Page 1 of 1

Misleading Advertising

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:52 am
by NYagent301
Has anyone experienced emails or website ads for $9 car insurance? I also received spam stating the government would pay for half of my car insurance. I know if this was a print ad or such that actually easily identifies the advertiser the insurance department would be all over them. However these are multilayered web domains that makes it hard to figure who is doing this, usually a lead aggregator. Has anyone any advice on how to put a stop to this very misleading advertising? It hurts the business of those that are trying to do this honestly for a living.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:55 pm
by d's insurance store
Spend your time trying to acquire your own base of clients who appreciate what you do and what you have to offer. You will never be able to stop the motivated scammers from soliciting names and email addresses and phone calls, just as you won't be able to stop that segment of the insurance buying population that is attracted to such offers from responding to the initial offer.

Prior to the internet, there was direct mail offering absurdly low personal lines rates...usually there's a fine print 'gotcha' disclaimer, but the kinds of clients you want aren't going to be spending their time trying to get $9 per month auto coverage with a 50% stipend from the Federal Government.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:08 am
by saabins
The reason I get upset at this type of advertising is that there are people out there who beleive that they can get $9 insurance and they want you the agent to match and feel that you, the legit agent is trying to rip them off when you try to tell them there is no such thing. Here in florida, Personal Lines insurance is very expensive and hard to place, and then you have these type of ads even the ones on TV that tells the consumers they can save so much. But trying calling that # and usually you are in for a surprise to find out that they can't live up to the promise.

sandras@saabinsurances.com

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:00 am
by d's insurance store
There are limits as to how upset I get because, frankly, there's nothing I can do about it. I know times are very tough and every client is precious, but even I have limits about just how low I'll stoop to acquire and retain business from the category of client that is low premium, high maintance and constantly asking if I can remarket the policy for a better rate because "I keep getting all these solicitations from other agents telling me how much money they can save me...".

If I spend my time trying to defense against every $9 per month come on, then I can't deliver the service attributes to those who do trust me and appreciate my services. Then I'm left with nothing.

I cannot stress enough, let it go. If you try and attract the $9 a month crowd, you'll likely find yourself out of business anyway.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:13 pm
by jtownagent
The $9 car insurance is also advertised on the internet daily. Do not worry about the truth in advertising thing, it will just drive you crazy. Perhaps you want to try my apporach. I tell people that I can give them free insurance. When they look at me with a questioning eye, I tell them it is called self insurance. They give me slight chuckle, understandind what I am getting at, that nothinhg is free, and that cheep is just that' cheep. I then proceeed to ask, question, probe and provide them with the valuable information and counsel that we offer as insurance professionals.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:23 am
by chizcurlz
Spam advertisements are really annoying. I know all of you experienced opening websites along with pop-ups with unnecessary advertisements such as viagra, porn sites, sex toys, unrelated sites, and many more. We all know that this is their way to advertise but still not a good way of marketing their products online. I suggest to inform them and send an email to the website owner if he/she violates any advertisement guidelines.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:37 am
by sethm
False advertising is never a good strategy. It can sure catch attention but it can never lead to increased sales. It will just annoy people. False, misleading and deceptive selling should be reported to the proper authorities. Everyone has the right to receive truthful messages about the goods and services that he or she buys.

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 1:34 am
by Warnner
Misleading adverts are a staple feature of the beauty industry, but the market for gadgets must run a close second. Now an Apple iPhone advert has been banned by the advertising standards watchdog for exaggerating the phone’s speed.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) makes sure all adverts follow a code of practice. You can complain to the ASA if:
you think there is something wrong with an advert you have seen or heard
you find an advert offensive, such as on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability

Re: Misleading Advertising

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:59 pm
by AgencyEquity
Warnner wrote:Misleading adverts are a staple feature of the beauty industry, but the market for gadgets must run a close second. Now an Apple iPhone advert has been banned by the advertising standards watchdog for exaggerating the phone’s speed.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) makes sure all adverts follow a code of practice. You can complain to the ASA if:
you think there is something wrong with an advert you have seen or heard
you find an advert offensive, such as on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability
Advertising is a form of speech, I think if someone finds an ad offensive, they best thing to do is for such individual to not read the ad. Such frivilous lawsuits taxes society and benefits those who have not really been injured, really only benefits law firms, that is of course my opinion.