Has Online Shopping for Auto Insurance Peaked?

By | May 13, 2014

  • May 13, 2014 at 1:49 pm
    Aaron Stein says:
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    The simple fact is that the profits have been ‘beaten’ out of the system at this point and everybody can’t always be 15% cheaper than the next. Add to that the fact that many agency carriers have rates just as good as the online rates, particularly for creditworthy customers, and the incentive and novelty just starts to wear out.

  • May 13, 2014 at 1:55 pm
    Original Bob says:
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    Not surprising to me! First I spent 15 minutes with GEICO and saved 15% then I went to Einsurance spent 7.5 minutes with them to save 30%, then on to Progressive where I used their pricing gun to cut another 40% then I went back to GEICO for 15 minutes and saved another 15% and finally back to Einsurance for 7 minutes for another 30% off. In one hour, similar to the laws of calculus, I never quite reached zero premium but got close enough to “free” insurance to stop shopping.

    • May 13, 2014 at 2:13 pm
      Agent says:
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      I like your sarcasm OBob. Many of these online shoppers get a rude awakening when they think they have saved and all of a sudden, the tickets, accidents, claims hit the activity and the premium goes way up. These quotes are quoted blind and then they are adjusted for activity. Oops! I guess the old carrier wasn’t so bad after all. Oops! Why did my Homeowners go up? What is companion credit mean?

  • May 13, 2014 at 2:43 pm
    Dan Wolfgram says:
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    Great job by The Insurance Journal, again. Thanks for sharing this information. Build deep relationships with your clients and represent great insurance company partners and the 1-800 cheapinsurance companies become less of a factor.

    • May 13, 2014 at 4:22 pm
      Agent says:
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      There is an old saying that still holds true. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. There may have been a fair number of people that have been burned by the online carriers who promised several hundred dollars in savings and it didn’t turn out so well. Bait and switch used to be illegal in insurance dealings. Apparently, these big online carriers don’t have to observe the rules agents do every day of the week.

      • May 14, 2014 at 11:58 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        Bait and switch is still illegal in insurance. Do you have any proof of bait and switch by the big online insurance companies or are you just disparaging your competition?

        Typical of you, tear down others to build yourself up.

        In addition, please clarify your statement in your other post, “What is companion credit mean?”? When you criticize someone else’s grammar, you had better be perfect all of the time. Otherwise, stop pointing out the gramatical errors of others and focus on the message. You need to accept the fact that nobody is perfect, including you.

        • May 14, 2014 at 2:46 pm
          Agent says:
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          You just couldn’t stand it, could you Ron? Was I replying to you? Perhaps you should go on a website and find out about “Bait & Switch”. You promise someone an inducement to get them to change and then can’t back it up is classic bait and switch. On my second statement, I was trying to be a low information person as an example. We hear that all the time from people calling us. I am sorry you didn’t get it. By the way, for every grammatical error I make, you make 10. Now, get lost!

          • May 14, 2014 at 8:59 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            if stop making foolish, groundless statements, I will stop pointing them out.

            I know the definition of bait & switch. I was asking if you any proof and, surprise, surprise, NOTHING. What exactly do these online insurance companies promise then not back up? Of course you will go to you old standby of suggesting that I need to use common sense, but no evidence.

            You do not have to try to be a low information person, you seem to have that down pat. I am basing that solely on your posts.

            Do you really have people that call your agency and ask, “What is companion credit mean?”? Oh yeah, you are in Texas.

            I may make more grammatical errors than you, but for every time I am wrong, you are wrong 100 times. I will take that over grammatical errors any day.

            I am not going anywhere. It’s America!!

          • May 15, 2014 at 8:55 am
            Ron says:
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            Corrections: If you stop…; and …if you have any proof…

            If I ever learn to type, I will be dangerous.

          • May 15, 2014 at 10:25 am
            Libby says:
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            We knew what you meant, Ron. Only Agent would be petty enough to criticize you.

          • May 15, 2014 at 2:56 pm
            Agent says:
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            I forgot Ron, you aren’t into retail agency operations and never have to answer to a low information customer or try to decipher what they are saying. You sit up there in your ivory tower pontificating how we all should do business and if we have an opinion or experience you don’t agree with, you go on the attack. I have my faults, but at least I am not two faced like you have admitted to being on more than one occasion. That is one of the worst things to be, by the way. How is your relationship with your father in law coming along? Does he still call you a Progressive Socialist troll?

          • May 15, 2014 at 3:59 pm
            Libby says:
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            Finally! You admit you have faults. Would you care to elaborate on them or shall we?

          • May 16, 2014 at 8:17 am
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            From what you have posted in the past, answering to low information customers pays quite well. I am guessing you do well with it because you are all on the same level.

            You complain that I denegrate your success as a successful agent and that I insult you, yet you have no problem slinging them around. If you can’t take it, do not dish it out.

            My Father-in-Law and I have always had and continue to have a great relationship. We respect each other and each other’s opinion even if we do not always agree. Funny thing is, we agree on most things, especially from a political standpoint.

            You are just too blind to realize that you and I actually agree on many positions. The problem is that you focus too much on where we disagree. And that is just sad.

            I guess I will have to keep saying it in the hopes that you will someday be able to comprehend. I only admitted to being two-faced from a political perspective. I do not blindly vote party lines and will change my support from one candidate to another if I do not agree with how they serve the office and/or vote. Get it?? Highly unlikely.

  • May 14, 2014 at 12:26 pm
    Jim Holm says:
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    I was quite intrigued by the headline and premise for this story. Unfortunately, the data presented isn’t directly related.

    With Google traffic increasing greatly every year I find it hard to believe data exists that actually proves online auto activity is actually decreasing any more than overall quoting activity.

    http://www.statisticbrain.com/google-searches/

    I also check Google Adwords stats and don’t see a decline between this year and last year.

    • May 15, 2014 at 4:03 pm
      Agent says:
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      Libby, you go first and then I will respond in kind to you and Ron.

      • May 15, 2014 at 4:06 pm
        Libby says:
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        I swear too much. My ego gets too big sometimes. I’m impulsive and I drive too fast.

        Your turn.

        • May 15, 2014 at 5:36 pm
          Agent says:
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          So you are on a first name basis with the local police or Highway patrolman. How much are you surcharged on your Personal Auto for all those tickets? If you get too many, Progressive will still write you for a price. It does get expensive after a while.

          • May 16, 2014 at 8:23 am
            Ron says:
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            You said, “Libby, you go first and then I will respond in kind to you and Ron.”. Then Libby lists her faults and you came up with that post? We are still waiting to hear about your faults.

            No, I will not list my faults before you list yours so do not ask.

          • May 16, 2014 at 9:43 am
            Libby says:
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            Who says I have tickets? I have a clean driving record and am in a preferred tier with my carrier. If I am stopped, I can usually sweet talk my way out of it. Too bad you’re not able to do that with your disposition.

        • May 19, 2014 at 5:23 pm
          Agent says:
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          Libby, You haven’t scratched the surface yet. Please do some soul searching. Surely, you can do better than saying your ego is too big and swearing too much and driving too fast (endangering the public). Do you text while you drive as well?

          My faults are arguing in vain with Socialist Liberals who can’t see the light no matter what the evidence is. My other faults apparently are believing in a Constitutional Republic, Capitalism over Progressive Socialism, Work ethic over entitlements, less taxes over more taxes, incentives for business to hire instead of burdening them with more of job killing programs and Obamacare, the mother of all job killing programs ever invented. By the way Ron, I am sure you noticed that NY is the least friendly state to do business in the entire country beating even Illinois. That is not a record to be proud of no matter how you try to spin it.

          • May 20, 2014 at 12:00 pm
            Libby says:
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            And I have to do some soul searching? That was the most self-serving bunch of bullshit I’ve ever heard. If you can’t do better than that, I sure can.

            1) Your 4th grade reading comprehension level
            2) Your inability to think for yourself
            3) Your ignorance when it comes to almost everything
            4) Your lack of knowledge retention requiring the reiteration of information over and over and over
            5) Your 1950’s view of the world
            6) Your overblown ego and obsession with being “the Agent”

            I’ve got more, but you get my meaning. Or maybe you don’t (see #1 and #4).

      • May 16, 2014 at 3:43 pm
        Libby says:
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        Still waiting for a list of your faults, Agent…

        • May 19, 2014 at 10:57 am
          Libby says:
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          Tick tock. Still waiting….

          • May 19, 2014 at 3:07 pm
            Libby says:
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            As usual, another LIE by Agent. So much for:

            “Libby, you go first and then I will respond in kind to you and Ron.”

  • May 14, 2014 at 1:19 pm
    Insurance Lady says:
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    I got quotes to see for myself how good autoinsurance.com and carinsurance.com really are. They are lead-generating websites and use only carriers who pay to participate. I regret giving out my personal information as within minutes I got several phone calls and days of email solicitations from all over the 50 states
    from insurance agencies. Some could not confirm they were properly licensed to sell auto insurance in my state. What a nightmare! So simply people are going back to their “local” Broker and Independent Agents for their auto insurance.

    • May 14, 2014 at 2:51 pm
      Agent says:
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      Hey Insurance Lady, I am glad you brought this out. It seems everything has a link to something else and it is not surprising you are getting solicitations from everywhere. I don’t know how many times I have unsubscribed from sites that were linked to something else. It always seems to take 72 hours to remove or in some cases, unsubscribing several times to get rid of them.

  • May 14, 2014 at 2:45 pm
    Analyst says:
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    What’s really happening is that companies are pulling credit later in the online shopping experience (if at all) as they get smarter about balancing the cost of the quote vs. likelihood to buy. What appears from TransUnion’s perspective to be flatening out or even declining quote volumes is really just fewer hits to it’s database. A very flawed study in my opinion.

    • May 14, 2014 at 3:24 pm
      SWFL Agent says:
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      If you look at premium & PIF growth of the direct carriers over the past few years it certainly doesn’t mirror this study.

    • May 14, 2014 at 3:27 pm
      Agent says:
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      Analyst, do the online companies ask a potential customer about claims, tickets, accidents, underage drivers with problems? From what I have seen from GEICO quotes, they are quoting blind and then they put a disclaimer at the bottom of it and say that reports will be run which could change the premium. If a customer disregards the disclaimer and takes it anyway, they do so at their own peril (especially if they have some activity).

      • May 14, 2014 at 4:44 pm
        Libby says:
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        Yes, they ask. But you can always lie. Of course if you to that, it’s not bait and switch.

        • May 14, 2014 at 5:39 pm
          Agent says:
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          It is bait and switch if you advertise 24/7 on numerous channels that you can save someone $500 with a simple call or go online. The low information Walmartians fall for it and don’t even have the sense to ask a question and are very gullible. Flo says on her ad – Pick your own price. Is that Bait & Switch? So what if there is no coverage their for the price the people want to pay. People lie to us all the time about their record and we tell them reports will be run and the premium might change. It is amazing how selective memory works. By the way, what is a Commercial Claims manager doing weighing in on Personal Lines when she has no contact with it and she says you couldn’t pay me enough to work in that field?

          • May 15, 2014 at 7:42 am
            CL PM says:
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            Agent – it is interesting how even an experienced insurance person like yourself can miss what the companies are saying about savings. What they say is “customers who have switched saved $XXX.” That is not the same as saying “switch to us and you will save $XXX.” Of course those that have switched have saved money – that’s why many, if not most people, switch carriers. But all the audience hears is the same message that you heard. It is a very deceptive statement.

          • May 15, 2014 at 8:39 am
            Libby says:
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            GEICO says “15 minutes COULD save you 15% on car insurance.” Nothing deceptive about that.

            Is there bait? Yes. Is there switch? No.

            And what is a lowly BOP and P/L agent doing weighing in on the intricacies of experience mods and risk management? Leave that to the BIG boys.

            And BTW, P/L is not rocket science and since I’ve been in this business 34 years and also BUY P/L insurance, I can weigh in intelligently any time I want.

        • May 15, 2014 at 8:41 am
          Libby says:
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          CL PM says:

          “Agent – it is interesting how even an experienced insurance person like yourself can miss what the companies are saying about savings.”

          If you had any idea of Agent’s 5th grade reading comprehension level, this would not have come as a surprise to you. It sure didn’t to me.

          • May 15, 2014 at 4:00 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, Flo, who is getting a bit leathery like you famously says – “Pick your own price” in her famous Progressive ad. There is nothing in her ad that says some people could save 15% or anything. Do you know the implications of a company telling someone to pick their own price for Auto insurance? Is it bait and switch? Absolutely. Your 4th grade education cannot comprehend so I will give you a pass. Go back to answering the phone and taking a claim.

          • May 15, 2014 at 4:05 pm
            Libby says:
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            “Leathery” like me? LOL!!! I’ve got a baby face!

            Here is what Progressive says about “Name your own price”:

            Tell us your budget, and we automatically filter options based on cost. The package that’s closest to your budget is the one you see first.

            There is nothing bait and switch about that or any of the other direct carriers. If there were, they would have been called on it by now.

            Quit with the sour grapes because you’re not a good enough salesman to sell against price and take a reading comprehension class.

            I’m busy with a $329,000 account right now.

  • May 15, 2014 at 1:21 pm
    Knowall says:
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    Online quotes are as accurate as the data entered; such as whether they have health insurance that pays for auto accident injuries or whether they have had claims etc…

    • May 15, 2014 at 1:38 pm
      FFA says:
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      “whether they have health insurance that pays for auto accident injuries”

      What Company asks that?

      • May 15, 2014 at 2:51 pm
        Agent says:
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        Hi FFA, haven’t seen you comment much lately. Of course, the stories haven’t been much and we haven’t had a juicy Obama scandal on these blogs in a while. What do you think about the most recent Obamacare scandal where the British company was awarded a huge contract for application processing etc and all the employees do is sit in front of their computer all day and process nothing. That same company has been ripping off Britain on some other contracts and under investigation. We aren’t getting much for our bucks, are we?

        • May 16, 2014 at 7:06 pm
          FFA says:
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          Been very busy in the field… Had to bring in a producer that started out FAST… My CSR want to be a producer… Fine and dandy with that so that leaves a hole for service.

          Its just been crazy nuts….

          • May 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm
            Agent says:
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            FFA, it is good you are busy, but it is always hard to know when to hire someone else when volume dictates it. All my CSR’s are licensed to sell and they often develop business on their own to supplement their salaries. As long as they get their normal work done, it will be fine. We have found that a very good operating system speeds things up so much that they can handle more volume with the same effort and are free to sell something from a referral or someone they know.

          • May 19, 2014 at 4:12 pm
            FFA says:
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            I got some backing from one of my carriers. Fronting me $30,000 to develop a producer over one year. So, I based her up at $25K and 25% Commis. After her first week, she started writing….

          • May 19, 2014 at 5:11 pm
            Agent says:
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            FFA, good that you got a carrier to do a Producer Development deal for you. We have done that in the past and it worked out pretty well since the young man I did it with is now a partner in the agency. They offered some training for him as well and we sent him to a couple of their schools. The only hassle was the reports we had to send them on business written and we did have to pay back the loan with production volume.

    • May 15, 2014 at 2:47 pm
      Agent says:
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      Knowall, you know nothing just like Libby.

    • May 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm
      Agent says:
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      So Libby, you are busy taking a claim on a $329,000 client. I thought you handled all the jumbo multi-million dollar clients up there in rural Pa. That must be very small fry for your super agency/brokerage. What did they do, run over someone with an 18 wheeler? By the way, I sell against GEICO, Progressive, Allstate all the time and win against their bait and switch low end coverage and cost. The customer has wide eyes when I explain to them they are missing a lot of coverage for that price. They say, wow, I didn’t know they didn’t put Uninsured Motorists on there. Wow, I didn’t know I had $1,000 deductibles for Comprehensive & Collision. Wow, I didn’t know they classified my 16 year old son as adult Personal Use. Now, go back to handling your claim.

      • May 16, 2014 at 9:45 am
        Libby says:
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        I’m busy working on WRITING a $329,000 account, moron. Just because I’m a claim manager doesn’t mean I’m not capable of doing other things. You’re pathetic.

        Go write some personal lines and leave the big stuff to the big boys and girls.

        • May 16, 2014 at 9:46 am
          Libby says:
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          Oh! And $329,000 is just one line. Once we place that, we’ll get the rest. Eat your heart out little agent.

          • May 16, 2014 at 7:07 pm
            FFA says:
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            Is that Commish or volume??? (Yuk Yuk).

          • May 19, 2014 at 9:03 am
            Libby says:
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            I thought you only concentrated on premium volume, FFA. What difference does the revenue amount have to do with it?

          • May 19, 2014 at 1:41 pm
            FFA says:
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            Libby, did u miss the yuk yuk part of the post???

          • May 19, 2014 at 1:44 pm
            Libby says:
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            No. I just don’t have a sense of humor when it comes to this subject thanks to you and Agent.

          • May 19, 2014 at 2:35 pm
            FFA says:
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            Lighten Up Libby… Its Friday (In my head).

          • May 19, 2014 at 2:56 pm
            Agent says:
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            Nice to see you have a substantial account in rural Pennsylvania. How much competition do you have or did they just invite you to write it? Usually, everyone out there doing bigger accounts tie up the market and it is a dog fight to see who has the best bottom line. With your charming personality, I am sure you can get the name on the dotted line and dismiss all competitors.

          • May 19, 2014 at 3:01 pm
            Libby says:
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            They are definitely firing their current agent and we are the only ones in. Yes, my charming personality, and knowledge of insurance and risk management, helped secure this account. Thank you for the compliment.

          • May 19, 2014 at 3:41 pm
            Agent says:
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            Don’t forget to ask for the Personal Lines of the CEO and all the executives. Oh, that’s right, you are Commercial only. Let State Farm or Allstate have all that business.

          • May 19, 2014 at 4:34 pm
            Libby says:
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            I’m sure the P/L department would be happy to write his personal lines. Not me. You’re right. I’m strictly commercial.

            I’m sure in your little agency everyone is supposed to do everything because you’re so small. I call that being a jack of all trades and master of none.

          • May 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm
            FFA says:
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            Libby, Congrats on that one… My Producer Finance comes with a full waive at $200,000. You got that with one stroke of the pen…

          • May 20, 2014 at 3:15 pm
            Libby says:
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            $200,000 premium??? That seems low to validate.

          • May 21, 2014 at 4:30 pm
            FFA says:
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            Our average Commercial Premium is in the $5000 range. We dont come across many big biz ($100,000+) in this state. Most have moved. I have one account that has grown to about $250,000. My established producer has one in the $180,000 range that is a constant payment head ach compounded by a messy divorce among the two owners.

            $200,000 for a green person seems about right for this carrier only.

  • May 19, 2014 at 2:49 pm
    Agent says:
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    FFA, Libby was all over you on premium volume when we had our business discussion weeks back. She can dish it out, but can’t take it. Let’s see, she is a Claims Manager, CSR, Agent, Receptionist, File Clerk and whatever else she wants to claim. Makes you wonder when she has the time to blog all day. She also says she doesn’t take any breaks during the day. Her eyeballs must be floating by the end of the day.

    • May 19, 2014 at 3:05 pm
      Libby says:
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      I WAS a receptionist in 1980.
      I WAS a file clerk in 1980.
      I AM an agent.
      I AM a broker.
      I WAS a CSR in 1988.
      I WAS an Account Executive until 2011.
      I AM a Claim Manager.

      These are not claims. They are the truth. Not that you would know the truth if it came right up and bit you on the ass.

      • May 19, 2014 at 3:38 pm
        Agent says:
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        So you were an Account Executive until 2011 and that is when you got cut loose from the agency in Denver, right? Why aren’t you an Account Manager now? You say you are the smartest in the agency. Are you doing the CSR work on the $329,000 account that one of the former Liberty Mutual guys brought in or do you intend to sell it for commission yourself? Be sure to figure up the revenue like you lectured FFA to do. By the way, do you pick up supplies for the agency at Sam’s as well?

        • May 19, 2014 at 4:38 pm
          Libby says:
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          I wasn’t cut loose in 2011, Agent. I left to move to PA. I’ve told you that before, but you don’t listen. You’re too busy being a blowhard.

          I never said I was the smartest in the Agency, so don’t put words in my mouth. And no, I’m not doing CSR work and don’t ever plan to do CSR work again, thank you very much.

          Liberty Mutual guys are not here.

          And don’t worry about the revenue, I’ve already figured that out. I listed premium because I know that’s all your pea-brain can comprehend. I didn’t want to confuse you with the facts.

          Still waiting for your list of faults. In a couple of minutes, I’ll just list them myself. I’m very familiar with them.

          • May 20, 2014 at 3:49 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, I seem to remember you saying you had some former Liberty Mutual guys in your office that you had to train because they didn’t know how to work and you were the smartest one there to do it. Now, you say there are no Liberty people there. Did you run them off with your sparkling personality? Maybe they left because they couldn’t stand your harassment. I’m former Liberty Mutual and I wouldn’t stay a day being around you. I would have to find a better agency work environment.

          • May 20, 2014 at 4:27 pm
            Libby says:
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            Try to keep up, Agent. That was in Denver.

    • May 19, 2014 at 3:06 pm
      Libby says:
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      And you are “supposedly” a salesman. Makes you wonder how much you’re selling when you’re blogging on here all day. Oh, that’s right! You let your minions do all the work for you since your the “Boss”.

      • May 19, 2014 at 5:07 pm
        Agent says:
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        Boy, that is the pot calling the kettle black. You blog all day every day on every subject appearing on IJ and then on weekends since you don’t have a life. You can’t even take a break during the day for blogging and have admitted to it. How much revenue are you earning on this account you are placing with Excess/Surplus lines? Who is getting the commission credit, you or your boss? Somehow, I don’t think a Claims Manager is going to get commission credit.

        • May 20, 2014 at 1:38 pm
          Libby says:
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          How much revenue it is is none of your business. Isn’t that what you told me? And ANYONE that brings in business in this agency gets paid for it. My boss isn’t a stingy turd like you.

          • May 20, 2014 at 4:38 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, I hate to disappoint you, but I pay top commission to productive producers and encourage them and pat them on the back when they bring in a nice account. The one that has been the most successful is now a partner. He earned his stripes and I helped him as a young producer learning the ropes. Don’t you ever tell me I am stingy, you Progressive witch.

          • May 20, 2014 at 4:48 pm
            Agent says:
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            Except you said they fired their agent. How do you divvy up commission on call in business? Obviously, you didn’t go out there and call on them to try to quote their business. My guess is you may get some kind of bonus for doing the CSR/marketing on the account. Your boss will get the lion’s share for sure.

          • May 21, 2014 at 9:25 am
            Libby says:
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            It wasn’t call in business. It was a referral from two other clients. The boss always gets the lion’s share. That’s why they’re the boss.

    • May 19, 2014 at 5:52 pm
      FFA says:
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      So agent, on to the question that started that whole thing – you got busy again?
      Its too bad we cant connect some how. I have three HH pulling out and heading to your neck of the woods.

      • May 20, 2014 at 3:57 pm
        Agent says:
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        FFA, I am never not busy, but my heaviest season is spring and summer and early fall. I am never so busy I can’t hand Libby her head and her running mate Ron. I am not sure I understand HH. Is that accounts pulling out and moving to Texas? It wouldn’t surprise me any since Illinois is fond of doing that. We have written some business from Blue State people moving here. They are amazed that they don’t pay State Income Tax and they can buy more house and the cost of living is much lower. By the way, if you are still considering moving, I understand that Indiana has a good business environment and I am impressed with Mike Pence. One of the few politicians that have some common sense along with Scott Walker.

        • May 20, 2014 at 4:28 pm
          Libby says:
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          LOL!!! You hand me my head? That will be the day!

        • May 21, 2014 at 2:02 pm
          FFA says:
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          Sorry bout that. Office Short Hand HH = House Hold.

          • May 21, 2014 at 3:13 pm
            Agent says:
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            Ok. I hope they like it down here. They should find that they can buy more home down here for the same amount and they will surely appreciate not having a State Income Tax. Also, I think the cost of living overall is less. Are they coming for job opportunities?

      • May 21, 2014 at 11:16 am
        Agent says:
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        FFA, Have you noticed that Sargeant hasn’t posted on any article for a while now? I hope he didn’t make a visit to the VA hospital and not come out like a lot of vets in the most recent Obama scandal. I think they are up to 26 hospitals with major problems and the Obama Administration knew about the problems when they took office in 09 and have done nothing about it and incompetency reigns supreme with this administration.

      • May 22, 2014 at 5:41 pm
        Agent says:
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        We really should remain anonymous for obvious reasons FFA. If I gave you my fax number, one of the leftists would figure out who it belonged to and raise some Cain. If you want to advise the leaving clients, have them look up a good Independent Agent who represents a number of companies, go onto their websites and see what all they do, how long they have been in business and what they specialize in. My website does that and people can actually get a quote and contact by email or phone to complete the quote. They should also know that Texas requires they get a Texas drivers license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency.

        • May 23, 2014 at 9:14 am
          Libby says:
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          You flatter yourself, Agent. What makes you think we care who you are?

          • May 23, 2014 at 10:31 am
            Agent says:
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            Libby, if I had a dollar for every insult you have made about me, I would be a rich man. You are in your normal great mood. Stay out of my conversations with FFA.

          • May 23, 2014 at 11:25 am
            Libby says:
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            I am in an especially good mood after reading your insults to me at the ned of this thread.

    • May 21, 2014 at 5:46 pm
      Agent says:
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      FFA, Libby criticizes us for not playing with the big boys like Marsh etc on the multi location, high premium accounts. The typical agent in America sticks to the money makers like the $5,000-50,000 accounts that don’t have the sharks circling every year. Lose one of those big ones and watch your bottom line go in the tank. Personally, I would rather write a bunch of the small to mid market types although I do have a few I developed that push $500K and I watch them like a hawk and keep them loyal with the best coverage at the best cost I can provide. My CSR provides them with excellent service and they really like that. We also do not neglect Personal Lines like Libby’s Commercial Only outfit. I write all my Commercial Accounts Personal Lines and that also shuts out the competition to some degree.

      • May 22, 2014 at 10:19 am
        Libby says:
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        You’re a little sensitive, aren’t you Agent? I never criticized you. In fact, I said, and I quote:

        “Good for you, Agent. I’m glad what you’re doing works for you.

        But I beg to differ that you could handle the kind of account I’m talking about. You’d never even make in the door. These are multi-national million dollar accounts. Sorry, but you can’t compete.

        But that’s OK. There’s plenty of business out there for all of us. We don’t all have to be the same to be successful.

        I’ve worked in shops like yours (currently) and I’ve worked for the big boys. I do enjoy the large commercial accounts more. There’s more for me to sink my teeth into. But it’s all insurance and we can all do it well.

        Let’s not make it a competition.”

        Do what you do and do it well. But don’t denegrate others that do it differently. Especially if they’re wildly successful. It makes you look petty and well, stupid.

        • May 22, 2014 at 12:08 pm
          Agent says:
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          Libby, your every post to me is either a criticism or an insult on every reply or you butt in on my conversation with FFA or others with a nasty comment. And I quote you- My boss is not a stingy turd like you.

          I am not going to let you off the hook that easy. You sound a lot like Ron who said -when have I ever criticized your success and in the next sentence tells me I am only concerned with $$$$. I am a professional, was well trained by Liberty Mutual and do a great job for my customers. We may all work in slightly different spheres and have a different customer base. I like what I do and you like what you do. Don’t you ever tell me I am stingy again or stupid again and we may get along better on some issues. How stupid do you look after voting for Obama twice? Was that a smart choice given what has gone on for 6 years?

          • May 22, 2014 at 3:09 pm
            Libby says:
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            Don’t ever call me a Progressive troll or a lowly CSR/Receptionist again then.

            I’ve tried to make a truce with you before, but you just can’t help yourself. I’m sorry if I out-insult you, but you always start it first.

            When I do post something nice or even just neutral, you thumb it down and have a nasty reply. You talk about me to others like I’m not here.

            If you want to make a pact not to do those things, I will promise not to call you stupid or stingy or insult you anymore.

            Ball’s in your court.

  • May 22, 2014 at 5:05 pm
    Agent says:
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    Libby, I am not the only one on this blog who has had trouble with you and your comments. FFA is too nice for his own good and when you call him stupid, he doesn’t respond in kind. Your problem stems from a mean streak and you can’t help it any more than a Pit Bull on the dog bite article. It is in your nature. Have you ever wondered why you and Ron lead the IJ in dislikes? If you were saying something that most insurance people agreed with, you might get more “likes”. I have liked some when you kept it to insurance related issues, but it is becoming very rare to like your comments since you are constantly on the attack and nothing a Conservative has to say agrees with you. I will make a deal with you, I won’t call you names if you don’t call me names and call me stupid, little man, stingy, or any of your other pet names. That is disgraceful and makes you look like a Progressive troll. The ball is now in your court.

    • May 23, 2014 at 9:17 am
      Libby says:
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      You say you won’t call me names and in the next sentence call me a Progressive troll. My post to you did not contain any insults. Yours contained nothing but. I can only assume you do not want a truce. I tried to extend the olive branch and you rejected it. So be it.

      • May 23, 2014 at 10:12 am
        Agent says:
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        You aren’t interested in any truce Libby. What I said was- if your comments were disgraceful and you called me all of your pet names, it made you “look” like a Progressive Troll. Obviously with your current state of mind, you have no manners and would prefer to insult instead of making decent comments on most subjects. I think you are mad because I call you out and go toe to toe with you and you can’t shut me up. Sorry, I am not going to let you get away with being rude and mean and call me and others names on this forum.

        • May 23, 2014 at 11:27 am
          Libby says:
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          I’m not mad because you call me out. I’m just getting tired of always arguing with you and don’t know how to get it to quit. When I try to be nice, you continue to be nasty. I guess I’ll just quit responding to you. So please quit talking about me to others. That way we don’t have to have any interaction at all.

          • May 23, 2014 at 11:38 am
            Libby says:
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            OH. And please do me the courtesy (if you can muster it) to do the same. Do not respond to my comments to others and I will not respond to yours.

          • May 23, 2014 at 11:58 am
            Agent says:
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            Good enough. When talking to FFA, I will say – some leftists on this site are saying ——. That will include several people and I will then have a mass calling out without naming names. The Conservatives on this site will know who I am talking about and your name will not be mentioned.

          • May 23, 2014 at 12:28 pm
            Libby says:
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            Fair enough. Deal.

  • May 28, 2014 at 2:29 pm
    FFA says:
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    Personally…. I think everyone should stop lobbing insults across the country. Sky across OHare is busy enough….



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