A Tale Of Two Caskets - (Final Cost Comparison/Breakdown)
KenK/84Bravo
Member Posts: 11,925 ✭✭✭✭
Suggested/recommended to my Sister an alternative to buying/purchasing a Casket at the Mortuary. (Went over like a lead baloon.)
I relayed Further Links, Connections and Contacts. I had seen a feature a couple months ago, about a young couple that had started their own Company, (Titan Caskets) Online. After experiencing their own buying experience. They found the (normal) markeup "Obscene and Immoral." They were "Appalled" at what was taking place and the obscene "Pure Profit" these Mortuaries were making off people in need and in an emotional State.
They started their Online Mail Order Company to sell Caskets, at a "Modest Markup," and strive to not take advantage of those Families, in this need. They Truck/Freight ship, direct to the mortuary in 24-48 hours.
I finally convinced my Sister and her daughter (my Neice) to explore this option. Unfortunately, Titan Caskets does not ship to TN. (Unsure why.) They found another Company (Sky Caskets) that filled their need. Bought a top line Casket for $1995 w/guaranteed next Day delivery. The same/lesser Caskets through the Mortuary? $7-$10K.
Just be aware you have Options. Do not allow yourself to get screwed, in your time of need. (We saved $5-$8K.)
Just putting this out there, for those that are unaware.
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁
Comments
It sucks that there are folks out there that will take advantage of others at such a dire time in their lives. Glad your family was able to circumvent the scalpers to take care of your mom.
I will also add, that these Caskets are made by the exact same Manufactures that Supply/Deliver to these Mortuaries. By Law, they can not refuse to accept delivery of these accredited/approved Caskets. The Company you buy from, will also contact the Funeral Home and coordinate delivery.
Search their Offerings of Top line Name Brand Caskets, select options, Click, Click, Done. Easy Peasie.
My Sister was going to drive 4 hours here, 4 hours back and get royally screwed. She/they are most appreciative, that I suggested an alternative to that process.
I would post a picture of the Casket we chose, but Pic additions by me, will not (usually) go through.
Like I said to my Sister. "Win/Win for Mom."
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁
We recently did the pre-paid funeral thing. One place wanted $4,000 for a basic cremation, after the multi person discount. So I mentioned their billboard ad in the next (larger) city that advertised it for $1,695... DOH ! We went with another service for $2,400.
When our aunt passed, we invited 19 people to a local restaurant for dinner & drinks to celebrate her life. It turned out to be less than renting the funeral parlor for a viewing.
That is my type of Service, Toolman.
My personal opinion on the $$ that should be spent at a Funeral, completely differs from that of my Sister. I will leave it at that.
Personally, Cremate me in a cardboard box, if that is legal. Why throw $$ at Vultures? No ceremony desired/wanted. That's just me. I'm dead, what do I care? Save the $$, go out to eat for a nice meal, etc. Remember me, in that respect.
Mortuaries, are a Boil on the butt of Humanity. Vultures. (Sorry, my personal View.) What they charge Families, is "Obscene and Immoral." Their Profit margin/markup is ridiculous. They prey on the vulnerable/emotionally needy.
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁
Good info Ken and both companies have good reviews.
We have a Local Funeral home that has done well by the Family.
All told 5-7000 depending on just how you want to go.
I'm a donor, take what is usable, cremate me and load some Shotgun shell and have fun. Any thing left over Famiy can put in a box and put in the family plot (no cost).
I just downloaded their site. I got a bad feeling I am going to need their service in the next couple of years. Not for me, but a close family member. Thanks for sharing Ken, and you did the right thing.
Still praying for your family Ken. Hope all goes well with mom's funeral. I hope you all are doing as good as can be expected. God bless brother.
Got a local young man that hand makes custom wooden caskets. Beautiful to say the least and way cheaper than any funeral home. I will post his web site if it is ok with the mods.
He made my Dad's and several for neighbors. My wife had him make mine out of eastern cedar. Very beautiful but a good friend with very little money need it worse the I did.
Wife had him make one out of cherry for my MIL. It is stored here on the side porch. Ha ha.
Since then I have decided to be cremated. No grave to dig and grounds to maintain. The wife, me, and my best 4 legged friend will share a jar of some sort.
I could tell you hundreds of grave digging experiences. Some funny and some not so funny. You get to dig a lot of them if you have a small excavator.
True story, an old craftsman many years ago was making coffins for those that needed his service. The ones he disliked either got coffins made out of chestnut, (go througt hell poppin and cracking) or buckeye so the bottom would rot out quickly. His old patterns us to be in my Dad's barn.
Hoosier like your Idea about hand loading shot gun shells.
For awareness, caskets aren’t generally required by law. If you don’t like cremation, can always go “natural” (especially if you have your own land).
And for veterans…. don’t forget that there is some assistance to be had there as well.
The Rev. Billy Graham had the right idea, he wanted just a simple wooden box, made by a state prisoner serving time. Nicely done and beautiful.
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
When my mom passed she had paid for the plot,opening and closing of the grave and the headstone and the funeral home charged little over 10 grand. With what was pre paid and what I paid it was almost $20,000. These funeral homes do take advantage of families.
Funeral directors, and realtors. "Never have some many done so little for so much."
You beat me to it ... And that plywood casket lay in state in OUR Nations capital rotunda.
Ken, keeping you and your family in my prayers 🙏❤️🙏
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
I had two neighbors who were carpenters/ woodworkers. Both built their own caskets . A " cousin " by marriage, an ex funeral director, hand crafts wooden urns for family members who decide on cremation .
Opting for cremation. About $250.
Cremation here costs around 4K. It keeps going up as well.
Just got off the phone w/my Sister. She relayed to me that our entire bill with the Funeral Home was $2800. I am thrilled. We are doing the Viewing at the Church, (w/meal afterward.) we are doing the Burial w/my Dad at the VA. We purchased our own Casket. We are supplying our own flowers.
The Mortuary did have to go 4 hrs away to pick up my Mom and 4 hours back. Will do the prep. Store body for 1 week. Transport body to the Church and back, (unfortunately the VA can not do the Burial that day, it will be 3 days later.) The Funeral home will have to store until then, then transport 1 hr ea way.
I think the total is very reasonable. I am thrilled. (As is my Sister.)
I was so afraid to see/hear of our Total.
* My Mom was very well known and Loved in this Community. I do not know if that had anything to do with it. I'd like to think that it did.
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁
Wife and I just had our trusts & wills redone. Cremation, spread ashes on our lake and then off to our favorite bar/restaurant for remembrances. WTH
84, that was a real deal.
You and your family may have some friends that want to remain unknown.
Just read your mom's obit.
Very good to say the least. I hope she knew how her friends and family truly cared for her.
Just to add a note- expect that there is a charge for everything that the funeral home does. EVERYTHING.
My bride of 48 years passed away from a Neuro disease (called Huntington's Disease) and had made it clear that her British body would NOT have a traditional Southern open coffin "Don't he look natural" funeral. Our daughters and I talked it over- straight cremation, no funeral no viewing. The mortuary picked her up, handled the paperwork with the state Medical Examiner, Social Security (required) the cremation and returned her ashes to us. No embalming, no coffin, no grave, no viewing.
Our daughters help spread their Mom's ashes on her beloved flower garden, we split a bottle of good wine and shared good memories of their Mom. Total cost was $1,400. Have let the girls know when it is my time, I'd like to rejoin my bride in her flower garden.
Funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living.
Cremation is a way to go cheap but these days with unscrupulous funeral homes may or may not do their job correctly. I may have to hire one of those line standers to make sure I go in the oven by myself. That is if I don't have a Viking Funeral in my car.
Mom's Funeral today. Got to see the Casket. (Beautiful.) Talked to my Sister and Niece, who were directly involved in buying it. They were Very Happy and thrilled I offered an "Alternative." I asked my Sister. What the Mortuary Director said when he was told we were supplying our own Casket? "Oh..."
My Sister and Niece were traveling by car when they somehow ended up with the CEO of Sky Caskets. He said they regularly deliver and Supply to the Mortuary we had Chosen. In fact the Casket we ordered was on a shipment of other Caskets that the Mortuary was receiving, by them. (And Marking Up.)
My Sister told me that she found out the EXACT SAME CASKET we paid $1600 for, they sold for $8500. (How's That for a middleman Markup?)
*Funny Story related to all of this. After they hung up the phone in the car, after commiting to and buying the Casket over the phone. My Sister looked at my Niece and said - "Did we really just buy a Casket Online/Over the Phone?"
My Niece said they were "Laughing so hard, we had to pull off the road." 😂
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁
Bump.
People should read this. IMHO.
Extreme NE TN/W NC ya'll. 😁