This is good for customers in theory, but I've yet to receive a third-party casket that wasn't damaged or inaccurate in a significant way. I recently had a family order a casket off the internet, only to find out that it wasn't the over-sized casket that they'd requested (the deceased was over 400 pounds), but a narrow casket that was completely insufficient. The casket company shrugged their shoulders and said, "That's what you asked for." And the family was out $2000. They refunded the family's money several weeks and several lawyers later.

The family cremated him instead of ordering a different casket (which ruined the funeral for out of town guests who never had an opportunity to pay their respects.)

I spent three weeks trying to get the casket company to come pick up their casket, to no avail. Finally, the family came by to settle their bill, saw that the casket was still there, put it in the back of their truck and took it home, which was fine, since the casket company didn't want it anymore.

Also: keep in mind that "damaged" is in the seller's opinion, not the customers'. I had a casket company who, when I told them that a handle came off the casket, said, "Well, it still has three handles left."

I'm all for consumer choice, but I'm more about consumer protection.

FWIW, I think this one is really cool.

1. Ardiril. . .I clicked on and off this thread without knowing who posted it, then afterwards, I thought about you. I am glad that you were the one who put it up.

2. ColdChef, have you seen the EcoPods, the caskets which look like they were made of egg carton material? Not that the user would notice, but they seem like they are pretty, um, green.

I can't believe how expensive caskets are. I'm going to demand to be buried in leftover Chinese food tupperware, in a nod to my thriftiness.

CC: You expressed exactly what I saw wrong/ironic/funny about this.

I'd rather be enriching the soil/trees/red ferns than wal-mart or amazon.

But this is kinda cool.

ColdChef, have you seen the EcoPods, the caskets which look like they were made of egg carton material? Not that the user would notice, but they seem like they are pretty, um, green.

I've never seen one in real life. I've seen a handful of homemade caskets, though. Each with their own specific challenges.

FWIW, the caskets I offer cost more than the ones linked, but I also have to maintain equipment, facilities, and payroll. We offer full healthcare for all of our employees, and we keep service ahead of sales at all times. And while it's perfectly fine for a family to provide their own casket for a funeral, it's not too unlike renting a banquet hall for a wedding, but then bringing your own chips, sandwiches and beer.

If all of my families began buying Chinese caskets (which is the real threat to the funeral industry...not Walmart), I would be unable to maintain the family business which has lasted three generations so far.

Which is not to say that the burden should be on the consumer--it shouldn't. But what I think you'll start to see in the future is a tiered system of funerals. There will still be a market for the personalized, caring, traditional funerals that I offer, but there will also be cut-rate burials with cardboard caskets and no ceremony whatsoever.

It's whatever personal values you have. Some people have elaborate weddings and some go to the justice of the peace.

Homemade? For some reason, that surprises me. I've seen plenty of homemade headstones, in my travels. Though I've heard stories about them (someone builds a casket, then keeps it in storage until it's needed. Or even uses it like a coffee table. I know I read that somewhere..)

For what it's worth, I'd love to hear more of your experiences, ColdChef. I find it very fascinating. I have a friend who works for a cemetery, and he has some good tales to tell.

someone builds a casket, then keeps it in storage until it's needed. Or even uses it like a coffee table. I know I read that somewhere..

Heh. That was probably me. That guy died this year.

I'd rather be enriching the soil/trees/red ferns than wal-mart or amazon.

Yeah, I'm with you. I'd like a natural burial.

I think Costco carries caskets as well.

I want to be cremated, so does the mister.

in my will , i've set aside some money to take my body onto a floating pyre and push it out to the sea, just like the vikings did. it ain't legal, but hey, you only die once.

I'm going to demand to be buried in leftover Chinese food tupperware, in a nod to my thriftiness.

When I was about 13, I told my mom I wanted to be packed into a box of styrofoam peanuts after I died, just like a piece of expensive stereo equipment that was about to be shipped away. Mom stared at me for several minutes before she said, "Do you just lie awake at night and think of ways to try to make me cry?"

Heh.

Ecopods. Perhaps they are still only available in UK. I saw one once.

There is one cemetary here, where the scion of the family is getting into natural burial. I can't yet decide on the options among:

1. Just take me out to the woods and let me be scavanged then shit around, in time.

2. Donating my body to research (if I did this, I would want to injest, or somehow have a "hi there!" inside me for when someone cuts me open and finds it.

3. Natural burial. . .just put me in the ground, ecopod or not. There are also a couple of people who me custom shrouds and wicker caskets here. . .

The last I heard my mom wants a casket from Abbey Caskets OR the most basic box the funeral home sells. Mom also wants to be buried in a housecoat and slippers (she does not want a service.) Her husband doesn't want a service either and wants to be buried within 24 hours of dying.

As to what I want - I totally don't care because I will be dead.

My body goes directly to a company provides body parts or full corpses to researchers. Cremation when no longer needed, and no cost to my family whatsoever.