| Metal Caskets | | | | welded steel ones. They are more labor intensive and |
| Such caskets are usually made of 20-gauge steel | | | | designed to let the beauty of the various woods |
| which has been welded. They generally have clips | | | | show through the finish. The cost for such fine |
| that hold the top down and have no type of gasket | | | | caskets varies with the type of wood. |
| or protective locking devices. This type of casket is | | | | On a scale of least expensive to most expensive we |
| available in any color the manufacturer can spray | | | | find: poplar, pine, birch, oak, cherry, mahogany, and |
| paint. The cost is determined by how fancy the | | | | walnut. In the lower cost ranges other regional |
| finish, handles, and interior are. As interior fabrics get | | | | softwoods may be used. The consumer may want |
| softer in texture, have better stitching, and nicer | | | | to consider this type because of the aesthetic value |
| colors, the cost goes up. As the handles get more | | | | of the wood. The analogy to purchasing furniture is |
| expensive and corner decoration is screwed on, the | | | | the closest I can come to giving a reason why one |
| price goes up. Why would a special color interior be | | | | type of wood is preferred over another. I have |
| wanted? The color of the clothing the deceased will | | | | often heard that comment made by consumers while |
| wear plays a part in this decision. Why do cars come | | | | in the casket showroom. The cost to the funeral |
| in so many colors? Personal taste! The funeral | | | | director would be about $650, while the average cost |
| director can buy this type of casket for about $550. | | | | to the consumer is $1,700. We now move into exotic |
| The average cost to the consumer is $1250. | | | | territory. Caskets can be had that are made of |
| | | | stainless steel, copper, or bronze. The very best are |
| Notice that by paying $50 more than a no sealer | | | | not welded, but are bronze and have been cast in |
| costs, he sells it to you and makes and additional | | | | one piece. Cast bronze is measured in ounces, not by |
| $100 to $150 when the mark-up is figured in. Sealed | | | | gauge, with 32 ounces being standard, 48 ounces an |
| caskets make the consumer consider crossing the | | | | option. The cost to the funeral director can be as |
| line from choosing a casket that is merely | | | | high as $5,000, but on the average the consumer |
| aesthetically pleasing, to entertaining the possibility | | | | buys non cast caskets of copper and stainless steel |
| that protecting the body from the elements is | | | | for just over $3,000. |
| important. That is a very personal decision. Some | | | | Fiber Glass Caskets |
| above-ground mausoleums require sealed caskets or | | | | There has been no discussion of fiber glass |
| a soldered-closed metal box before the deceased | | | | caskets.Fiber glass is derived from a mold and does |
| can be placed in the crypt. The only times that a | | | | not require any type of work to obtain a finish on |
| sealed metal casket might be required are: the | | | | the exterior, as is the case with wood or metal. At |
| occasional shipping situation in which the casket is | | | | this point in time they are a rarity. Several years ago |
| transported on a common ground, sea, or air carrier | | | | there was an attempt by an independent distributor |
| (but this need for a sealed casket is rarely the case | | | | to set up retail distribution direct to the consumer. To |
| when the deceased is being transported within the | | | | my knowledge these efforts were not successful. It |
| United States); or if the deceased is badly | | | | is not difficult to understand why the public has not |
| decomposed and cannot be embalmed. The funeral | | | | flocked to fiber glass as a casket material. The ones |
| director may make this a requirement in such cases, | | | | currently available are more expensive than welded |
| or the state law may mandate it. | | | | steel. Perhaps the market for them will grow, but the |
| The High Cost of Dying Warranties! | | | | funeral industry is rooted in tradition and change |
| The smart funeral director has a phrase on the | | | | comes slowly. Finally, why choose one type of |
| arrangement contract form that says he makes no | | | | casket over another? It was my practice to have |
| representations about warranties. What comes from | | | | any merchandise arranged by price. |
| the manufacturer is what you get. Read it carefully. I | | | | I gave the funeral purchaser the total cost of all |
| have never seen a manufacturer's warranty that | | | | goods and services, including cash disbursements to |
| didn't say something to the affect of, "Will replace if | | | | other providers (such as the cemetery), before |
| found to be defective." Under what scenario are you | | | | showing any caskets. I said, and all funeral directors |
| going to remove someone from the grave to see if | | | | who worked for me were instructed to say, |
| the sealed metal casket performed properly? Maybe | | | | «This is your total cost. The only additional |
| this will occur if you are moving a family plot to | | | | expense is the casket. The caskets are arranged by |
| another location, or if the interment was above | | | | price. I will show you the least expensive one first |
| ground and the end plate of the mausoleum space | | | | and then illustrate the features that result in higher |
| was removed for some reason. Sealed metal caskets | | | | priced caskets." At this point the funeral consumer |
| serve as marketing tools for the funeral director. If | | | | was taken into the casket display room. In a few |
| the consumer thinks the sealing is an advantage, then | | | | minutes' time the different finishes and interiors were |
| the purchase of this type of casket should be | | | | pointed out. The locking devices were then shown as |
| considered. | | | | well as the sealed and metal caskets. Finally, the client |
| The funeral director can buy the minimum model of | | | | was told, "Selecting a casket should be based on |
| sealed metal casket for about $300, but because he | | | | personal taste. I cannot tell you what features are |
| wants a bigger spread in price between the | | | | important to you, or how much you should spend. I |
| inexpensive no sealer and more expensive sealer, he | | | | will leave you to make a selection. |
| will upgrade the latter's interior, sometimes to velvet, | | | | If you have a question, I will be in the room where |
| and the cost jumps. At this level the manufacturer | | | | we made the arrangements." Then I left the room. |
| has also added an adjustable spring bed mattress. | | | | Section 6 (e) (I) of the Federal Trade Commission |
| This may sound silly, but it does help the funeral | | | | Rule states that it is deceptive to "represent that |
| director to position the body. The adjustable | | | | funeral goods or services will delay the natural |
| mattress allows the body to be raised, lowered, or | | | | decomposition of human remains for the long term or |
| tilted to one side. When a body is displayed, it is | | | | an indefinite time." That notwithstanding, many |
| generally raised in the casket and slightly tilted | | | | people select a sealed casket. It is all personal taste. |
| toward the person viewing the deceased. (Average | | | | Two final words on caskets: It is not unusual for a |
| cost to the consumer = $1,770) Grouped in this same | | | | funeral director to reduce the amount of markup on |
| price range are solid wood caskets. Once the | | | | his high-end merchandise since he can obtain the |
| standard and available at reasonable cost, today solid | | | | same profit from a smaller markup on expensive |
| wood caskets cannot be as easily produced as | | | | items. |