It is guaranteed that when it comes time to plan a funeral, emotions are running high. At such times, it is very ill advised to make large decisions, especially when it concerns money. This can be hard in modern times, as funerals are now big business!. Many people spend far more than they had initially planned for, mainly due to sales tactics which have been designed to prey on their emotional state. This situation occurs most often when funeral homes try and sell overpriced caskets to grieving families.
Below is a brief guide designed to give you all the information you need to avoid being overcharged when you are at your most vulnerable.
Vested Interests
Although there are a large number of trustworthy funeral homes out there, you need to always remember that they are first and foremost businesses. That means they are out to make money and the easiest way to do that is to sell you things that you don't need, or to inflate the prices for essential services, like the provision of a casket.
While for certain funeral services a funeral home may be the best option, for caskets they are quite often the most expensive. Of course, they will go to great lengths to convince you that you need to buy from them, but this simply isn't the case.
Third Party Suppliers
One thing you likely didn't know and that no funeral home director is likely to tell you, is that it's very cheap and easy to purchase a casket from a third party supplier. These suppliers specialise in caskets and have no vested interests – they simply want to offer you a casket at the most competitive price. The difference in price between a casket bought at a funeral home and one purchased at an external supplier can be truly staggering. These external suppliers understand that you are grieving and are able to offer you quality service. If you can't go to their showroom to pick up a casket, they can have it shipped to you quickly and easily.
Another clear benefit is the larger range available from third party suppliers. Funeral homes will only have a limited stock, or a narrow list of suppliers for their caskets. When buying from a third party, you get a far wider range to choose from.
Safe And Legal
Many people who choose to purchase a casket independently report that some funeral homes are very resistant to this idea. They will often cite safety concerns with third party caskets, or simply refuse to accept these caskets at all. As explained above, funeral parlours have a vested interest in selling you a casket and their resistance to third party caskets comes from this.
In Canada, it is illegal for a funeral home to deny you the use of your own casket. This law was initially introduced to allow people to use homemade caskets with no penalty, but it is equally applicable to other caskets as well. No funeral home is allowed to deny you the use of your chosen casket, or to charge extra fees for this.
For more information, or to purchase a casket, you should contact a local supplier. There are many reputable casket retailers with both shop fronts and an online presence, so be sure to shop around for the best deal.
Below is a brief guide designed to give you all the information you need to avoid being overcharged when you are at your most vulnerable.
Vested Interests
Although there are a large number of trustworthy funeral homes out there, you need to always remember that they are first and foremost businesses. That means they are out to make money and the easiest way to do that is to sell you things that you don't need, or to inflate the prices for essential services, like the provision of a casket.
While for certain funeral services a funeral home may be the best option, for caskets they are quite often the most expensive. Of course, they will go to great lengths to convince you that you need to buy from them, but this simply isn't the case.
Third Party Suppliers
One thing you likely didn't know and that no funeral home director is likely to tell you, is that it's very cheap and easy to purchase a casket from a third party supplier. These suppliers specialise in caskets and have no vested interests – they simply want to offer you a casket at the most competitive price. The difference in price between a casket bought at a funeral home and one purchased at an external supplier can be truly staggering. These external suppliers understand that you are grieving and are able to offer you quality service. If you can't go to their showroom to pick up a casket, they can have it shipped to you quickly and easily.
Another clear benefit is the larger range available from third party suppliers. Funeral homes will only have a limited stock, or a narrow list of suppliers for their caskets. When buying from a third party, you get a far wider range to choose from.
Safe And Legal
Many people who choose to purchase a casket independently report that some funeral homes are very resistant to this idea. They will often cite safety concerns with third party caskets, or simply refuse to accept these caskets at all. As explained above, funeral parlours have a vested interest in selling you a casket and their resistance to third party caskets comes from this.
In Canada, it is illegal for a funeral home to deny you the use of your own casket. This law was initially introduced to allow people to use homemade caskets with no penalty, but it is equally applicable to other caskets as well. No funeral home is allowed to deny you the use of your chosen casket, or to charge extra fees for this.
For more information, or to purchase a casket, you should contact a local supplier. There are many reputable casket retailers with both shop fronts and an online presence, so be sure to shop around for the best deal.
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