Geico Auto insurance says in their radio advertisement that "you can save $500 by switching to Geico" (we'll even assume that the $500 figure is accurate - but they don't state where the $500 figure comes from). I think this ad is clearly deceptive for several reasons.
First of all, it says you "can save" money, not that you "will save" money, but it gives the opposite impression.
Next, it implies that Geico insurance is (on average) $500 cheaper than insurance from other companies which is blatently false.
And finally, and most importantly, it bases the $500 savings on people that "switch to Geico" only. It's not a comparison of all Geico rates with the rates from other companies. So, naturally, if you switched to Geico (and most people switch companies to save money), their rates will appear to be less than the company they switched "from".
Do you think that this Geico ad is deceptive?
2007-10-15 23:25:16 · 21 answers · asked by I'm an Atheist 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I also asked this question in "advertising" to see their perspective on it...
2007-10-15 23:30:51 · update #1
Believers and non-believers interpret what they read (in the Bible, for example) differently.
2007-10-15 23:33:27 · update #2
So, by last count... atheists tend to think it's deceptive, while believers (and people that refuse to answer - probably believers - ) tend to think it's not deceptive. Interesting!
2007-10-15 23:37:24 · update #3
yes it's deceptive and yes I'm a born-again Christian, and a member of my church I am very wary of ads like that there's a saying that there's no free lunch which is very true.
2007-10-15 23:30:00 · answer #1 · answered by kathmrc 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is deceptive, as are most items advertised. Any company asserting savings is obviously trying to get people to miss the fine print and just switch without questioning. We checked into Geico about 10 years ago, and they were actually double what we were paying with State Farm. But, that was us. It's mainly those with horrid insurance rates to begin with that can save money with them.
2007-10-16 07:17:36 · answer #2 · answered by usafbrat64 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having switched from Geico to American Family, I can bluntly tell you that Geico ads are very deceptive. For what Geico was charging me for liability for one car, AmFam is still $150 cheaper every 6 months for my fiancee and I, with all three vehicles under full coverage. And telling Geico I was switching didn't lead to them offering me any discounts on coverage what-so-ever.
As for your "Are you a believer or non-believer?" question, I believe there's a higher power than man, but i question if it is a deified being or just nature as a whole, or perhaps both. I believe...no, I know that organized religion is a farce, created by men to strike fear in the hearts of countless weaker men, in order to gain power and control of man-made governments and to pursue agendas of greed and hate. I believe that organized religion will be the downfall of man kind. Finally, I believe that if there is a God and it's only one God, that she is a woman and not a man - otherwise, wouldn't the male phallus be much more pleasant to look at? (I know I don't like looking at mine in the mirror.)
2007-10-16 06:39:59 · answer #3 · answered by been there done that got shirt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is deceptive. Some of underwhelming nature of the offer can by gained by reading between the lines and showing some skepticism, but even I didn't think about the last point you made concerning the Geico ad.
I'm an atheist.
2007-10-16 06:49:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are all nothing but WAGE SLAVES in a capitalist society ruled entirely by the ultra- wealthy.
You are just pointing out an example of the rampant greed and consumerism that is destroying western society as we speak.
You forget, by law you MUST carry insurance or you will have to pay a hefty fine,,,, maybe even go to jail. No matter what the insurance companies cannot loose. They just use funny commercials to sugar coat the fact you have no choice and are nothing but a consumer.
Thought I better update my answer, since it turned religious,
Christianity is just another product,, if you buy into it you are a consumer.
2007-10-16 06:36:33 · answer #5 · answered by landerscott 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a sales pitch. All companies do it. It's how they get more customers. And on average, Geico isn't cheaper. Most people who look into that stuff don't shop around, they just switch because the sales pitch sounds honest and good. lol
Non-Christian
2007-10-16 07:09:49 · answer #6 · answered by River 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do I think this Geico ad is deceptive ? No more so than other commercials. Ever go to a fast food restaurant and wonder why the food that you saw in the commercial does not look as good as the food you actually get on your plate? Food is painted and manipulated to look most appealing. clear marbles are added to soup to force the chunks to the top to make it look chunkier. Milk Mustache commercials actually have yogurt on the lips, no milk.
All advertising also lends itself to the human characteristic of seeing what we want to see and hearing what we want to hear. Some people want to believe in magic, so they believe the magician actually performs magic. Some people want to believe in ghosts and paranormal so they believe what psychics do is real... Some people want to believe in God, so they believe in God. (Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, God)
If you listen carefully to the Geico ad, they say you can save up to 500 dollars... But people want to hear 500 dollars so they ignore the "up to" disclaimer. People see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear so they dont look for or ignore hints of the truth like, disclaimers or qualifying language. YOU MAY HAVE WON ONE MILLION DOLLARS on a Publishers clearing house letter. Millions of people buy subscriptions to magazines, just because they want to believe, against all odds, that they may have one.
I dont think this deception is right, but I dont think you can changed it.
I am an atheist. I consider my self a middle of the road, modified Existenialist. In its essence, Everything is right or wrong in and of itself, you dont need the bible, or laws to know right from wrong. [e.g. You just know that shoveling live babies with a pitchfork is simply wrong.]
2007-10-16 06:50:44 · answer #7 · answered by rorzzz09192007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All advertising is deceptive, within the bounds of the law. The deception is not only in the claims that are made, but also in the things that are not said. They getcha comin' and goin'.
2007-10-16 06:34:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What it boils down to is "have now pay later" for down here and "pay now have later" to get to heaven. A total conflict of interests.
As I got a little flamed for using the generic Non-Believer, then you wont be too suprised that I share if a bit. Believer/Non-Beiever in what exactly, the power of advertising?
2007-10-16 06:41:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wrong section. And Geico are obviously comparing prices with their most upmarket competitor. Anyone dumb enough to fall for advertising like that deserves to get screwed over though.
2007-10-16 06:28:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋