What’s The Deal With All Those Renters Insurance Commercials?

So what’s the deal with all those renters insurance commercials? Someone with Riverside, CA Renters Insurance asked us about them recently, and really the deal is money. In a nutshell, you pay into a pot for insurance. That money is set aside for claims, operating expenses, and the like. Part of those operating expenses is marketing – it has to be, of course.

But those renters insurance commercials are everywhere. Have you been in a CVS drugstore lately? Instead of music, they play commercials for renters insurance on the overhead speakers. You can’t watch a TV show without seeing a spot for some kind of renters insurance or other. They’re positively everywhere, and they’ve licensed positively every character they can think of. Do the Coneheads need insurance? Possibly on their home planet, but their home planet coverage probably gives them at least the minimum requirements here.

So what’s the deal with all those commercials for renters insurance?

Basically, you’re paying too much and your insurance company needs a way to spend that money because investors hate when a company sits on cash – unless you’re AAPL, in which case sitting on a king’s ransom in cash is apparently a good thing. Why would you give your money to a company that spends that cash on expensive TV spots? Especially now that we’re into election season, where TV time is getting more expensive in many markets.

Not that we wouldn’t rather see insurance than “these hands” or “I’m with her,” but that’s beside the point. Is it necessary to bombard us constantly?

Someone in marketing for those companies thinks that it is, but we disagree. Effective Coverage was born online, and we’re a different kind of company. We work through the internet to bring you the lowest price renters insurance, to make sure your questions are answered, and to make sure you understand what you’re buying. We also know something that those other companies don’t want you to know:

In most states, a renters insurance policy from any underwriter will be pretty similar because it’s a similar policy form. The difference is in expertise and service before and after the sale.

There are exceptions, of course – if you live in Texas, you had better read your policy carefully because it may well be substantially different from what you expect – but in most states the policy form itself is pretty straightforward. What matters is how you feel about the policy and the company.

Are you mad that you’re paying for their gazillion dollar TV ad budget?

How do you feel about the people who answer the phone – is it a kid in a call center who’s worried about the average length of his call, or is it a renters insurance expert who lives and breathes this stuff because they love everything about it and who wants to take the time to give you the right answers, even if you’re not sure what questions to ask?

What happens if there’s a claim? Who do you call? Can you start the process online?

That’s all well and good that the major producers of renters insurance commercials have agents on every corner. One midwest town with no industry, no jobs, and housing prices that still haven’t recovered from the crash has a population of 60,000 people, and yet there are twelve of the Big Red Agencies inside the city limits. Is that necessary? Is it helpful? Or is that saturation the reason they run so many TV ads?

See that image to the left? That’s the Shuttle Endeavour making its way to its new home at the CA Science Center. It now lives in Los Angeles, sadly never to fly again. See that sponsorship logo on it? Yeah, you’ll never see that. Effective Coverage doesn’t do commercials or sponsorships like that, though it would admittedly be very cool if we did. BRB, calling Elon…

You’ll also never see a renters insurance commercial with the Effective Coverage mascot. First of all, we believe that your premium dollars should go to pay for coverage – that’s why you’re paying those dollars in the first place. Second of all, our CEO looks OK on video (check out an example at the bottom of this article!) but he’s not quite so caught up in himself that he thinks that automatically means he should make TV commercials for us!

Third of all, our official company mascot doesn’t listen very well! Not very well at all, as you can see from this picture. That guy squished under our mascot Louie looks to be losing the battle of wills as a matter of fact.

We took a quick look around the marketing department before publishing this article, just to be sure we didn’t have someone photogenic enough to shoot a TV spot. Well, we tried to. What actually happened was our Editorial Director sent out a memo that said “Who in marketing wants to try doing a TV commercial? Maybe it would work out for us!” and suddenly the marketing department got very, very quiet. So quiet, it seems, that everyone had gone home for the day.

So no, at Effective Coverage, we don’t do renters insurance TV commercials. What we do is offer the best service on your policy, the best price on renters insurance, and the best coverage for your needs; All while making sure to explain the process and the coverage so that you know you’re getting exactly what you think you’re getting. Because we don’t like surprises any more than you do.

To find out we can help you protect the things that are important to you without subsidizing the television and cable networks, no matter where you live, just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Riverside, CA renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!

Effective Coverage offers the nation's only completely mobile platform to quote and purchase renters insurance right from your phone or tablet in just one minute. Get an online renters insurance quote today and protect your family.

What's Your Style?

• Do You Need Coverage ASAP? Check out the fastest way to buy renters insurance online and get covered in just 60 seconds!
• Do You Feel Like Talking About It? Just call Effective Coverage and a renters insurance expert can help you get great coverage in minutes.
• Do You Need Some Time Alone With Your Thoughts? We understand, which is why we created the California Guide To Renters Insurance.
• Just Want To Watch A Movie Together? See our video guide below.

Sponsored TV Photo Credit: JVC America JVC LY-42P300 TeleDock LCD TV CC BY SA 2.0 (Derivative Work, Overlay)

Sponsored STS Endeavour Photo Credit: Cheleguanaco 00006 CC BY SA 2.0 (Derivative Work, Crop and Overlay)