Buying Insurance Is a Little Like Brain Surgery
6/21/2010 2:50:00 PM
Using a little humor, our title suggests that the purchase of your insurance is far more important and complex than most people realize. Some people will treat the purchase of insurance as if buying a commodity, like bread or milk. This would never happen if they were selecting a skilled surgeon to perform a difficult procedure. Yet, some people will call around, find the cheapest price, and drop into that agent's office, with no knowledge of the agent’s skills or products, and buy insurance to protect their most valuable assets.
Why is the practice of calling around for the cheapest price dangerous? Because insurance is not a commodity, like something you take down off the shelf and carry to the checkout clerk. An insurance policy is a 20-30 page contract, full of complicated and confusing language that can be challenging even to those who work with these policies every day. How then is it possible for you to just walk up, take down a policy from a shelf, and be confident of what you bought? The services of a qualified insurance professional are really what you pay for when buying insurance. Anything less undervalues the importance of this process, and could perhaps place you at a disadvantage if you have an uncovered claim.
A good agent will get to know you by asking many qualifying questions. An independent agent can then make a match for your situation with a company that can best meet your needs. That is not to say we are not sensitive to the price you have to pay, but like the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” You can be left holding the short end of the stick if you have commodity-shopped and not paid attention to the quality of your coverage, or your representative's level of knowledge. As we say at Reichley Insurance Agency, “Insurance is not a product; it’s a promise and a trusted relationship.
Why is the practice of calling around for the cheapest price dangerous? Because insurance is not a commodity, like something you take down off the shelf and carry to the checkout clerk. An insurance policy is a 20-30 page contract, full of complicated and confusing language that can be challenging even to those who work with these policies every day. How then is it possible for you to just walk up, take down a policy from a shelf, and be confident of what you bought? The services of a qualified insurance professional are really what you pay for when buying insurance. Anything less undervalues the importance of this process, and could perhaps place you at a disadvantage if you have an uncovered claim.
A good agent will get to know you by asking many qualifying questions. An independent agent can then make a match for your situation with a company that can best meet your needs. That is not to say we are not sensitive to the price you have to pay, but like the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” You can be left holding the short end of the stick if you have commodity-shopped and not paid attention to the quality of your coverage, or your representative's level of knowledge. As we say at Reichley Insurance Agency, “Insurance is not a product; it’s a promise and a trusted relationship.
