You Need to Buy Our Laptop to Sell for Us

***Melmunch3*** · 06-18-2009, 01:24 PM

Aflac

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 06-18-2009, 01:40 PM

Interesting.

moonlightandmargaritas · 06-18-2009, 01:42 PM

Aflac?

xrac · 06-18-2009, 01:45 PM

Do you think the Duck ("quack", "quack") represents all of the greenhorn agents they sign up?

arnguy · 06-18-2009, 02:56 PM

A friend of a friend of mine tried to recruit me for AFLAC and told me about the "super duper computer" you must buy from them. I passed on the opportunity. Apparently your own computer can't handle the job of enrolling employees.

Charpress · 06-18-2009, 03:09 PM

I think most any laptop could handle a database of 3 customers.

That was one of my favorites Dilberts.

JMO Fan · 06-18-2009, 03:16 PM

As an AFLAC recruit (years ago), I remember training to use the laptop we were supposed to aspire to buy. It seems like a baited hook, i.e., once you've invested in the laptop, you have much more incentive to stay with them. I couldn't afford it. [Maybe that's why I was given the "cold" list of leads.

]

Thankfully I got an actuarial job before I had to commit.

Norwayguy · 06-18-2009, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Charpress

I think most any laptop could handle a database of 3 customers.

That was one of my favorites Dilberts.

Of course any computer could handle the job...they would not provide the software except by purchasing the computer...I think its a great idea for Aflac if you can convince enough agents to buy the over priced computer that you make money on probably many of the agents never submitted business so its a way to make more money on non insurance sales.

moonlightandmargaritas · 06-18-2009, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Norwayguy

Of course any computer could handle the job...they would not provide the software except by purchasing the computer...

Back in '91 when I started with Pru, they whacked $25 a week out of your check for this Compaq laptop that was like a frickin' Mack truck...complete with 16 lb. battery!

When I left, the District Manager, out of spite, tried to screw me out my earned vacation pay.

The joke was on him however, I never turned in my laptop, knowing that he would be responsible for the cost of it.

The stupid jabroni called me four times a day for two weeks. I told him the same thing everytime; as soon as I received my vacation check, I would return the laptop.

I never received the vacation check. I think the laptop is still out in the garage somewhere...

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 06-18-2009, 04:44 PM

"Compaq laptop that was like a frickin' Mack truck...complete with 16 lb. battery"

That brings back memories. I don't know if you had a clunky portable printer, but I only used mine once after it got ink all over a client's (make that ex-client's) kitchen table.

stormtracker · 06-18-2009, 05:47 PM

I remember when I was selling the Star program in central Texas in the mid 90's, we had to lug around a portable printer to take a copy of their Medicare cards. More than once, an enrollee would ask if it was an x-ray machine...

russelltw · 06-18-2009, 06:59 PM

Aflac will tell you the laptop is necessary so they don't have to support 30 different laptops, which I think is reasonable. It did make enrolling people MUCH easier. Charging $3,000 to $3,500 for a laptop is NOT reasonable.

They tell you to write apps and get a $3 credit per app. Again the company gets you to write 1,000 apps at say $300/year/app (low guess based on my memory) = $300,000 in annual prem. I believe I remember something saying they took in 9 billion one year and paid out $4.5 billion in claims (expenses not taken in to account). So based on those numbers, they made $50,000 to $150,000 off that laptop...
It's a cash COW for management and stockholders, but not for the agent.

Patriot · 06-18-2009, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by stormtracker

More than once, an enrollee would ask if it was an x-ray machine...

Why, yes, ma'am, this is not only an x-ray machine, but also incorporates a portable external MRI as well as brand new photon technology. In just one two-second burst this machine will tell me your whole health history from head to foot.

Now, may I ask you again, when was the last time you said you had a cigarette, Mrs. Jones?

stormtracker · 06-19-2009, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Patriot

Why, yes, ma'am, this is not only an x-ray machine, but also incorporates a portable external MRI as well as brand new photon technology. In just one two-second burst this machine will tell me your whole health history from head to foot.

Now, may I ask you again, when was the last time you said you had a cigarette, Mrs. Jones?

And, if those diagnostics fail, it can always double as a hemorrhoid puller...

Norwayguy · 06-19-2009, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by russelltw

Aflac will tell you the laptop is necessary so they don't have to support 30 different laptops, which I think is reasonable. It did make enrolling people MUCH easier. Charging $3,000 to $3,500 for a laptop is NOT reasonable.

the problem with that line of thought ie not supporting 30 different laptops is they could take the approach Assurity does...I got the assurity software in the mail (software was free) and opened it up and there was this nifty little piece of paper saying the software does not support Vista....

So they could take that approach that the software works and they won't support someone using a different configuration. Oh and I called tech support at assurity and it took them 10 seconds on the phone to explain a work around to get the software to work with Vista...It all depends on how much the company wants to support Agents.

GreenSky · 06-19-2009, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Norwayguy

the problem with that line of thought ie not supporting 30 different laptops is they could take the approach Assurity does...I got the assurity software in the mail (software was free) and opened it up and there was this nifty little piece of paper saying the software does not support Vista....

Actually, Assurity won't support Vista but their software does run fine (at least for me). I believe they have instructions on their website on how to fix the Vista "glitch."

Rick

Norwayguy · 06-19-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by GreenSky

Actually, Assurity won't support Vista but their software does run fine (at least for me). I believe they have instructions on their website on how to fix the Vista "glitch."

Rick

True there official stance is that the software does not support vista...I still called there technical department and in 10 seconds they had me up and running with a work around...The point I'm trying to make is with AFLAC if you want to do enrollments electronically as opposed to via paper apps they want you to buy an over priced laptop and there justification is not supporting 30 different platforms...If they truelly wanted agents to succeed they could publish guidelines for purchasing a platform they have tested and only support that...I just get the feeling they prefer to rake in extra dollars from the captive salesforce in this manner.

VaDwayne · 06-20-2009, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Melmunch3

Aflac

Colonial Life requires you to purchase their laptop if you want to submit business. The final outcome means you have paid 3600.00 for a computer that you can buy on Ebay for 1200.00. You can't buy the less expensive one and then send it to them to have their security featues installed;you must buy their laptop.

No way in h***!!!!!!

moonlightandmargaritas · 06-20-2009, 11:33 AM

[COLOR=navy]There are some organizations that want to make money with you. There are some that want to make money off you. Look for, and stick with, the former.[/COLOR]

ScottHCO · 06-22-2009, 05:07 PM

You should never have to "Pay" for a job.