www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Is this disturbing?

Is it just me or do any of you find this disturbing? This really bothers me.

Converted Viking


http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE59S3IV20091029



http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...;ref=+125874.425084&tab_value=27_All

funny, they want to be your everything store
Wally World - Wal-Mart Stores Inc is now catering to its shoppers' needs from cradle to grave.

They have the best distribution network in the world, I don't see why not. All the publicity they're getting can't hurt.

Terry

People can now get a decent casket without spending more money than they need. For people with little money, it's a good thing.

No pine boxes?

Those are good looking caskets.

I find it disturbing. Mixing the mystery of death with ordinary everyday things.

To be honest, When I saw it I immediately thought about a crematory in Sweden, which is connected to the city heating system.

You mean that human bodies are used to provide some heat to the city? Sounds like an attempt at green technology.

Terry

Sounds like the Nazis are back, but this time they don't wear conspicuous uniforms.

That's what I told my kids. I'm a veteran, get the pine box

I see nothing wrong with it. Funeral directors sell caskets; a cash transaction is a cash transaction whether your giving your money to a guy in a dark suit or a cheesey blue smock. Being able to price online might help keep ppl from being manipulated into spending more then they can really afford. It's high time we become more comfortable about discussing death.

Myself, I'd like to buried Isreali style-no casket no vault,no imbalming,just wrap me in a prayer shawl. I'll return to the earth faster.

If I could I'd like to buried in a pet cemetary with my dogs, but that's probably not legal. Maybe I can have them creamated and ask that ashes be buried with me.

TERRY:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

Before I'm condemned for personal interest . . .

I'd have to ask where they're made. There has been a big influx of Chinese-made caskets in the past few years. I've ordered some for resale and returned all of them for one reason or another, usually based on fit and finish.

The practical problem becomes delivery in a reasonable time at the time of need. I've had the situation where a casket can't be delivered on weekends or holidays and delays occur. I have one incident where a casket was purchased in Florida and the seller couldn't get it to Pennsylvania at all.

I've written a Preneed pamphlet based on a unit I used to teach some years ago about being a smart consumer. There are lots of questions that need to be asked and all the details need to be in writing so that one's survivors know the answers to them. In PA, my Board's Rules and Regs forbid me to be a party to a third-party purchase, mostly for liability. I can and will accept anythig delivered to me, but cannot be involved in getting it from where it is to my door.

Every consumer should get the best deal he can get wherver he can get it, IMHO. As far as markups on merchandise go, I've done consulting work for various funeral homes and groups for many years and I've told my colleagues that we're in the business of service. Merchandise is a courtesy sinc eht FTC Feuneral Rule went into effect. Many people think that they've paid for the entire funeral when they purchase a casket--not so. The ancient "unit price" used to be that way, but it jsut isn't so since May 1, 1984.

BOB

I have one that I show (knotty pine), but when people see it they always reject it. And it's a stock item from one of my suppliers; not something we have made up to look ugly.

BOB

Call me. There are ways to do this that are legal and can be done with minimal merchandise. The only thing that we may run into in my state is if you die of a disease that the law mandates embalming for. But I've seen ads for woven baskets to hold human beings for "green burials."

BOB

TERRY:

Cremation occurs at temps above 1800 degrees F. Some of that heat goes up the stack. Why not harness it to go out to heat the living? When I was at university, the bulk of hte campus was heated from a central place with pipes going to the various buldings. So why waste?

BOB