WalMart Caskets: Bring out your dead. Would you buy one?

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WalMart Caskets: Bring out your dead. Would you buy one?

by Edward Barrera Posted October 30, 2009 15:48:42

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+8 raves

I refuse to walk into Wal-Mart on principle, but maybe I'll just be carried out in one of its caskets. The cut-rate retailer, blamed for destroying "Mom and Pop" stores throughout the country, is now after funeral home businesses and selling caskets and urns online. And, in this fight, I'm pulling for Wal-Mart.

Catering for cradle-to-grave needs, Wal-Mart already sells everything from baby wear to engagement ring at low prices. Prices for the store's caskets range from a "Mom" or "Dad Remembered" steel coffin for $895 to a bronze model at $2,899. From some of the numbers I've seen, the national cost average for a wood coffin is between $1,588 and $3,277. The average cost of a metal coffin is between $880 and $6,227. The funeral service industry generates $11 billion in revenue a year, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

Truthfully, I'm signed up for cremation. Give any part useful away and barbecue the rest. I'm always stunned by how much people spend on funerals. But maybe a sleek Wal-Mart urn will do. What do you think?

For a laugh, I posted Monty Python's Bring out your dead scene from the Holy Grail.

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+5 raves melly~I'm friggin' giddy. October 30, 2009 16:20:29

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
I'm with you...poach my parts and throw me on the pyre. I'm not against low cost caskets, but I am totally against Wal-Mart.
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Robby November 11, 2009 18:48:18 (edited)

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
old news to me. I heard that the chain was selling them about 2 or 3 years ago. I was doing a photo project for a friend of mine & got this crazy idea of taking a group of friends to our friendly neighborhood WalMart (who we all just happened to have another mutual friend who we knew worked @ 1 that sold them) & place 1 of my friends in "the box" & take his picture. It seemed like a good idea @ the time, since I'm DEATHLY (heh...) afraid of funeral homes. The casket section @ WalMart seemed like a healthy (albeit less scary) alternative. All of my friends were go hung-ho about it... even the "model". But when it got time to take the picture suddenly every1 started to get second thoughts about it & some serious cold feet... especially my friend who was the WalMart employee. So, I scrapped the idea & took the shot @ a beautiful Catholic cemetery instead where my best friend is buried. After my friends & I visited him (my deceased friend, that is...), I took the shots & they came out rather nice! But, every now & then I think about the "WalMart Casket Photo Shoot" that got away! Oh well. Que sera, sera. I have weird friends... but I love 'em!
HairlessKat the Gnostic November 09, 2009 16:22:57

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
but Id still rather just have a plain pine box... eesh @ the costs.
Louisa November 04, 2009 23:07:02

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
No. I actually wouldn't buy a coffin from Wal-Mart because I wouldn't put anyone I know in one. I DO wish they would sell urns for cremation remains because it would be easy to buy and store one.

However, I have a lot of questions about a coffin from a retailer. Do you buy it ahead of time? Then where do you store it? Do you go to Wal-Mart on the day your loved one died to order the coffin? What it if won't be in for a week or two? Does Wal-Mart deliver? If you buy it ahead of time, where do you store it? Wouln't it be creepy to keep in your house? And what do you do if you want to use the services of a funeral home? Tell them you are doing the BYOC thing? Who delivers it from your house to the funeral home?

I have a better idea! Get cremated and save the money for those you left behind. Cremation doesn't hurt and it's the 'green' thing to do!
Maine Guy November 04, 2009 07:06:44

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
A great idea! Anything that offsets the high cost of funerals by those greedy funeral home Industry bastards is a good thing. Personally, I prefer cremation with no wake or funeral service of any kind. Why should my death become a finanical burden for those left behind?
+1 raves
Louisa to Maine Guy November 04, 2009 23:09:42

My feelings EXACTLY! Right down to leaving whatever I do have to my children, not the funeral director. I'm sure funeral directors would accuse me of taking the 'fun' out of funeral but why line their pocketbooks when you have family of your own.
Maine Guy to Louisa November 05, 2009 07:19:12

No wake (no funeral service of any kind), no hearse, no headstone, no plot, no embalming. Cremation and an urn should be my only expenses. Maybe Wal-Mart should consider on-site cremation shops.
+1 raves
Louisa to Maine Guy November 05, 2009 16:03:41

Now THAT would be a good idea! I AGREE wholeheartedly on all points. The kewl thing for me is that my entire family feels the same way. Believe it or not, I always wanted to be an embalmer but I never ever believed in it nor did I want it for myself. WHO are WE to want to preserve our remains and for what? One day graves are going to be rummaged for gold and other materials and they ain't gonna get me!! lol....worse yet.....have your bones dug up, named something like "lucy" and placed in a museum for the world to gawk over!
Maine Guy to Louisa November 05, 2009 20:55:42

Exactly how I see it.
Bobby October 30, 2009 23:30:41

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
Yes if they carried Black and Silver Caskets
texasred October 30, 2009 22:34:37

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
Since I want to be cremated, it doesn't bother me a bit to skimp on a casket for others in my family. They aren't going to be here to approve or disapprove of it and as long as I take care of them, that's what matters.
+1 raves
TexasLady October 30, 2009 21:48:42

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
Hey it's a toss up. No disrespect intended. You either make the undertaker wealthy or Walmart..
Morgann:] October 30, 2009 21:26:38

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
Ugghh.... Here Is My Theory... Wal-Mart Is Trying To Take Over The World... [Along With McDonalds & Disney]. The Caskets (I Have To Admit) Is A Good Idea. But Is The Quality Good?? I Mean Really Who Is Going To Buy A Casket From Wal-Mart??? "Honey, I'll be back! I'm going to Wal-Mart to pick up a casket for Grandpa." Really????
+1 raves
texasred to Morgann:] October 30, 2009 22:36:57

I'm not sure high quality is a big necessity. Once it's in the ground, no one should see it again. As long as it's of acceptable quality, I don't really see a problem. But that's just me. Others have to do what they feel is right for them.
Kennedy1st to texasred November 01, 2009 21:26:39

I agree.
Kennedy1st to Morgann:] November 01, 2009 21:26:19

They may be cheaper then the caskets from the funeral home.Maybe the cost won't be $6,000.
Helo Chick October 30, 2009 20:06:37

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
Just another way for them to take business away from the smaller businesses in the area. I rarely go to Wal-mart. Have you been to the people of wal-mart site?! Hilarious!

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
+1 raves
T-Time1 October 30, 2009 19:32:37

Answered: WalMart caskets are classless. Typical of Wal-Marts low-rent attitude
STICK THE GROCERIES AND HOUSE WARE PURCHASES AND GRANDMA IN THE CASKET AND AWAY YA GO!
zany October 30, 2009 19:05:47

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
I try not to buy at Walmart
wpsark October 30, 2009 18:41:14

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
about as bad as wal-mart aquarium fish. Wal-mart fall apart, I wouldn't bury my loved one in one of them. I'm like you Barrera, use my organs and cremate me. I also avoid Wal-mart whenever possible. If they paid their employees a little better, I might could reconsider avoiding it at all times but that's another story for another day.
Kennedy1st October 30, 2009 18:28:30

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
Walmart is a store I can afford to shop in.If sell caskeys I would consider it,Will they sell vaults and headstones,as well ? Go walmarts!!!!!!
wpsark to Kennedy1st October 30, 2009 18:42:29

walmarts...lmao and the plural
+1 raves
parigino October 30, 2009 18:27:12

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
this one is definitely going back for a refund.
+3 raves
iBaabs October 30, 2009 18:14:04

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
I think that's a good idea, I don't want to be put in the ground though I'm down for a BBQ when I die too. But I agree that it costs a lot to die these days, and I'm glad Wal-Mart thought of that, even though it IS kind of creepy lol.

I'm not against Wal-Mart like some people are though, I'm a mother 1 and a step mother of 2 (my step children live with me) so with three kids and two parents, Wal-Mart saves the day more often than not in my house.
+1 raves
wpsark to iBaabs October 30, 2009 18:43:43

Wal-Mart is very good for people in your situation, especially for the kiddies.
Kennedy1st to iBaabs November 01, 2009 21:28:28

Good post.
Kennedy1st
+1 raves
Fef October 30, 2009 18:06:22 (edited)

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
I consider spending a lot of money on a casket as vain and a waste. "You can't take it with you."

Some customs or religions cremate people. The Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, mandate open-air cremation.

Other religions, like Judaism, require no casket or a simple, pine casket with no decoration.

Edit: added Monty Python Video
+1 raves
parigino to Fef October 30, 2009 18:28:54

maybe we should build our own!
+1 raves
Dayna_king October 30, 2009 17:19:50

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
Wal-mart is going over board on the sell everything um well thing. All for low cost burial but come on!
Kennedy1st to Dayna_king November 01, 2009 21:29:40

To lower the cost of a funeral is a good thing.
Dayna_king to Kennedy1st November 02, 2009 02:43:09

Never said it was not but wal-mart has gone a little crazy with selling every thing.
+1 raves
fairiefang0 October 30, 2009 16:55:56

Answered: WalMart caskets are classless. Typical of Wal-Marts low-rent attitude
Yuck, I think buying someone a casket from that awful store is one of the most disrespectful things you can do to the dead.

I'm with you on preferring cremation. I don't need people to waste money on a funeral for me.
Sister Jean October 30, 2009 16:54:49

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
funeral parlor prices are out of sight
+1 raves
Sam October 30, 2009 16:31:45

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
I wont know if my daughter puts me in a Wal-Mart Casket or not! I just feel like somethings should not be bought on-line or at Wal-Mart!
+5 raves
melly~I'm friggin' giddy. October 30, 2009 16:20:29

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
I'm with you...poach my parts and throw me on the pyre. I'm not against low cost caskets, but I am totally against Wal-Mart.
+3 raves
Bowman October 30, 2009 16:11:48 (edited)

Answered: WalMart caskets are...
Won't affect me. I'll be cremated!
Love Monty Python though!
If Pelosis health care bill passes, these will be selling like hotcakes and it'll be almost impossible for even Wal-Mart to keep up with the demand.
+3 raves
Sister ... to Bowman October 30, 2009 16:56:24

maybe they will sell the cremation pots.....cheaper than cemetery lots
+2 raves
๑۩۩..ßεℓℓεchεvεℓℓε®..۩۩๑Wra... October 30, 2009 15:55:28

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
It's better than getting raped by funeral homes. Costco has been selling them for awhile. I really don't see anything wrong with it.
+2 raves
Tutboy October 30, 2009 15:54:04

Answered: WalMart caskets are an affordable way to bury loved ones.
or
+2 raves
Fef to Tutboy October 30, 2009 18:08:01

Yes, for all the Walmart haters, Costco sold caskets first.
+2 raves
Tutboy to Fef October 30, 2009 18:08:57

cash and carry, of course