, not charge too much, give the filters that are needed, give credits on leads that we have to pay for regardless and compete with carriers who can bid $35 a CLICK while keeping our company profitable. AHHH!!!

Beautifully put. No truer words have been said. BTW, who was screwing you when YOU were an agent?
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I wouldn't wish running a lead company on anyone. If I had serious cash and had my choice of running 50 businesses, running a lead business would be 51.

It used to be good before all the wholesale promiscuous lead swapping, incentivization, and rogue affiliates. It's kind of ironic, I look back now at the way things were 3 years ago when all we ever heard about was lead companies selling leads from bad affiliates. The incentivization and out-of-control lead swapping we see today is so much worse it makes me nostalgic for the old days. It's amazing how the bar has dropped.

 

[somarco]

who was screwing you when YOU were an agent?

She is now his ex-wife . . .

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

As some have pointed out this is not a cakewalk of a business to be in, on either side. We are doing our best to get good leads, not charge too much, give the filters that are needed, give credits on leads that we have to pay for regardless and compete with carriers who can bid $35 a CLICK while keeping our company profitable. AHHH!!!

It used to be good before all the wholesale promiscuous lead swapping, incentivization, and rogue affiliates.

I find it almost laughable how lead providers are universally crying poor-mouth, and telling is how tough it is to be them...

I believe the reality is that it's insanely profitable. Why else would so many be in the game? Because it's tough and marginally profitable?

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

It's more insane when they lose a long-term agent over fighting for a return here and there.

Who WINS when a vendor denies a lead credit to an agent who was spending thousands and leaves? Sounds like penny wise and pound foolish.

I know of a case where an agent was spending $500 a week for around 6 months on a particular vendor. They got in an argument over TWO lead credits.

Result...the vendor WON and fight and LOST the agent's business. That agent now is spending $500 a week with another vendor.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

A bit off-topic, but when you Google "Health Insurance leads."...this site comes up first:

Health Insurance Leads

I used to use them MANY years ago. But I think they have been out of business for at least a few years now.