Auto Insurance Agents
Reader’s Question:
One of my new SUV and all these auto insurance agents are swarming my doorstep with offers. I already bought insurance for my SUV, so I turn them down once I see them at the door. But one was pretty insisting, saying that the insurance plan he’s selling was way better than the plan I already have. I was bored that time, so I let him in and listened. He spun a pretty interesting tale and had a unique way of saying things. This made me think: what particular gimmicks do these agents use?
N.L. Choi
San Jose, CA
Well, auto insurance agents are trained to sell in the first place. It’s their job, so it’s really not surprising that they can spin quite a long yarn if you let them be. Here are two of the most common gimmicks that they use when trying to sell you a plan:
o Promotion – what idiot would bad-mouth his own product while saying someone else’s is good? Salesmen, auto insurance agents included, have the good points of their products memorized down to the letter. And they’re going to make you want these good points, even if you don’t need them in the first place. For auto insurance, make sure you’re well aware of the range of coverage that you actually need, and don’t let them dazzle or scare you into buying additional coverage that you don’t really need in the first place.
o Blitz – ah, yes… the blitz. Agents are going to make sure they shoot off as many good things as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. That’s because the less time they present information, the less time you have to think properly about whether you need it or not. If you ever experience being “blitzed” with information, ask your agent to talk slowly and clearly while peppering him with questions about the product. That way, your focus will be maintained and you won’t get carried away by the rush of information he’s pushing on you.