比較購買促進了汽車保險業(yè)的競爭

現在，要比較兩家汽車保險公司所提供的價格是非常容易的。在過去，消費者需要一家一家地撥打汽車保險公司的電話，去填一堆不同的申請表格，然后漫長地等待各家公司的報價。與此相對，現在有一些公司，如美國前進保險公司（Progressive）和AllQuotesInsurancecom公司等，它們只要求顧客填寫一份申請，然后就可以直接比較各家公司的汽車保險條款和價格了。這類公司向顧客提供有關價格的信息，然后將其同顧客已有的其他公司的條款和價格進行比較。一般來說，顧客最終得到的價格都會比現在的價格更合算。如果公司所提供的價格較高的話，那么公司就會解釋這樣的問題：“價格高在哪里？為什么高？”在美國前進保險公司的網站上，顧客不僅可以比較各家公司所提供的價格，而且可以比較各家公司所提供的服務及其質量，如圖4—1所示。美國前進保險公司甚至會向顧客提供各個競爭對手的網址。這些行為最終贏得了顧客的信任，同時也反映出更多競爭和公開透明的對比信息這一現實。

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