Safeco, State Farm Take Sales Pitches to Internet.Safeco and State Farm announced plans to sell online and tie their agents in to the e-commerce e-commerce, commerce conducted over the Internet, most often via the World Wide Web. E-commerce can apply to purchases made through the Web or to business-to-business activities such as inventory transfers. strategy. Safeco rolled out its first online sales strategy in November, giving customers an opportunity to buy auto and term life policies online through its Web site (www.safeco.com). The consumer is then directed to one of the insurer's 17,000 independent agents for the purchase. State Farm Group said it will offer auto insurance directly through the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the in California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). and renters insurance in Illinois. Safeco's online sales are initially available in Oregon, Tennessee, Kansas and Illinois; nationwide availability will begin in 2001. The insurer An individual or company who, through a contractual agreement, undertakes to compensate specified losses, liability, or damages incurred by another individual. An insurer is frequently an insurance company and is also known as an underwriter. currently writes coverage in 48 states. Safeco is not offering the direct-sales approach of competitors like Progressive and Geico, because it believes customers still want to use an intermediary Intermediary See: Financial intermediary intermediary See financial intermediary. as insurance becomes more complex, said George Johnson George Johnson may refer to: In politics
If Safeco's online customers need help, they can use the Web-chat, e-mail or "call-me" features that provide customers with answers from licensed insurance specialists in Safeco's 24/7 Contact Center. Safeco opened two call centers recently and will open two more next year to support the online strategy, Johnson said. State Farm has had online claims submission for a few years, and starting next spring, customers will be able to bind contracts online. Through State Farm's Web site, consumers can get quotes for term life, whole life and auto insurance in 32 states. Long-term-care quotes are available in 19 states, and renters insurance quotes are available everywhere State Farm operates. |
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