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Geico Corporation Complaint - Television Advertising: Much of your television advertising seems pointless and makes no sense - please explain - Advertising Auto Insurance on Television
Advertising Auto Insurance on Television - Complaint
NA -- I have been seeing more television advertisements for Geico auto insurance. The ads that I'm inquiring about are mainly for geico.com. I've seen two of the commercials. One depicts a young gentleman trying to open some venetian blinds, and the commentator says: "No venetian blinds. That's what makes Geico.com so simple." Then he says in a questioning voice: "Or is it because you go online to make changes to your policy, pay your bill, or file a claim online?" Now, I understand the point that you are trying to get across in that you are trying to tell your customers that using geico.com is easy, but your ads don't make the message clear. I see ads for other insurance companies, such as Mercury, Progressive, Farmers, and State Farm, and they seem to get right to the point. They oftentimes compare their rates against the competition and use other messages that make sense to communicate the same message that you are trying to communicate with your unclear advertising. Here's my question: This commercial seems to indicate that the other insurance companies' websites have venetian blinds, and that's what makes them complicated compared to yours. I understand that you're trying to say your website is easier and more convenient than others, but what do venetian blinds have to do with auto insurance or easiness of navigating a website? We all know that websites do not have venetian blinds on them. Why not do advertising that clearly shows how your company is better than the others? Your website appears to have more features than some of the others, but the way that you're advertising it talking about something that is completely unrelated to auto insurance, or any kind of insurance, doesn't clearly show that. The same is true with your commercial featuring the "revolving doors", which features the same commentator delivering the same lines. If I were the president of Geico's advertising department, I would seriously consider finding a new person/group of people/advertising firm to make up advertising for the company. I would want for my advertising to state that Geico insurance is affordable, quality coverage. I would also want to clearly tell people what Geico is about and how easy it is to file a claim, change a policy, or pay a bill on geico.com. I would want my potential customers to see my ads on television and understand my message from the beginning. I think that would bring in more customers to my business. I understand what your advertising is trying to say and what message you're trying to get across, but it has taken several viewings and a lot of thinking to really understand what venetian blinds and revolving doors have to do with using your website. That's just my take on it.
Comments:
Posted by Sparticus on 2005-10-31:
Ha! My wife and I were just talking about these same commercials! We could not figure how they were related to insurance. Too funny...
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2005-10-31:
The ad with the Guitar Guy, "Esteban" is pretty funny.
Posted by Aember24 on 2005-10-31:
Hey there. I work for Geico insurance. Recently our marketing department has been trying to take a new approach with the commercials. Trying not to depend so much on the Gecko for their ads. Although I will admit some of the commercials can seem confusing and not all together make sense. And as far as I know they are in the works now to get some more commercials out there, and hopefully these will make sense. I just hope that everyone doesn't put the same view on the company itself. Geico really is a great company to have!
Posted by miantani75 on 2005-10-31:
The solution to your problem is very simple: change the channel when the commercials come on. Problem solved! Next complaint.
Posted by zzrokk on 2005-10-31:
Show me more of the caveman ads.
Posted by zzrokk on 2005-10-31:
Btw, guys with parrots "glued" to their shoulder are pretty funny as well.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2005-10-31:
Commercials like these are made to get people talking...and it worked. Also to get people to remember them and we do. That is the whole point of these "odd" commercials.
Posted by tander on 2005-10-31:
Sorry I like there commercials.
Posted by Shakra on 2005-10-31:
I love the Geico commercials. Especially the one with Speed Racer. Hubby and I crack up at that one every time.
Posted by Aember24 on 2005-11-01:
Yes we have alot of good ads out there. Unfortunatly we live in a sue happy world and alot of them were pulled because people were "offended" and whatnot. Its crazy. My personal favorite is the one where the man is in the cafe and the waitress brings him his sandwhich and he says " I asked for no mayo." she gives him a look than wipes the mayo off on his table and walks away. However a lot of waiters and such got offended and took Geico to court this is why that ad doesnt play anymore.
Posted by zzrokk on 2005-11-02:
Are you serious Aember? That explains why they went to the "caveman" and "Speed Racer" ads. Pretty hard two offend those two. I hope.
Posted by miantani75 on 2005-11-05:
Aember, that just goes to show you that some people are not happy unless they have something to complain about. I work for the insurance industry & they get bashed quite a bit by lawyers advertising on TV. Do you think I care? Hell no! I got better things to do than worry about petty crap like that!
Posted by noname23 on 2006-01-13:
I thing the point of the pointless adds is that using geicos website is easier than using venetian blinds, or a revolving dorr, or spelling hard words, or pulling wheeled luggage... etc.
the real point is you remember it and dont remember the other companies adds, except allstates scaryone with the graphic car accident!
the real point is you remember it and dont remember the other companies adds, except allstates scaryone with the graphic car accident!
Posted by beanbagbritches on 2006-05-18:
They could choose other hard things? GEICO is easier than: having a root canal, doing heart surgery, slaying dragons?
Posted by voice1 on 2008-02-02:
The point of any advertisement is to get your attention and create a buzz. Geico has succeeded in that and their brand recognition is higher than ever. 5 or 10 years ago did Geico come to mind when you thought about car insurance? Probably not. In fact until Geico started doing commercials none of the other companies did.
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