Do You Have to Buy a Casket from a Funeral Home?

Traditionally, buying a casket from a funeral home was the norm during funeral planning. Now, with online shopping and increased consumer protections, it’s far easier to benefit from more freedom, choice—and ultimately, savings—by sourcing a burial casket yourself.

This is all underpinned by the FTC’s Funeral Rule—a set of regulations that afford consumers provisions and protections that are designed to enable and empower consumers to make more of their own choices when it comes to funeral planning, as opposed to being at the will of funeral homes and planners.

However, while the Funeral Rule establishes a legal framework for what you can and can’t do, it doesn’t stop funeral homes from using dishonest sales tactics to strong-arm you into using their own marked-up products and service—something which they have no legal right to do. 

This article aims to explain the benefits of buying your own casket online, your rights under the funeral rule, and how best to deal with funeral homes as you navigate your way through the process of honoring your loved one.

Short on time? Jump to our TL;DR summary for the key takeaways of this article.

Historical Context and Economic Impact

Before the internet and the availability of online alternatives, purchasing a casket was traditionally done through funeral homes. This often led to high expenses, making an already challenging time even more stressful for families.

Caskets sold at funeral homes are often marked up significantly—sometimes as much as five times the original cost. This high markup can financially burden families, who might feel pressured to buy directly from the funeral home amidst the stress of planning a funeral.

The advent of online shopping has revolutionized this process, allowing for more competitive pricing and greater transparency.

Why Buy a Casket Elsewhere?

Selecting a casket for a loved one is challenging, often compounded by limited choices at funeral homes. 

Online sellers now offer easier, more affordable access to a wider range of caskets with customization options. 

This section explores the advantages of buying caskets online versus through funeral homes.

• Cost Savings: Funeral homes significantly markup casket prices—some as high as 85%. Looking elsewhere can save considerably.
  
  
• More Choice: Reputable sellers like Titan Casket, Trusted Caskets, and Discount Caskets offer extensive ranges online, simplifying the search for a unique casket that mirrors your loved one’s individuality.
  
  
• Eco-friendly Choices: Alternative options that are more friendly to the environment, like biodegradable caskets—which can be less readily available in funeral homes—are more easily acquired online, ideal for those intent on a green burial.
  

Steps to Take When Buying a Casket Online

Purchasing a casket online can be a convenient and cost-effective option. However, it’s important to follow certain steps to ensure that you get the best quality and value for your money.

Here’s how to navigate the process successfully:

• Research Reputable Retailers: Look for online retailers with good reviews and a solid reputation. Websites like Titan Casket, Trusted Caskets, and Discount Caskets are well-regarded in the industry.
  
  
• Compare Prices: Check prices across multiple websites to ensure you are getting the best deal.
  
  
• Verify Customization Options: If you need a customized casket, verify that the retailer offers these services.
  
  
• Check Delivery Policies: Ensure that the retailer offers reliable delivery services, preferably with same-day or next-day options.
  
  
• Read Reviews: Check customer reviews on reputable sites like Google and Trustpilot to avoid scams and low-quality products.
  
  

Related articles: How and Where to Buy Caskets Online

Comparison of Casket Providers

When choosing to buy a casket online, it’s important to compare different providers to find the best option for your needs. Here are some reputable online casket retailers:

• Titan Casket: Known for a wide range of styles and customization options, Titan Casket offers competitive pricing and reliable delivery services.
  
  
• Trusted Caskets: This retailer provides a variety of casket designs, including eco-friendly options, with transparent pricing and good customer service.
  
  
• Discount Caskets: Offering budget-friendly options without compromising on quality, Discount Caskets is a popular choice for many families.
  
  

Alternative Places to Buy a Casket

While a funeral home may be the first place you go for a casket, it’s not the only option. If you feel that the casket choices at the funeral home are priced too high or you’re not comfortable with the available options, consider these alternative sources:

1. Retail Casket Stores: In larger metropolitan areas, you may find retail casket stores where you can browse options and ask questions in person.
   
   
2. Online Sellers: Numerous online retailers offer caskets with easy shipping options. Many websites include price comparisons showing their prices versus funeral home prices.
   
   
3. Major Retailers: Amazon, Costco, and Walmart offer a wide range of caskets and urns online. These retailers provide various styles, from simple to elegant, and even caskets with sports team logos.
   
   Related article: Reasons to Avoid Buying Caskets from Big Box Stores or Amazon
   
   

Online Caskets

Purchasing a casket online is a viable and often more affordable option. Online retailers like Titan Casket offer a wide range of caskets at a fraction of the price charged by funeral homes. Here’s why you should consider online caskets:

• Cost-Effective: Online caskets are typically much cheaper than those sold by funeral homes.
  
  
• Customer Reviews: If you’re skeptical about buying a casket online, check customer reviews for reassurance. Positive reviews can help build confidence in your purchase decision.
  
  
• Customization Options: Online retailers offer fully customizable caskets, providing a variety of choices to meet your needs and preferences.
  
  
• Free Shipping: Many online casket sellers, including Titan Casket, offer free and timely shipping, reducing the logistical burden during a difficult time.
  
  

Tips for Shopping Around

When searching for the right casket, it’s important to be well-informed and strategic. Here are some tips to help you shop around effectively:

• Get a General Price List: Always ask for a General Price List (GPL) for caskets before looking at them. This prevents you from being influenced by emotions into buying a more expensive casket than needed.
  
  
• Negotiate: Use the GPL as a negotiating tool. If a funeral director drops the price of a casket to keep the sale, ensure other service costs haven’t increased.
  
  
• Pre-Planning Considerations: If pre-planning, be aware that many retailers don’t allow pre-payment for caskets unless you take possession immediately. This is practical if time is short, such as when a loved one is in hospice care.
  
  

Delivery and Storage

Once you’ve purchased a casket, consider the following aspects of delivery and storage to ensure everything goes smoothly:

• Home Delivery: Most funeral homes won’t store a casket in advance, so you might need to take delivery at home and store it until needed.
  
  
• Presence at Delivery: If delivering to a funeral home, you may need to be present when the casket arrives.
  
  

Quality Assurance

When buying a casket online, always check for quality assurance practices. To ensure you receive a high-quality product, follow these steps:

• Read Customer Reviews: Look at reviews from previous customers to gauge their satisfaction and identify any common issues.
  
  
• Verify Delivery Promises: Check the retailer’s delivery policies and ensure they offer reliable services.
  
  
• Look for Guarantees: Choose companies that offer guarantees on their products, which can provide peace of mind and protection against defects.
  
  
• Customer Support: Opt for retailers that provide excellent customer support to assist you in case of any issues.
  
  

Understanding Your Rights Under the Funeral Rule

Funeral planning can be challenging, particularly amid grief. However, it’s vital to know that you have rights as a consumer that are designed to protect you from common funeral home sales tactics and bad practices.

These rights are found in the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, which provides a series of key protections and provisions which allow families to honor their loved ones within their wishes and budget. 

The Funeral Rule ensures that you and your family have the right to select specific funeral goods and services, including the use of external caskets or urns, without penalty.

• Consumer Choice: The Rule mandates that consumers can choose the funeral goods and services that they want. This gives you more freedom and choice, such as opting to supply your own casket or urn, purchased elsewhere.
  
  
• Price Transparency: Funeral homes must provide a General Price List (GPL), which is essentially an itemized bill, with a full breakdown of their fees and charges. They can’t force package deals which could include hidden fees, or charge extra for using an external casket.
  
  
• Cremation Options: For cremations, using a casket is not mandatory. Funeral homes should inform you about lower-cost, greener alternatives—like unfinished wood boxes or cardboard containers.
  

Related article: Understanding Your Rights Under the Funeral Rule

Overview of the Funeral Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) established the Funeral Rule to protect consumers’ rights in making funeral arrangements. Key aspects of the rule include:

• Consumer Choice: The Funeral Rule mandates that consumers only pay for the goods and services they want, regardless of whether arrangements are made before or after the death.
  
  
• Price Comparison: The rule allows consumers to compare prices among different funeral homes, ensuring they can select a plan that fits their needs and budget.
  
  

Required Items on the General Price List (GPL)

According to the Funeral Rule, prices for the following goods and services, if offered by the funeral home, must be shown on the General Price List:

• Direct cremation
• Immediate burial
• Basic services of funeral director and staff, and overhead
• Transfer of remains to funeral home
• Embalming
• Other preparation of the body
• Use of facilities and staff for viewing, funeral ceremony, and memorial service
• Use of equipment and staff for a graveside service
• Hearse and limousine
• Forwarding and receiving remains
• Caskets
• Outer burial containers (vaults)

Required Disclosures

General Price Lists must display specially worded consumer-protection disclosures that explain the following:

• You may select only the items desired.
• Any arrangements you select will include a charge for basic services and overhead.
• Embalming is usually not required by law.
• You may use an alternative container for direct cremation.
• A casket price list and outer burial container price list are available.

Specific Case Examples

To illustrate the importance of the Funeral Rule, consider the following examples:

• Compliance: A family purchased a casket online and informed the funeral home. The funeral home accepted the casket without any issues, honoring the family’s right to choose their funeral goods.
  
  
• Non-Compliance: In another case, a funeral home tried to charge a handling fee for an external casket. The family reported this to the FTC, which resulted in the funeral home facing legal action and subsequently changing its practices.
  
  

Explanation of Charges

Understanding the various charges on a funeral home’s General Price List can help you make informed decisions:

• Direct Cremation: A simple cremation without embalming, viewing, or service. Prices include transportation of the body and the Basic Services fee. Alternative containers must be offered.
  
  
• Immediate Burial: Basic burial without embalming, viewing, or service. Prices include transportation of the body and the Basic Services fee. Options for alternative containers or minimal caskets should be shown.
  
  
• Basic Services: This non-declinable fee covers funeral planning, permits, death certificates, holding remains, and a portion of the overhead. It is included in direct cremation, immediate burial, forwarding and receiving remains.
  
  
• Transfer of Remains: Transporting the body from the place of death to the funeral home. This may be a flat fee or hourly rate with possible additional mileage charges.
  
  
• Embalming: Not required by law in most cases. Funeral homes must obtain express permission to charge for embalming. Many permit private family viewings without embalming.
  
  
• Other Preparation: Cosmetic work to prepare the deceased for viewing, such as washing, disinfecting, dressing, and casketing, if embalming is foregone.
  
  
• Viewing or Visitation: Charges based on time or day, number of hours, staffing requirements, and whether a funeral service follows directly.
  
  
• Funeral Ceremony and Memorial Service: Prices for services with or without the body present, including options for using other venues.
  
  
• Graveside Service: Charges for formal services at the grave site, including any additional cemetery equipment costs.
  
  
• Hearse and Limousine: Typically flat fees, with possible additional mileage rates. Advance payment might be required for third-party vendors.
  
  
• Forwarding and Receiving Remains: Fees for transferring the body between funeral homes, including Basic Services and transportation. Additional costs may apply for long-distance transfers or states requiring embalming for shipped bodies.
  
  
• Casket: One of the most expensive items. The GPL should list individual prices or a range. Funeral homes must accept third-party caskets without charging handling fees.
  
  
• Outer Burial Container: Not required by law, but often required by cemeteries. Prices should be listed for vaults or less expensive grave liners.
  
  
• Additional Services and Merchandise: Third-party items like death certificates, newspaper notices, hairdressers, cemeteries, clergy, flowers, etc., billed separately and typically require advance payment.
  
  

FTC Enforcement and Filing Complaints

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing the Funeral Rule. This rule ensures that funeral homes adhere to regulations designed to protect consumers. If a funeral home violates the Funeral Rule, they may face legal consequences.

Consumers have the right to file complaints with the FTC if they encounter any violations. To file a complaint, visit the FTC’s website and provide detailed information about the incident. Being aware of this recourse can empower you to stand up for your rights.

What to Do if the Funeral Home Refuses to Accept the Casket

Although rare, some funeral homes may still refuse to accept a casket purchased elsewhere or may try to charge a handling fee. If this happens, you can take the following steps:

1. Contact the Casket Seller: Inform the seller about the refusal. Reputable sellers are familiar with the Funeral Rule and can assist you in resolving the issue.
   
   
2. Remind the Funeral Home of the Law: Politely remind the funeral home staff that, under the FTC’s Funeral Rule, they are legally required to accept caskets purchased from third-party providers without additional fees.
   
   
3. File a Complaint: If the funeral home continues to refuse or charge a fee, file a complaint with the FTC. The funeral home may face financial penalties for violating your rights.
   
   

Obligation of Funeral Homes to Accept External Caskets

According to the Funeral Rule, funeral homes must accept caskets purchased from other sources, including online retailers. They cannot:

• Refuse to Handle External Caskets: Funeral homes are legally required to accept caskets bought online, from local casket stores, or any other source.
  
  
• Charge Handling Fees: Funeral homes cannot impose additional fees for handling a casket purchased elsewhere.
  
  
• Require Your Presence at Delivery: You don’t need to be present when the casket is delivered to the funeral home.
  
  

Common Violations

Be aware of common violations in funeral home price lists. These red flags indicate non-compliance with the Funeral Rule:

• Prices are hand-written or some are missing altogether.
• Cremation or burial charges are higher if you supply a third-party casket, which is an illegal handling fee.
• Missing prices for alternative containers for cremation.
• Mandatory charges besides the basic services fee, such as handling third-party payments, which are illegal.
• Required items listed as “free” or “no charge,” implying rolled-up costs in other prices.

If you encounter these issues:

1. Refuse to sign contracts with illegal charges and consider taking your business elsewhere.
2. Notify the funeral firm and give them a chance to rectify the problem.
3. If the funeral home refuses to correct errors, alert your local Funeral Consumers Alliance for investigation.
4. File a complaint with your state’s Funeral Directing Board or Attorney General, and send a copy to the funeral home.

How to Deal with Funeral Homes

When the time comes to deal with a funeral home, you’ll want to have a good knowledge and understanding of your rights, as this will make the process much simpler to navigate.

Beyond your rights, communication is key. From coordinating logistics to the day of the funeral itself—each step of the process will be all the easier with clear and effective communication. 

Part of this is making sure that wishes are respected, especially when utilizing third-party products or services, as it’s common you’ll encounter resistance—and even aggressive or dishonest sales tactics—which you’ll need to work through and resolve.

• Know Your Rights: The FTC’s Funeral Rule mandates that funeral homes accept caskets bought elsewhere without levying additional fees. This rule safeguards consumers against undue charges. Before interacting with a funeral home, it’s helpful to know your rights.
  
  
• Funeral Home Interactions: Effective communication and collaboration are key—especially when it involves third-party caskets. You’ll need to inform them ahead of time, arrange delivery logistics, and handle any attempts at pushback or heavy-handed sales tactics.
  
  
• Overcoming Resistance: Encountering resistance from a funeral home can be challenging. However, with knowledge of your rights—and possibly support from the casket seller as a last resort—you should be able address and move past any objections fairly easily.
  
  
• Delivery Coordination: Provide the funeral home with any information relating to the delivery of your casket, such as dates and tracking information, as early as possible. You’ll also want to check they can store the casket and for any policies they may have relating to the handling third-party before booking in any delivery.
  

Practical Tips and Advice

Navigating the process of purchasing a casket and dealing with funeral homes can be challenging, especially during a time of grief.

Here are some practical tips and advice to help you manage this process smoothly and ensure your rights are respected:

1. Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with the provisions of the Funeral Rule to confidently assert your rights.
   
   
2. Communicate Clearly: Inform the funeral home in advance about your intention to use a third-party casket. Provide all necessary delivery details and confirm their acceptance.
   
   
3. Handle Sales Tactics: Be prepared to counter any aggressive sales tactics with clear statements about your rights under the Funeral Rule.
   
   
4. Seek Support: If needed, enlist the support of the casket retailer to handle any objections from the funeral home.
   
   

Courtesy and Communication with the Funeral Home

While the Funeral Rule protects your rights, maintaining courteous and clear communication with the funeral home can facilitate smoother arrangements:

• Inform the Funeral Home: Let the funeral home know in advance when the casket will be delivered. This helps them prepare and ensures that there are no surprises.
  
  
• Coordinate with the Seller: Many online casket sellers offer to contact the funeral home on your behalf to arrange delivery details. Utilize this service to reduce your burden.
  
  
• Provide Delivery Details: Share the delivery date, tracking information, and any special instructions with the funeral home to ensure they are ready to receive the casket.
  
  

Courtesy in Handling Deliveries

While the Funeral Rule protects your rights, maintaining courteous communication with the funeral home can facilitate smoother arrangements:

• Inform the Funeral Home: It’s polite to inform the funeral home staff in advance when the casket will be delivered.
  
  
• Coordination by Sellers: Some online casket sellers offer to contact the funeral home on your behalf to arrange delivery details, reducing your burden.
  
  

Importance of Understanding Your Rights

Understanding your rights when purchasing a casket can prevent misunderstandings and ensure you make informed decisions:

• Legal Right to Buy Elsewhere: It is legal to purchase a casket from a supplier other than the funeral home. Funeral homes must accept third-party caskets without charging handling fees.
  
  
• Quality of Third-Party Caskets: Third-party caskets are often of similar quality to those sold by funeral homes. Don’t be misled by claims that the quality is inferior.
  
  
• Educational Resources: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides resources and guides to help consumers understand their rights when planning a funeral. Utilize these resources to become more informed.
  
  

Awareness of Your Rights

Despite the protections provided by the Funeral Rule, some funeral homes might still attempt to coerce you into purchasing their products. Here’s why being aware of your rights is crucial:

• Avoid Exploitation: Knowledge of your rights prevents funeral homes from exploiting you through illegal fees or unnecessary services.
  
  
• Effective Communication: Clearly articulating your rights to the funeral home can stop them from using high-pressure sales tactics.
  
  
• Recourse for Violations: If a funeral home refuses to comply with the Funeral Rule, you can file a complaint with the FTC. Often, simply demonstrating that you are well-informed will deter the funeral home from attempting to violate your rights.
  
  

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Navigating the process of buying a casket and dealing with funeral homes can present several challenges. Being aware of common pitfalls and knowing how to avoid them can save you time, money, and stress.

Here are some tips to help you steer clear of potential issues:

• Recognize Aggressive Tactics: Be aware of common sales tactics used by funeral homes to pressure you into buying their products.
  
  
• Verify Delivery Policies: Ensure the casket retailer can deliver on time and in good condition. Avoid companies that have frequent complaints about damaged or late deliveries.
  
  
• Check Return Policies: Understand the return policies of both the casket retailer and the funeral home in case there are any issues with the casket upon delivery.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

TL;DR Summary

Traditionally, caskets were bought from funeral homes, often with high markups. The FTC’s Funeral Rule empowers consumers to purchase caskets from third-party sellers without incurring extra fees. Buying online can offer significant savings, wider choices, and eco-friendly options. Key steps include researching reputable sellers, comparing prices, and understanding delivery policies. Be aware of your rights, including funeral homes’ obligations to accept third-party caskets without additional fees. Effective communication and understanding the Funeral Rule are essential for navigating this process smoothly and ensuring your choices are respected.

Final Thoughts

The days of relying solely on funeral homes for caskets are over. With the FTC’s Funeral Rule, there is far greater freedom and choice when it comes to various aspects of funeral planning.

The protections provided by the rule have empowered consumers, making it easier to avoid the inflated costs of products and services traditionally purchased through funeral homes—by going direct to third-party providers instead.

Key to all this is understanding your rights under the Funeral Rule, ensuring that you’re equipped to deal with funeral homes—as well as their common objections, sales tactics, and any arbitrary fees or restrictions they may attempt to impose.