Who Has LOW Rates for Seniors

[Josh]

For some reason when talking to client they think you have all answers for insurance, which I don't but, I would like to point them in the right direction.

Tell them to do the same thing anyone else in any other age bracket should do, shop their coverage.

 

[VolAgent]

Why would it annoy you when an agent says they work with 20 companies to try and find you the lowest rate? That's what agents do, as well as service the customer. Those same people may use Expedia.com to seek low travel rates and that shouldn't make a travel agent have a bad name if someone would like to pay for the services provided. We state our fees, nothing is a surprise to our clients.

Yes, but a TA can sell anything expedia can. Expedia is just another TA with a different model. A better comparison would be Expedia versus Southwest Airlines. The only way to buy is direct from Southwest, you can't buy a ticket for them from Expedia.

 

[Aram Fingal]

It may vary depending on where you live. But I know that when I come up against Hartford AARP quotes, my Hartford quote is usually quite a bit more. That's in WA, might be different in other states (or even other parts of WA for that matter)

I'm not a P&C agent but the feedback I get from people is that if you buy the AARP branded policy from Hartford you pay MORE not less than going direct with Hartford.

Is that not true?

 

[BlockO]

You don't want to leave independent agents out of the equation, but it annoys me when some indy agents say, "Hey, I'm an independent agent working with 20 companies, let me shop the market for you.

Why does that annoy you? If I had 20 companies, that would be my #1 sales pitch.

 

[Norwayguy]

What's funny is that if you provide a quote from The Hartford to a client, the fine print at the bottom of the quote says you can get this for 5% less if you go direct with the Hartford vs going with an agent. Ridiculous

I would guess that part of the quote would not make it to the consumer.

 

[AgentProvocateur]

Why does that annoy you? If I had 20 companies, that would be my #1 sales pitch.

It annoys me because agents saying this are usually referring to all the companies they represent, regardless of how few of them apply to the line of insurance or type of risk.

If the customer is looking for personal auto, what does it matter if the agent represents a commercial carrier? If the customer is looking for mobile home insurance, what does it matter if the agent represents Chubb? What does it matter to a preferred risk auto customer if 10 of the 15 auto insurance companies their agent represents are nonstandard?

I was speaking to an indy agent in my state a few years ago, and he said, until recently, his agency was basically a Safeco insurance agency for personal lines, although he represented many companies.

If you tell an auto insurance prospect you are independent, you represent 20 companies, and you'll shop the market for them, the prospect is going to think, "Great! Instead of calling several agents or companies myself, I'll let you shop the market for me with 20 major auto insurance companies, like State Farm, Allstate, American Family, Geico, etc."

Independent agents provide a lot of value by being able to work with multiple companies. I don't believe there is such a thing as "discount" auto insurance. Direct writers don't always have the lowest rates. Independent agents often have competitive rates. But I think it is deceptive for an independent agent to say they are shopping the market for a customer, when there is much of the auto & home insurance market they don't represent.

I don't think it's wise for consumers to depend on one agent for coverage advice and quotes. There are great agents, with experience & expertise, taking care of their customers. But there are many agents simply hustling for sales. And I don't think the average consumer can tell the difference among the good, bad, or mediocre agents. People may be lucky if the worst thing about their auto insurance coverage is they are paying too much.

There are some indy agents using the "I'll shop the market for you" sales pitch, a prospective client should avoid completely, much less depend on them as their sole source of information on the insurance market.