It’s right! Those insulted cavemen from the Geico Insurance commercials have a sitcom in development with ABC.

The cavemen ad campaign came about in 2005, with characters created by the Martin Agency, the same people behind the proposed Caveman sitcom. The premise of the Geico commercials is simple… and kind of strange. 2 cavemen, played by Ben Weber and Jeff Daniel Phillips are for, whatever reason, alive and well today, and are offended by Geico’s claim that geico.com is “so easy, a caveman could do it.”

The initial commercial, which was simple and to the “point” spawned at least 3 additional commercials, including my personal favorite (in a love to hate kind of way) that shows the Geico spokesperson who originally made the claim that geico.com was so easy a caveman could utilize it apologizing to the cavemen while browsing a menu at a fancy restaurant. Like in every commercial, the caveman is disgusted and that’s the big laugh. At least, I think that’s what they’re going for.

Like all things that annoy me to death, I figured the supposed-to-be-long-dead-yet-here-they-are-bugging-the-crap-out-of-me-cavemen’s days were shrimp. Apparently, I was wrong, and evidently, I’m in the minority wanting them to go away.

This year Geico launched a website, a highly interactive one at that, taking state in the cavemen’s apartment. This website, located at http://www.cavemanscrib.com invites you in and lets you play around with things in the apartment, including changing the music on the iPod, knocking the power out trying to microwave some dip, and even walking into the bathroom while a caveman is taking a shower. It’s like I’ve died and gone to Heaven, let me tell you. I’m positive there’s even more to do at the caveman’s crib; I couldn’t stomach sticking around any longer to find out.

The Internet and commercials, though, do not true annoyance make. Surely, a sitcom based on the caveman characters couldn’t be a reality. Couldn’t be… but is.

ABC isn’t just talking about it, they already ordered the pilot. The tentatively named “Cavemen” is one of 14 pilots being produced by Touchstone Television for the 2007 spring season. I deem it bears repeating… the pilot will indeed be written by Martin Agency, the creators of the cavemen for the Geico commercials.

The position of the new Cavemen sitcom is not exactly a long shot from the commercials – they are Neanderthals who live in modern times (Atlanta, 2007 to be exact) who don’t wish to be treated any differently than the rest of us. And isn’t that just completely understandable… after all, they’re only supposed to be Listless.

And there it is: The evolution from commercial, to website, to sitcom. I wonder if it’s those Nielsen families that are responsible for all this…

At any rate, how long do you believe this show can pull off the same caveman reaction to the same modern day prejudice? Will Geico advertising be sprinkled throughout the show, making it less a sitcom and more a really long, painful commercial?

On the upside, if they’re ever at a loss for guest stars, perhaps they could get the gecko to make a nice cameo!

As remarkable as I’d stay away from this show if it were on, I’m morbidly curious to see if it does collect picked up. It’s the masochist in me, I’m tellin’ ya!

Everyone, it seems, guarantees that they will save you money on your novel insurance rates. Geico promises 15% or more, Progressive promises to compare quotes for you to find you the best rate; Allstate promises “you will save more”; State Farm promises the “best rates”; and the list continues on. Undoubtedly, all these companies, and many others, honestly are interested in saving you money, they want your business and in order to get your business they have to be competitive in their pricing.

Nevertheless, almost all these companies’ websites use fairly generic information forms when generating your car insurance quotes. These estimated quotes are often worthy higher than what they would be if you where to actually visit these agencies in person or speak with an agent. These is because local insurance agents also want your business, often more so than a national company, and are aware of the prices online and are likely to be wiling to do whatever they can to beat any online price you may fetch. A apt example of this is my experience with Allstate.

When I entered my information into Allstate’s online quote estimator the estimate was just over $1000 every six months or $180 a month. My wife and I have two cars, and have totaled one with in the last year, and have been in three other accidents (it has been a banner year). However, when I went into a local Allstate agent’s office he quoted me an insurance premium which was noteworthy less: $790 for six months or $132.38 a month. I was surprised at the difference. This may not always be the case, but often is. If you are truly looking for the best auto insurance rate available to you it would be worth your while to devote at least half of your looking efforts towards local agencies. Sometimes the best deals are with local car insurance agents who sell for a larger national company.

You Better Shop Around
Shopping around is the best way for you to collect the best rates for the coverage you or your family needs is to compare prices. Use an online auto insurance price quoting service, or a comparison service. Or use a list of auto insurance companies offering coverage in your state and start making phone calls, writing down or typing the price quotes.

Applicable Discounts
Auto insurance companies offer different types of discounts. While anti-theft, ABS, multiple-car and multiple line (when you have auto and home insurance from the same company, for example) discounts are approved, some discounts are unique to each auto insurance company.

Discounts which could apply to you or your family include good student discounts, safe or defensive driver discounts (could be limited by state), 55+ or 60+ discount, or hybrid discounts.

Payment Options
Consider the payment options for your auto insurance. Some insurance companies require a double payment upon renewal, while others waive the requirement for long-term policyholders. Also consider the steady available payment methods your insurance company offers and determine if it is convenient for you. Some auto insurance companies only take checks by mail or online checking account payments. Others will take payments over the phone, or they make it easy for you to pay with a debit or credit card online.

Customer Service
Evaluate the level of customer service you receive when making an inquiry over the phone. When making an inquiry about prices and policy options, you should receive nothing less than top-notch service. If you receive anything less, it’s a suitable indicator of what you can expect when you need to make a claim or change your policy.

Reputation
Before committing to a new auto insurance company, check customer satisfaction ratings at independent sites. Also visit your state’s auto insurance department to review consumer complaints.

In addition to the bank stress test results, the jobs report is due out on Friday. In March, our nation lost 663,000 jobs. I would like you to think about this number. In 2007 the city of Memphis had a population of 677,272. Look at how close those numbers are. In the month of March, 2009 our economy lost close to the entire population of Memphis. Infoplease.com indicated that during 2007, Memphis was the 18th largest city in the nation. Experts project that in April 2009 our economy lost an additional 620,000 jobs. Even though the population of Memphis is totally unrelated to job losses it serves as a powerful illustration of just how many jobs our economy is hemorrhaging. Forbes projects unemployment to come 8.9% for April. This rate is uncomfortably conclude to 10%.

Construction spending and housing stat reports are due Monday. Although I could not locate any projections, I don’t think the news will be great. Our housing market is far from recovered. If our economy is hemorrhaging jobs at an exponential rate, it’s not likely that there will be a spike in new home sales that will hold strong. However, the $8,000 first homeowner tax credit available in 2009 may wait on. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Companies expected to give earnings report this week include Beazer Homes, Centex, CVS, AIG, Allstate, Sunoco, and Cisco. Be especially mindful of anything pertaining to AIG. Stay tuned to Bloomberg, MSN Money, or Yahoo! Finance to keep up to date market news.

Despite all the financial doom and gloom we have experienced in the last year, there’s reason not to panic. This is part of the natural economic cycle. You have to take the good with the bad, stay completive, think intelligent and you will fare just fine.

References:

www.forbes.com
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Shop around – Compare car insurance rates by getting online quotes from all of the major companies. Answer all their questions about your vehicle and driving record honestly and in detail.

Ask for Car Insurance Discounts – Ask an agent to have a look at your application and make sure you have been given all the discounts that you qualify for. In this economy car insurance companies, like every other business are putting a premium on acquiring and retaining customers. When talking to an agent make determined they understand that you are shopping around and will be comparing their quote with their competitor’s quotes. The most common discounts are listed below:

• Multiple Discounts – If you own a home it’s a good idea to contact the company you have homeowners insurance with as many companies give discounts if you have both your home and cars with them. Also ask for multiple car discounts if you have more then one car to insure.

• Electronic Car Insurance Bills – You can often receive a discount for receiving your statements and bills online as well as setting up automatic electronic payments.

• Car Alarms – If your car does not have an anti-theft device, have one installed. Most insurance companies offer discounts for these devices.

• Defensive Driving Course – Passing a defensive driving course can result in a 15% discount on your car insurance. Defensive driving courses are fairly inexpensive and usually only take a few hours. In some states you can take defensive driving courses online.

Higher Deductibles – The higher your car insurance deductible, the lower your monthly payment so choose the highest deductible you can realistically afford. Asking for a one-year policy instead of a six-month one will also reduce your monthly payment.

Coverage Needed – Become familiar with insurance terms and the various types of coverage and limits. Before talking to an agent, or getting an online quote know what coverage you need as well as the limits that fit your needs. Don’t end up buying more car insurance than you need.

Credit History – A clean credit history will result in a better discount so do everything you can to get your credit history in order.

Commuting Mileage – Check your commuting mileage closely and give the lowest possible one-way mileage. Insurance companies use this information to compute your premium.

Teenage Drivers - If you have a teenage driver in your house be sure they attend driver’s education. Check if your teenage driver qualifies for a good student discount.

Check Yearly - Get car insurance rate quotes once a year. Insurance rates change often and your circumstances may have changed. Ask if you qualify for new discounts.

Searching for cheap car insurance is never fun and can require a lot of legwork. In the end, the effort will be worth it as you watch your premiums drop. Following these tips will help you net the perfect car insurance policy.

I like my car insurance agent. He is always there to respond my questions. When someone backed in to me at a Walgreen’s parking lot and then filed a claim against ME my car insurance agent was there. When I received a curious bill on a Saturday morning, it was my car insurance agent’s cell phone that I called. There are many benefits of having a car insurance agent as opposed to an online policy. I would like to allotment five car insurance agent benefits with you:

Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #1: You Have Somewhere To Go If you Have a Question

If you have an online policy and need a put a question to answered, you have to call a 1-800 number. I am sure that many people can vouch for the fact that sometimes you don’t come by the best service through a 1-800 number. Of course, there are exceptions. I am distinct there are many polite and courteous people working at online insurance companies that will help you. However, if you have an urgent question and can’t reach someone by phone you can visit your car insurance agent.

Car Insurance Agent Benefit #2: Someone is Watching Out for You

A great car insurance agent benefit is that you always have someone watching out for you. If there is a novel discount available, they will apply it to your epic. If they have a new product available that might effect you some money, they will call and tell you about it.

Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #3: They May Help You Save Money on Other Insurance Policies

A great car insurance agent benefit is that they can help you with most of your insurance needs. Most car insurance companies that have agents have a vast array of insurance services available – from auto insurance to life, renters, homeowners, boat, RV, and even medical insurance. Your car insurance agent knows your personal needs and can recommend policies. Sometimes the discount you are given on the policies for having multiple policies almost pays for the added policy itself. Having an insurance agent that knows what you need and can get you the policies you need is a great encourage.

Benefit of Having a Car Insurance Agent #4: A Car Insurance Agent Can Keep Your Records in Order

I can’t state for all car insurance agents, but my car insurance agent keeps a file of any documentation I give him. I have a homeowners policy through him and I gave him a CD with photos of what is in my home. On the CD was also my excel spreadsheet of what I paid for my big ticket items. I have a copy of the CD in my fire proof safe, but if something happens to that too I know I have my records in order. My car insurance agent keeps that CD in the event I have a catastrophe we can start working a claim right away. They won’t even have to ask me for a list of my items, as they will have everything right at their disposal!

Car Insurance Agent Benefit #5: Having a Relationship with a Human

These days you don’t even have to even call a pizza space and talk to a human to site an order. You can order pizza online, send flowers online, bank online, you can even go to school online. The Internet and computers have taken an interesting role in our lives, oftentimes replacing very common social mechanisms. Sometimes it’s nice to impartial have an idle conversation with an actual human being. If you are in a car accident, your computer can’t send flowers and a derive well card to the hospital. Your computer can’t call to see if you are doing okay. Your computer can’t earn certain paperwork around for you. Having an actual car insurance agent reaps the benefits of actually having a business relationship with an actual human being who cares about you and your family. That’s one benefit that’s hard to replace.

What you may not know is that insurers sustain track of your roadside assistance claims and in some cases, you may find yourself paying a higher premium if your car blows a tire one too many times. While it is unlikely that a one-time jump initiate will raise your rates, many insurers judge roadside assistance claims as one predictor of risk, which can impact premiums. Remember the money you thought you were saving by using your auto insurance instead of AAA? You can kiss that money good-bye.

In addition, automobile towing claims are reported to a national database race by Atlanta-based ChoicePoint, which provides insurers with claims information on consumers to help insurers process insurance applications. This database is checked each time you apply for a new policy in order to determine whether or not you have been truthful in regards to your application. However, it can be nearly impossible to distinguish a towing claim made for roadside assistance from one made after a motor vehicle accident. This means that flat tire you had that required a tow could produce future inquirers think that you were in an accident you did not fully disclose. Interestingly, Choicepoint does not keep a record of towing claims made through companies like AAA.

These reasons alone are reasons to choose AAA over your auto insurance provider, but also retain in mind that AAA offers discounts on hotels, car rentals, and other fade expenses which can quickly add up. Plus, you can be guaranteed that your insurance premiums will not increase, and your records will be kept private. That kind of peace of mind is worth a little extra money to me. Is it worth it to you?

1. Do I qualify for any discounts? I always ask this first for anything I am purchasing; therefore, this is the first question I asked my insurance agent. Most insurance companies give discounts for agreeable driving records but many offer discounts for insurance your home and other items with their company.

2. Do you offer a written comparison? With many online websites offering written comparisons of their rates to the rates of other companies, some local insurance agents are now offering the same. It is good to ask for this from several companies and then compare the quoted rates to find the lowest rate. You might find a company you were not aware of that has a lower rate.

3. How are premiums paid? Some companies will require payment in full for a six-month car insurance policy while other companies will let you pay monthly or quarterly. Depending on your financial situation, this is an important question to ask up front before going into depth and then realizing you cannot afford to pay premiums three months at once.

4. Will my credit rating affect my premium? In the past few years, automobile insurance companies have begun to check credit ratings and consume this as a factor for determining your premium. If you have had problems with your credit, ask the insurance agent if this will raise your insurance (or if it is good will that lower the premium).

5. If I have an accident, will my insurance rate go up? There are a few insurance companies who are actually not raising premiums for drivers with good records who have an accident for the first time. If you have a clean driving characterize, search for a company that stands by the claim that, if you have your first accident, they will not raise your rates.

6. How will an accident or traffic ticket affect my premiums? Some automobile insurance companies will have fixed loss rates that will determine if your insurance premium is increased. For example, if the insurance company pays less than $1,000 for a small fender-bender, your rate my not be adjusted. Ask the insurance company what constitutes a premium increase and how the increases are determined in relation to accidents and traffic tickets.

7. Can you raise my insurance premiums without an accident, traffic ticket or change of vehicle? Confirm that the insurance company cannot raise your insurance premium with a specific change in your coverage or without another mitigating circumstance. This is important because drivers should be rewarded for their loyalty and good driving record and you should choose an insurance company that will value that and not raise your premiums for no reason.

8. Will an adjuster be assigned to me quickly upon reporting an accident or loss? Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to thunder with a real, live person who can help you when you have had and accident or loss. Accidents are traumatic enough and having a local person to work with is important. Make sure that you can report claims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that a local person will be available to assist you with medical bills, rental cars and replacement vehicles.

9. Will my insurance policy be canceled after one accident or traffic ticket? There are some insurance companies that offer incredible gross insurance premiums. The hitch to this low premium that they do not sufficiently interpret is that if you have an accident or other loss, they will assassinate your insurance policy. You are then forced to find a new automobile insurance company right after having an accident or loss.

10. Does my automobile insurance policy cover a rental car if I am driving it? This is well-known if you are traveling and will be renting a vehicle. Rental agencies will offer you insurance coverage; however, if your automobile insurance policy covers you in a rental care you can save some money by turning that coverage down at the rental agency.

Everyone, it seems, guarantees that they will save you money on your current insurance rates. Geico promises 15% or more, Progressive promises to compare quotes for you to find you the best rate; Allstate promises “you will save more”; Site Farm promises the “best rates”; and the list continues on. Undoubtedly, all these companies, and many others, honestly are interested in saving you money, they want your business and in order to get your business they have to be competitive in their pricing.

Nevertheless, almost all these companies’ websites use fairly generic information forms when generating your car insurance quotes. These estimated quotes are often much higher than what they would be if you where to actually visit these agencies in person or speak with an agent. These is because local insurance agents also want your business, often more so than a national company, and are aware of the prices online and are likely to be wiling to do whatever they can to beat any online price you may find. A good example of this is my experience with Allstate.

When I entered my information into Allstate’s online quote estimator the estimate was unprejudiced over $1000 every six months or $180 a month. My wife and I have two cars, and have totaled one with in the last year, and have been in three other accidents (it has been a banner year). However, when I went into a local Allstate agent’s office he quoted me an insurance premium which was much less: $790 for six months or $132.38 a month. I was surprised at the difference. This may not always be the case, but often is. If you are truly looking for the best auto insurance rate available to you it would be worth your while to devote at least half of your looking efforts towards local agencies. Sometimes the best deals are with local car insurance agents who sell for a larger national company.