Over the past months I have noticed a real increase in the insurance commercials that tell me and all who are listening about the money I could be, should be, would be saving if I switched to Allstate, Geico, Progressive, State Farm, 21st Century, et al.
This got me to thinking (as only I can and do, evidently) what idiot is paying these high prices any more? Where is he or she? I picture Rog, the hermit, living in a mud hut in the middle of the desert. No TV or radio, just a 1958 pickup with 286,000 miles on it for running into town every six months for mouthwash and toothpicks. He has no idea that the set of eyes he feels on the back of his neck at those weird times is the money he could be saving....
He is still paying $352, or $602, or $424 too much because he does not know better. WE, on the other hand are well educated as to the fact that Progressive will tell us who is the cheapest; or that Dennis Haysbert would use his sonorous voice to assure him that Allstate would save him money AND christen his first born. He does not know he could switch to almost ANY darn company EXCEPT for the ONE HE IS WITH NOW and save HUGE bucks!
Now I am for the small businessman as much as anyone. But, considering insurance is one product we buy that we never want to use - I believe we should pay as little as possible (while actually getting coverage IF we ever do need it). Buying insurance from your second cousin Bob's neighbor's son Zeb is not really fiscally responsible. WATCH THE COMMERCIALS!!
Here is another thing that is bothering me - I am tired of people whining about gas prices. Gas was never free!! When people whine about "$40 to fill my tank" they forget that even at $2 a gallon it was $25 or so to fill it!! Here are some numbers: The average car in the U.S. is driven about 12,000 miles a year. If you get 20 MPG (hey if you are driving a Hummer, getting 10, I don't want to hear it!) That is 600 gallons of gas a year. Most people would be estatic if gas was at $2 a gallon again -SO, that is about $600 a year (for the extra $1 a gallon) or $11.54 a week. Now I know there are a LOT of folks that were struggling to pay the $2, but the average person I know was not. Here is another way to look at it. How many Starbuck's coffees or lattes have you had lately at $$37.33 a gallon? ($3.50 for a 12 oz one) How about a beer on an airplane at $53.33 a gallon? ($5 per) Then there is bottled water at $10.66 a gallon. ($1 a 12oz bottle -and it can be MUCH higher...
Comments
I switched to State Farm and saved hundreds, myself, but that's primarily because Geico raised my rate and then when the "accident" fell of my record, they didn't lower them back down.
Kindof like the wireless providers who raise your rates incrementally over the years, hoping you won't notice that they have a plan that would save you $50 a month if you signed up as a new customer.
-- Frogward