In this incendiary TV spot for Progressive Insurance, our buddy Flo claims Progressive will find its customers the best rate, even if it’s not with Progressive. Then, the Progressive ad campaign’s resident competitor insurance agents claim they do the same thing, and their pants catch on fire. Actually, it looks more like their shoes catch on fire and their pants catch on fire as a result, but this is immaterial.
But you know, I sure hope Progressive is insured for liability against people’s pants catching on fire in their virtual store, because with everyone seeing this commercial, there are a lot of witnesses who can testify to the fact that these innocent men had their trousers torched in this establishment, and as such, Progressive is surely liable for all damages incurred. (Maybe they offer such a policy to themselves?)
But you know, I sure hope Progressive is insured for liability against people’s pants catching on fire in their virtual store, because with everyone seeing this commercial, there are a lot of witnesses who can testify to the fact that these innocent men had their trousers torched in this establishment, and as such, Progressive is surely liable for all damages incurred. (Maybe they offer such a policy to themselves?)
But regarding this scenario, are they saying that these guys’ claims are false, and that’s why their pants catch on fire? Because they don’t really work for a competing insurance company, you know, so of course their claims about a non-existent insurance company would be false. But with their pants catching on fire right there at the Progressive office/store thingy, doesn’t it make the Progressive place seem a bit hazardous? (Notice how nobody working for Progressive bothers to try to extinguish the flames. Why, these men could have been killed horribly, literally burned to death right in the Progressive Insurance store! That doesn't seem very responsible to me. In fact, it makes Progressive seem quite uncaring and, frankly, depraved, does it not?) And don’t they cover burning pants at Progressive? Since those guys love Progressive Insurance so much, and they’re always hanging around, wouldn’t they have a policy? (Or do you need a specific policy for that? And additionally, if you have such a policy at Progressive, is there a clause in fine print which states that they are not required to help put flaming pants out, and if a policyholder dies from the burning pants, they will not pay out any benefits? Because that might help explain why nobody pulls out a fire extinguisher. Or maybe they don’t even bother to have one in their store?) So then why doesn’t Progressive replace their pants? Or does lying about a non-existent insurance agency’s policies invalidate the burned pants replacement policy?
Perhaps this commercial ought to end with the announcer saying: "Not helping people whose clothes are on fire in your store: now that’s Progressive!"
Perhaps this commercial ought to end with the announcer saying: "Not helping people whose clothes are on fire in your store: now that’s Progressive!"
Here’s the smoldering slacks spot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqOcvSKRQvs
But in all seriousness, I think this commercial would be a lot better if Flo pulled out a fire extinguisher and put out the guys’ pants. Because joke or not, it looks irresponsible not to put the fire out, and it looks like she doesn’t care if they get burned. And an insurance company is supposed to protect people, right? So there you are. And it wouldn’t have taken much effort to put that little touch in, and they would have avoided this issue altogether. Maybe it seems like a small thing, but when you think about what they’re selling, it’s really not. We’re supposed to trust them, but if they won’t even put out the flames on someone who is on fire, they don’t really seem all that caring or trustworthy. See what I mean?
But in all seriousness, I think this commercial would be a lot better if Flo pulled out a fire extinguisher and put out the guys’ pants. Because joke or not, it looks irresponsible not to put the fire out, and it looks like she doesn’t care if they get burned. And an insurance company is supposed to protect people, right? So there you are. And it wouldn’t have taken much effort to put that little touch in, and they would have avoided this issue altogether. Maybe it seems like a small thing, but when you think about what they’re selling, it’s really not. We’re supposed to trust them, but if they won’t even put out the flames on someone who is on fire, they don’t really seem all that caring or trustworthy. See what I mean?
