# 15 minutes could save you 15% or more... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537 "2009-04-01T03:09:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/21 "2009-04-01T20:10:54Z")
IIRC Geico is owned by Berkshire Hathaway (& of course, Warren Buffet) Buffet is well known to hire very competent managers to run the businesses they control, and Buffet speaks highly of Geico’s team/ results. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/22 "2009-04-01T20:17:10Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > My gripe used to be McD’s when I was driving an hour to work. Several times an hour to hear their annoying commercials on the radio. Remember when every other radio ad was for Gold Bond Medicated Powder? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/23 "2009-04-01T20:21:21Z")
I can tolerate the gecko, and even the caveman and the stack of bills with the eyeballs, much more easily than the singing twerp in the Free Credit Report dot Com ads. How’s that business model work? If it’s free, where do they get the money for all those ads? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/24 "2009-04-01T20:37:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I can tolerate the gecko, and even the caveman and the stack of bills with the eyeballs, much more easily than the singing twerp in the Free Credit Report dot Com ads. > > How’s that business model work? If it’s free, where do they get the money for all those ads? If you sign up for their paid service, you get a credit report without having to pay more on top of that. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/25 "2009-04-01T20:46:53Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > One of the major UK insurance companies, Norwich Union, is changing its name to match its new parent company, Aviva. They’ve got a star [sic]-studded cast for their television commercials - Bruce Willis, Alice Cooper, Ringo Starr, Elle MacPherson, MacCauley Culkin etc. Are we really starting to do this with “[sic]”? I know there was a thread about whether it could be used humorously, but I was hoping it wasn’t because of trend starting. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/26 "2009-04-01T20:58:39Z")
Is Britain becoming the new Japan for American movie actors to do commercials? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/27 "2009-04-01T21:07:44Z")
I like the gecko and the cavemen. I also have a crush on Erin Esurance. At least they don’t make me want to break things, like car commercials do. > [@Khadaji](#): > > My gripe used to be McD’s when I was driving an hour to work. Several times an hour to hear their annoying commercials on the radio. Serves you right for listening to commercial radio. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/28 "2009-04-01T21:40:47Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I can tolerate the gecko, and even the caveman and the stack of bills with the eyeballs, much more easily than the singing twerp in the Free Credit Report dot Com ads. I think he’s cute. ::blush ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/29 "2009-04-01T21:58:15Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If you sign up for their paid service, you get a credit report without having to pay more on top of that. So their name “[Freecreditreport.com](http://Freecreditreport.com)” is in and of itself deceptive advertising. Or it ought to be. ---
**Author:** ![mrbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@mrbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrbill)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/30 "2009-04-01T23:38:31Z")
Geico couldn’t save me any money…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/31 "2009-04-02T01:13:50Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > So their name “[Freecreditreport.com](http://Freecreditreport.com)” is in and of itself deceptive advertising. Or it ought to be. In fact, there is a real, free, government-mandated, credit report Web site at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/32 "2009-04-02T10:15:16Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Are we really starting to do this with “[sic]”? I know there was a thread about whether it could be used humorously, but I was hoping it wasn’t because of trend starting. ☹ I wasn’t aware of the thread nor that it was a “trend”. It was just a small joke. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Is Britain becoming the new Japan for American movie actors to do commercials? I’m not sure how many, if any, of these sorts of commercials also appear in the States. George Clooney has been pushing those horrible Nescafe machines and some sort of alcohol (Martini?). Ben Affleck appeared in a Lynx ad a while back (I think the product is called Axe in the US - stinky stuff for men). Various famous women are selling cosmetics and perfume (Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Vanessa Hudgens (sp?), Andie MacHorseface, etc). Do these not appear on US television? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/33 "2009-04-02T14:22:37Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > In fact, there is a real, free, government-mandated, credit report Web site at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) OK, that’s good, but irrelevant. Explain to me how the fact that there is a free, government mandated credit report website at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) does (or doesn’t) mean that “[freecreditreport.com](http://freecreditreport.com)” constitutes deceptive advertising? It seems to me that [freecreditreport.com](http://freecreditreport.com) is trying to misrepresent to people that its service is free, when in fact it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/34 "2009-04-02T14:34:56Z")
It doesn’t. My point was that it seems to _add_ to the odor of deception. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/35 "2009-04-02T15:35:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m not sure how many, if any, of these sorts of commercials also appear in the States. George Clooney has been pushing those horrible Nescafe machines and some sort of alcohol (Martini?). Ben Affleck appeared in a Lynx ad a while back (I think the product is called Axe in the US - stinky stuff for men). Various famous women are selling cosmetics and perfume (Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Vanessa Hudgens (sp?), Andie MacHorseface, etc). Do these not appear on US television? Not in advertisements, no. Except for Andie MacDowell, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/36 "2009-04-02T15:40:44Z")
Then the answer to your question is “yes”. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/37 "2009-04-02T15:59:08Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I think she’s cute. I’m pretty sure if I was in a room with her for more than a minute I’d probably kill her, but from the other side of a TV screen she’s cute. I agree. Not about the killing her part, but she is cute. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/38 "2009-04-03T06:02:42Z")
> [@mrbill](#): > > Geico couldn’t save me any money…:rolleyes: Because you aren’t a government employee, are you? GEICO=Government Employee Insurance Company. That’s what it started as before it began to offer insurance to the general public. If you are active or retired military or many other government carreers you get a discount. It’s one of the questions you are asked. Everybody else subsidises those government employees. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/39 "2009-04-03T13:15:34Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > OK, that’s good, but irrelevant. Explain to me how the fact that there is a free, government mandated credit report website at [annualcreditreport.com](http://annualcreditreport.com) does (or doesn’t) mean that “[freecreditreport.com](http://freecreditreport.com)” constitutes deceptive advertising? It seems to me that [freecreditreport.com](http://freecreditreport.com) is trying to misrepresent to people that its service is free, when in fact it isn’t. IIRC, it is “free” like everything else in advertising is free. You pay $X to sign up for their credit monitoring service, and a credit report is included with this service. If you cancel within 30 days (and answer the 4 million questions about why you “weren’t happy with their service”) then you get your money refunded. So, in the end, your credit report was “free”. Now, I’ve always hated the use of this word in advertising. IMO, if you say that something is free, then hand it over. If I have to take any steps to get what you say is “free”, then it is no longer free. Same way with “buy widget x and get widget Y absolutely FREE!” Please buy a dictionary. If I must buy something, then it isn’t free. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537/40 "2009-04-03T14:26:38Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Same way with “buy widget x and get widget Y absolutely FREE!” Please buy a dictionary. If I must buy something, then it isn’t free. I worked at a grocery store for a little over a year in the mid 90’s. It was in Shorewood, Wisconsin, which has a very large Russian Jewish immigrant population. They thought they knew what the word “free” meant. As a matter of fact, from what I could tell the only words of English they knew were “please”, “thank you”, and “free”. So, they’d come up to the register with a bottle of “Tide Free” and I would get to explain to some nice little old woman who spoke pretty much no English that “free” didn’t mean “free”. What a shitty job… -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-minutes-could-save-you-15-or-more/491537.md?page=3)