比较购买促进了汽车保险业的竞争

现在，要比较两家汽车保险公司所提供的价格是非常容易的。在过去，消费者需要一家一家地拨打汽车保险公司的电话，去填一堆不同的申请表格，然后漫长地等待各家公司的报价。与此相对，现在有一些公司，如美国前进保险公司（Progressive）和AllQuotesInsurancecom公司等，它们只要求顾客填写一份申请，然后就可以直接比较各家公司的汽车保险条款和价格了。这类公司向顾客提供有关价格的信息，然后将其同顾客已有的其他公司的条款和价格进行比较。一般来说，顾客最终得到的价格都会比现在的价格更合算。如果公司所提供的价格较高的话，那么公司就会解释这样的问题：“价格高在哪里？为什么高？”在美国前进保险公司的网站上，顾客不仅可以比较各家公司所提供的价格，而且可以比较各家公司所提供的服务及其质量，如图4—1所示。美国前进保险公司甚至会向顾客提供各个竞争对手的网址。这些行为最终赢得了顾客的信任，同时也反映出更多竞争和公开透明的对比信息这一现实。

HideHideHideHideHideHideStability and Size of Company

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

MutualAM Best ratinaA+*A++A+AA++AState market share for auto (2003)30%*145%87%104%29%08%National market share for auto

(2003)68%*192%111%52%51%24%*Ratings and market share percentages represent two specific brands Progressive Direct and Driva Insurance from Ptogressive By itself Progressive Direct represents tanth largest auto insurance group of companies in the countryEase of Purchase

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

MutualAre online quotes avaliable?YesYesYesYesYesYesDoes the Web site provide rates for other bigname insurance companies?YesNoNoNoNoNoCan policles be purchased online?YesYesNoNoYesNoCan policies be purchased through a

tollfree number 24 hours a day, 7

days a week?YesNoNoNoYesNoCan payments be made in installments?YesYesYesYesYesYesCan policies be purchased using

a credlt card?YesYesYesNoYesNoEase of Customer Service

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

Mutualis there a customer service tollfree number available 24 hours a day,7 days a week?YesMust call local

agentYesYesYesNoCan you make an instant policy

change online?YesNoNoNoYesYesCan payments be made online?YesYesYesYesYesYesEase of Claims

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

MutualCan claims be reported 24 hours a day,7 days a week via a tollfree number?YesMust call local

agentYesYesYesYesCan ciaims be reported online?No(why?)YesYesYesYesYesCan claim status be tracked online?YesNoYesYesYesYesDoauthorizedrepairfacllitiesguarantee

repairsforaslongasIownmy car?YesYesYesYesYesYesAccess

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

MutualWeb site addressprogressive

comstatefarm

comallstate

comfarmers

comgelco

comlibertymutual

comTollfree number1800

PROGRESSIVEMust Call

local agent1800255

78281888490

28011800861

8380Cilck for infoProduct Lines

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Direct State Farm AllstateFarmersGEICOLiberty

MutualWhat other personal products

are avallable?Motorcycle

ATV

Boat/PWC

Motor Home

Travel Traller

RV

Segway HTMotorcycle