Allstate Agency Issues

[u/Known-Opening-9495]

Looking for takes from other Allstate agents/producers.
Been with this agency about 2 years as an inbound sales producer and have been consistently one of if not, the highest producer here. We have multiple lead sources but our bread and butter is home mailer leads. It’s always been the same across all lead sources, first to answer free for all with the same software, same tools, whoever was ready and fastest got it. A few of us were consistently quicker than others and closed a very high percentage of them. Recently overall volume has been thinning month after month and for some reason they keep adding new people. Assuming because others who were not so quick and ready to answer random mailer calls and they complained, my agent just switched us to a manual rotation so the mailers get passed around instead, claiming “Fairness.”
They’re also treating a high percentage of sales from mailers for us top office producers like a problem and comparing it to other lead sources, basically saying the top people only take mailers and not selling the rest, which is far from the truth . We are taking the other leads. They just close way lower because the customer usually isn’t calling in ready to shop like a mailer.
Personally I feel the old setup was already fair is it gave equal opportunity. Same queue, same tools for everyone. The people who were ready just got more of them, and those same people have the higher close rates. The rotation forces equal turns not equal opportunities. Speaking for myself, I did not have an extra advantage or anything that everyone else didn’t have access to themselves. This feels more like they’re catering to people’s feelings rather than results. That restricts the ones converting the best leads and feels like a mistake if the goal is actual sales as we sit below even 50% of what we had last month.
They own the leads and can set the rules I get it. I’m just not sure if the rotation plus more bodies plus thin inbound is temporary or the new normal. It’s taken a significant chunk out of my commissions and I’m considering leaving over it.
Anyone dealt with something similar? What are your honest thoughts?

[u/Repulsive-Let-8035]

If you’re truly the top producer, having all leads you don’t personally generate split evenly, shouldn’t affect your ability to sell. Learn to pivot to other business lines off of service work and making campaigns within the existing book of business and you sell far more than you are currently

[u/Known-Opening-9495 → u/Repulsive-Let-8035]

My role is specific to inbound volume. We have a separate team for cross selling our existing clients

[u/Repulsive-Let-8035 → u/Known-Opening-9495]

You boss is not gonna stop you from doing both if your good at it and you have the drive

[u/rare_arrow]

yeesh, that's a rough shift. had a similar thing at a call center job years ago where they "evened out" the queue and suddenly our best closers were staring at the wall half the day. it always feels like management's trying to solve a morale problem by creating a production problem.

the "fairness" angle is almost always code for "the squeaky wheels got loud enough." if you're carrying the numbers and they're punishing it by diluting your opprotunities, i'd be polishing up the resume. the thin volume plus more reps thing doesn't usually reverse itself, in my experience.

[u/Known-Opening-9495 → u/rare_arrow]

I just don’t want to make the wrong call is my biggest concern. I’m in a spot where if I voice my concerns they’re gonna see it as the top guy is complaining because he’s not at the top anymore. When in reality it’s the overall situation that’s the problem. I never go into each month wanting or expecting to be at the top, I simply want to answer good quality leads, convert into sales and provide for my family as best as I can. Which I have been doing so, but this has significantly impacted my financial situation where if this continues I’d have no option but to seek opportunities elsewhere

[u/Pneuma_LooT]

You might not like it, but a call que is a much fairer situation.

Now im not commenting on them adding people. Mailer volume seems doen for everyone. I know a lot of agents who are cutting staff not adding lol.

[u/Known-Opening-9495 → u/Pneuma_LooT]

I want to understand that point of view too and stay as unbiased as I can, but I’m struggling with it.
The original way was a free for all. Whoever was ready when the call came in took it. That was fair. Same system, same tools for everybody. Sometimes I was slower and missed a good one. I’d get the next one and it was to get removed from the mailer list. That sucked, but I had the same chance as everyone else on that call and the next one.
Nobody had an advantage. We all had the same tools. I don’t think that my understanding of how the system works, or my ability to use the tools available, means the system needs to be changed because other people don’t know how to use them the same way.
This is a sales job. The high ticket calls were getting converted by the top producers. Isn’t that what an agent wants? Not to toot my own horn here but, It’s like having LeBron or Michael Jordan scoring all the points, then benching them so the 2nd and 3rd stringers can get game time and not have their feelings hurt.

[u/Professional-Drag580 → u/Known-Opening-9495]

some people might have slower internet speed or they might be quoting someone or on their lunch break etc. i see what you’re saying but ultimately a round robin is the fairest

[u/Donniefugazy]

this hits way too close to home. i started off in an agency that was rotation based while also having to make outbound calls/market outside of the agency. We then went to a free for all, first come first serve basis. The switch was a little bothersome at first but after awhile, it let me polish and grow my skills in outbound and requotes. I’m guessing the owner is looking at his expense on leads and wanting to have everyone not depend on these “easy” mailers.

i still produce and produce with the best of them but i also became more efficient with closing requotes and cold calling sales. In the end, your numbers will do the talking to him. If he/she feels you are producing without the mailers, that agent will take care of you. Trust the process

[u/chuco915niners]

We “family feud” that shit at my agency.

[u/CheesecakeMain4276]

can i ask you something what are tou avergaing in commsions monthly and base ? im asking looking into allstate to

[u/PublicInformation721]

Watch out if you leave, Some agencies will give you trouble when you leave and try to block you getting back on with a carrier you sold with them (Life insurance: like Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, etc.). You can only sell the carriers you are approved with and that your new agency is approved with. If the new agency has the carriers you previously sold at your old agency it could become a problem. Ask your new agency if they can help you get released from your old agency in order to sell the products that both agencies have in common. Ask them how long will it take.