# Geico and their insulting commercials **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 9, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966 "2004-08-09T01:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/1 "2004-08-09T01:58:01Z")
I was driving home tonight listening to the radio and another insulting Geico commercial came on. I went something like this: Mother: What is wrong with my son Doctor? Doctor: I’m sorry Mrs. Johnson but I am afraid that your 3 year old Johnny has a rare and potentially fatal form of childhood leukemia but I do have some good news. Mother: What is it doctor? Do you have a cure? Doctor: No, but I just saved 15% on my car insurance by calling Geico. Ok, the commercial wasn’t exactly like that but it was pretty close. Geico has a whole series of radio and TV advertisements that share a common theme. The start by giving someone really bad news and then the announcer says “but I have good news, I just saved 15% on my car insurance by calling Geico.” What sick self-centered fuck thought up this campaign. It’s not funny; it is very offensive. I want to throw something through my radio or my TV every time one of these commercials come on. I will never ever call them or use their web site even if I could save 90% because of these commercials. Way to go ad agency and marketing department. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/2 "2004-08-09T02:04:01Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > …What sick self-centered fuck thought up this campaign. It’s not funny; it is very offensive… That is factually incorrect. The Geico commericals are pretty damned funny. I especially like the faux-‘Soap Opera’ spot (I _saved_! I thought that meant something to you!) and the ‘hair loss’ ad. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/3 "2004-08-09T02:12:14Z")
I am sorry that you don’t like this series of commercials, but I do have some good news… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/4 "2004-08-09T02:23:45Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > I am sorry that you don’t like this series of commercials, but I do have some good news… See, my heart started racing and I felt a surge af rage when I read your post. It is a conditioned response that they have managed to instill in me. I am going to send them my therapy bills that I will need to purge it from me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/5 "2004-08-09T02:24:56Z")
I find it more insulting that they won’t go away. They have violated the comedy law of threes. You should never tell more than three jokes on a single subject in a single act (I can’t recall exactly where I heard that, but I know I did). The gecko ads were substantially worse. And don’t get me started on those fucking DiTech ads. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/6 "2004-08-09T02:29:26Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > And don’t get me started on those fucking DiTech ads. Lost another commercial complaint to Blue Sky! They’re even stupider now that the company’s changed its name to [Ditech.com](http://Ditech.com). ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/7 "2004-08-09T02:33:01Z")
> [@BraheSilver](#): > > Lost another commercial complaint to Blue Sky! > > They’re even stupider now that the company’s changed its name to [Ditech.com](http://Ditech.com). It’s all GMAC mortage anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/8 "2004-08-09T02:41:51Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > See, my heart started racing and I felt a surge af rage when I read your post. It is a conditioned response that they have managed to instill in me. I am going to send them my therapy bills that I will need to purge it from me. The really funny part is that I really did save about 15% on my car insurance by switching to Geico! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/9 "2004-08-09T02:43:08Z")
I kinda like it when the Geico guy does the robot … ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/10 "2004-08-09T02:51:35Z")
I love 'em! I especially like the “soap opera” one and the “hair loss” one. I got totally whoosed the first time I saw the hair loss one. First of all, I’m thinking, “well, this must be pretty honest 'cause the guy is only claiming a 3% sales increase after his new hair,” while thinking at the same time that it really isn’t very effective or motivational to show a guy only increased his sales 3%. Then the doc shows up, putting a huge comb in his pocket and I’m thinking, "What bullshit! This clown shows up touting some sort of hair replacement and we’re supposed to subliminally think their hair replacement technique is great that this huge comb would be necessary afterward. Then the punch line! I was totally whooshed and laughing out loud at the same time. I hate the Ditech and Enzyte Bob commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/11 "2004-08-09T02:52:42Z")
Ahem…make that “_so_ great,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/12 "2004-08-09T02:55:24Z")
I agree that the “But I do have some good news…” ad campaign is way past it’s freshness date. HOWEVER! The guy and the lizard rockin’ to Legendary Shack Shaker’s “CB Song” with their shades on is BRILLIANT! o/~ I got mah rabbit ears on and I wanna get chummay chummay… o/~ ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/13 "2004-08-09T12:17:58Z")
Love their commercials, but can’t buy their insurance. They quoted about double what I’m currently paying. I don’t know who they can save money for, but it certainly isn’t me. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/14 "2004-08-09T13:34:18Z")
Come on, everybody, sing! _Everybody was Kung Fu fighting Those cats were fast as lightning In fact it was a little bit fright’ning…_ ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/15 "2004-08-09T15:52:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Love their commercials, but can’t buy their insurance. They quoted about double what I’m currently paying. I don’t know who they can save money for, but it certainly isn’t me. Ditto on that here. Not on loving their commercials, but being quoted double what I pay now. Their commercials aren’t nearly as funny as their rate quotes. I have a 20 year clean record, and I’m in the safest statistical demographic. I don’t know who they want to sell their insurance TO. Not low risk drivers, apparently. Guess they gotta pay for all that commerical airtime somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/16 "2004-08-09T15:55:27Z")
> [@BraheSilver](#): > > Lost another commercial complaint to Blue Sky! Well, River, I’m afraid we’re going to have to chop your brain up just a little bit. But we also have good news…! ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/17 "2004-08-09T16:02:12Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > I hate the Ditech and Enzyte Bob commercials. Oooh, I loooove the enzyte commercials, especially the way they are obscure enough to keep children from having any idea what’s going on. Hate the Ditech ones though. I mean, really really hate!! God that guy irks me to no end. He’s quickly approaching Miss Cleo levels of annoyance with me. And I too have been completely whooshed by a couple of Geico commercials. Clever stuff, but time to put that particular campaign to rest IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/18 "2004-08-09T16:36:01Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I find it more insulting that they won’t go away. They have violated the comedy law of threes. You should never tell more than three jokes on a single subject in a single act (I can’t recall exactly where I heard that, but I know I did). > > The gecko ads were substantially worse. > > And don’t get me started on those fucking DiTech ads. Hmmm. An interesting law. Which phone company had the ads where the person accepting the call mis-hears the person making the call and comes home with something totally out of place? They were funny the first few times and made me beseark towards the end. If they had adhered to your law of comedy, they would have done much better in my opinion ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/19 "2004-08-09T16:40:39Z")
My wife thinks the gecko should be in some sort of car seat while riding around. If not for safety, then so he could look out the window better. I maintain that he is an adult, and a car seat would not be needed. Anyway, he doesn’t have enough mass to get too badly messed up in a crash. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966/20 "2004-08-09T16:53:57Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I find it more insulting that they won’t go away. They have violated the comedy law of threes. You should never tell more than three jokes on a single subject in a single act (I can’t recall exactly where I heard that, but I know I did). I’ve always favored The Muppet Show Law of Three: A joke that is too bad to use once may not be too bad to use three times! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geico-and-their-insulting-commercials/258966.md?page=2)