Insurer Geico looks to enter enemy’s camp

Rivalry with Progressive, availability of seasoned call center help may lure Berkshire unit to region

 

By STAN BULLARD

 

4:30 am, February 4, 2008

 

 

Geico, the auto insurer behind TV advertising’s in-your-face caveman, is hunting for a site for a call center that could employ as many as 400 workers on archrival Progressive Corp.’s home stamping grounds.

 

More below:

www.cleveland.com

Hopefully downtown Cleveland or Akron could land this. Independence is pretty central to both though.

come downtown or midtown.  It might just force Progressives hand.

Wouldn't it be something if Geico moves downtown while Progressive is in the suburbs?  That would be kind of ironic to me.

Wouldn't it be something if Geico moves downtown while Progressive is in the suburbs?  That would be kind of ironic to me.

 

I think Geico moving into downtown Cleveland would be Progressive!  :-D

come downtown or midtown.  It might just force Progressives hand.

 

I don't see it happening.  It seems to me that most people looking to change jobs see a downtown location as a detriment.  Though that may be my manufacturing background talking. Also if I'm not mistaken, offices are more expensive there.  Downtown's likely to remain limited to companies with a business reason for being there.

 

If they go with the one big complex or several scattered in a close region (as Progressive has done), Independence and/or "Methane Hills" in Garfield Heights is more likely.

 

I wonder if they'll drug test.  Progressive refuses to because of Peter Lewis's beliefs. 

^call centers seem to be in suburban locations (generally speaking). I agree. I doubt that they would come downtown.

I would be very surprised if they even located in Cleveland. Although it would be fantastic, and of course I'd be all for it because I think the city could use it, but I just don't know if I see it happening.

^^Probably won't, however it would be nice if they did.

I've seen a number of call centers locating in the city, though. The main reason is that call center work is often non-skilled and thus pays a lower income. That means transit access is important.

I've seen a number of call centers locating in the city, though. The main reason is that call center work is often non-skilled and thus pays a lower income. That means transit access is important.

 

thats what I'm thinking.  Look what is happening with Tyler Village or the Midtown area.

I hate to be a debbie downer, but it's a little depressing that the prospect of landing a call center warrants that long of a story.

From a newsman's perspective, the story is the battle between the companies AND that the battle may result in jobs for the region.

Maybe a few of should try to contact Geico to "convince" them the benefits of locating into the city--the biggest being the statement it would make against the big suburban competitor to the Cleveland community....but they've probably already picked their location most likely by now...

From a newsman's perspective, the story is the battle between the companies AND that the battle may result in jobs for the region.

 

I thought that seemed a bit of a stretch (in the story, especially in the title).  What would that really have to do with them locating a call center here? 

 

Maybe a few of should try to contact Geico to "convince" them the benefits of locating into the city--the biggest being the statement it would make against the big suburban competitor to the Cleveland community....but they've probably already picked their location most likely by now...

 

And you'd think thats what the Cleveland department of economic development or Cleveland econonomic development orgs. would already be doing (selling locating in the city), but I guess they have been know to let opportunies slip away. 

I hate to be a debbie downer, but it's a little depressing that the prospect of landing a call center warrants that long of a story.

 

Hey, be glad it's here instead of resulting in:  "Hi, my name is Haroo......errr.....Jim.  I am very sorry to hear about your problem and wish I had a clue what to do....errrrr...will need some more information from you at this time".

I thought that seemed a bit of a stretch (in the story, especially in the title).  What would that really have to do with them locating a call center here? 

 

It sounds like Geico has a real bug up their ass about Progressive. I think that's worth a story -- especially if they're trying to move in to their territory. Corporate battles can be very entertaining, IMHO.

^ i totally agree. that's a big and entertaining part of the story.

 

the city gov aside, do you all think there is there any chance that maybe stark or wolstein gave geico a call for something like this? or is it just hopelessly a suburban business?

 

I hate to be a debbie downer, but it's a little depressing that the prospect of landing a call center warrants that long of a story.

 

Hey, be glad it's here instead of resulting in:  "Hi, my name is Haroo......errr.....Jim.  I am very sorry to hear about your problem and wish I had a clue what to do....errrrr...will need some more information from you at this time".

 

hmm, i wonder.....is the call center in downtown mumbai or in a suburb?

the city gov aside, do you all think there is there any chance that maybe stark or wolstein gave geico a call for something like this? or is it just hopelessly a suburban business?

 

I would think anyone proposing to build office space, or having vacant space available anywhere, will be calling Geico. Despite what the uninformed believe, there's a lot more vacant office space in the 'burbs than there is downtown.

I thought that seemed a bit of a stretch (in the story, especially in the title).  What would that really have to do with them locating a call center here? 

 

It sounds like Geico has a real bug up their ass about Progressive. I think that's worth a story -- especially if they're trying to move in to their territory. Corporate battles can be very entertaining, IMHO.

 

IIRC, The PD ran a story late last year about how Geico may surpass Progressive in size soon.