4 Ways To Make Sure That You Don’t Get Ripped Off When Buying A Casket

Nowadays, especially in North American, people no longer use the word coffin and instead refer to the container used to hold human remains as a casket. The word casket traditionally denotes a box used to hold something precious such as a jewel casket. Some, especially in the United Kingdom, make the distinction between a casket and a coffin based on the shape of the container. A casket refers to a four-sided rectangular vessel with a lid that is either one piece (sofa or couch style) or split so that only the torso of the body may be exposed while a coffin is a container that is shaped more like the human body with six tapered sides and a solid one-piece lid. Whatever name you use, they are decidedly one of the most expensive items in a traditional funeral.

Caskets can be constructed of many materials including solid hardwoods, wooden veneers over particle board, metal, plastic, fiberglass or even fabric-covered cardboard. Caskets come in a come in a variety of styles ranging from the most simple to the extremely ornate. There are even caskets designed by famous designers, caskets created to look like mundane objects (cars, planes, suitcases, etc), caskets with images on them, caskets with glass tops, and caskets with the emblems of rock bands or sports teams. They come in many different colors and can be lined with almost any imaginable fabric.

Regardless of the style or material of your choosing, when purchasing or renting a casket be sure to choose carefully. There are a number of different ways that you can be taken advantage of during a difficult and stressful time.
Ways in which you can be taken advantage of include:

1. Unnecessary mark-up of labor and materials.

2. Guilt-tactics to get you to spend more money.

3. Failing to make all of your options clear to you.

4. Not supplying you with a thorough price list.

Casket rental is the easiest and most cost-effective way to have a beautiful, high-end casket without paying inflated purchase prices. Some would consider this a more environmentally friendly choice as well. A rented casket is primarily used for display of the body during the wake or visitation before the body is transferred to a less expensive casket if required for burial.

If your funeral director doesn't offer casket rental, you might consider looking into another funeral director or try to find a casket rental service. A reputable funeral home will not deny you this choice. In instances of direct burial or cremation, alternative or personalized funerals, a casket may not be a necessary expense.

If the funeral you have planned requires a casket, you can reduce the cost by asking your funeral director about casket rental. Casket rental is a cost-effective alternative if you want a nice casket, but don't want to spend upwards of US$2000 (or even upwards of US$10,000 for some models).

By: Hal Stevens

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Hal is the author of several critically acclaimed eBooks specifically written to help people deal with end of life issues. His eBooks include topics such as: cremation, writing and delivering a eulogy, eco-friendly green funerals, funeral planning, organ donation, and buying and selling cemetery plots. To find out more about his CemeterySpot family of free services and resources, to learn more about his books, and to get a free gift, please visit: www.cemeteryspot.com.