"Why Sainsbury's Car Insurance prices are worth checking out"? - or maybe not?

nemo183

Did anyone read last Saturdays (10-06-05) Jobs and Money bit of the Guardian?. On the cover page was a Sainsbury's logo, with the heading "Why Sainsbury's car insurance prices are worth checking out - see page 11"

On page 11, we are treated to two further pics of sainsbury's logo's - one of a trolley, and one featuring the "cheeky" little bill, as shown on ads on the telly, telling us how much better their car insurance is. Also, a "helpful" table, showing how Sainsbury's were cheapest in a "Mystery Shop" of other companies.

The article explains how sainsbury's have been "spurred into action" by the success of Tesco's offering. Yet the "helpful" chart doesn't feature a quote from Tesco's.

It also doesn't feature any of the 5 cheaper quotes that https://www.confused.com will return in less than 5 mins.

So what's going on here? We've got 3 sainsbury's images/logo's, suggesting that they are now competitive. It's almost a page of free advertising, some of the copy of which could almost seem to have come from a press release, suggesting that sainsbury's are now the boys to do business with.

It fails to include a quote from Tesco's - the company that "spurred them on".

Instead of spending 5 mins completing the https://www.confused.com form, the "mystery shopping" only has time to ring manually round for several more expensive quotes.

In conclusion, this whole article, complete with it's 3 sainsbury's logos, and "Table", which takes up a front page headine, and virtually a page of "editorial", ignores a quote from their direct competitor, and selectively quotes prices from more expensive companies - ignoring the fact that https://www.confused.com offers quotes over £100 cheaper.

At best, this seems like a badly researched article - at worst, what with the 3 sainbury logo's , it stinks. It almost appears to be an "Advertorial"

Thank heavens for the objectivity of this site - I've written to the writer of the article, and had a half hearted defence - does any body have any suggestions on any further course of action?

Finally, I don't normally get worked up about these things, but had expected something better from the Guardian. I'd love to see what Martin's reaction would be the the whole piece - or is this kind of "puff" just normal?

Sooler

Seems Sainsbury's are just resellers ...

http://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/insuring/ins_importantinformation_car_dive.shtml
Sainsbury's Bank car insurance products

Sainsbury's Bank car insurance is arranged and administered by esure Services Limited as intermediary between you and the insurer. Your policy will be underwritten by either esure Insurance Limited, Company Number 3885534, or First Alternative Insurance Company Limited, Company Number 4664005, whose registered offices are: The Observatory, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0SG. All companies are part of the Halifax and Bank of Scotland group.


Similar for Asda car insurance ...
"ASDA Insurance is a trademark of Asda Stores Limited used under licence by Norwich Union and is a registered business name of Norwich Union Insurance Limited."

nemo183

I wonder if there's the same kind of thing going between tesco and Direct Line? Tesco are always cheaper for me, yet the letters produced by both companies seem very familiar?

LittleJo

Hi,
I had Sainsbury car insurance, did not renew. Would advise against. Will I get shouted at if I say why?
Jo

BenL

Come on Jo spill the beans.

Tesco and Direct Line are the same.

A few others use the same website quote engine as well.

I think my Insurer Prudential has moved to that system.

I think I escaped with my renewal just before the switch as I tried the usual re-visit as a new customer to the website for a quote and it was £200 more expensive on the new system.

Ben

nemo183

Come on Jo - do tell......

ArchieB_2

Sainsbury's probably 'sponsored' the article and as such it is basically an advert.