Wal-Mart to sell Coffins

Public'sTwin

Public'sTwin

1,015
Canada
Canada
DismissiveClOCK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8333198.stm

BBC news
The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, now plans to hold on to customers even after they die - by selling coffins.

Prices range from a "Mom" or "Dad Remembered" steel coffin for $895 (£540), to a bronze model at $2,899.

The retailer is offering caskets at prices that undercut many funeral homes, say correspondents
Click to expand...

Telegraph.co.uk:

The Telegraph
Wal-Mart has been revamping its merchandise selection in stores and online to expand into categories it believes have high potential for growth.

The funeral service industry generates $11 billion in revenue a year, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

In 2007, the association said the US death rate was 8.0 people per thousand, and that is expected to rise to 9.3 people per thousand by the year 2020.

The caskets do not qualify for Walmart.com's free site-to-store shipping program, where shoppers can buy an item online and have it shipped to a local store for free.

Instead, the website says the caskets require freight delivery to the shopper's preferred address. The estimated shipping cost for the sienna bronze casket is $99.
Click to expand...


Holy crap. I'm 99.99% sure I saw this prophecized in a satirical future-of-America-esque novel when I was younger.

Discuss.
 
Funny you brought this one up.While at a customers today,the receptionist and myself were just bs'ing around and this got mentioned by her.I replied "no way",she responded by bringing it up on the internet and showing me this as well.I just shook my head in dis-belief.What will Wal-Mart get into next ?

It is a lot cheaper than funeral home models.Makes you wonder how the funeral homes will take to this one.Your not buying their casket,so now watch the price of body prep,services go through the roof (even higher).
 
God, this is pathetic. I have never been one of those people who hate Wal-Mart.....until now.
 
They're selling their goods for money, that's what they're supposed to do. The competition will cause the funeral homes to lower their costs, and the consumers win. I see no problem.

It's kind of funny, but something like this would never make me hate Wal Mart.
 
This is pretty cool actually. Hopefully funerals will become cheaper as a result. And it's not like they're going to have a post-mortem aisle at your local store. :lol:
 
Weird how it takes 2 British sites to report it :lol:

I don't see the big problem, though I agree that funeral homes will respond by increasing costs for everything else.
 
Walmart will be the one in the coffin soon. Walmart has destroyed many businesses. Close down Walmart NOW!
 
Can you take it back if it's faulty?

So, you've picked your favourite coffin. At the cash desk, when the cashier asks if you need help with your packing, could you get them to just put you in it?
 
This doesn't surprise me at all. It fits Wal-Mart perfectly, I'm surprised it took this long. Next they will have dealerships, and movie theaters.
 
Omnis
This is pretty cool actually. Hopefully funerals will become cheaper as a result. And it's not like they're going to have a post-mortem aisle at your local store. :lol:
Click to expand...

They probably do have post-mortem aisles, in heaven. :P
 
Bah, they still don't sell frozen yogurt! I remember back in the day, the Home Depot back home had a Frozen Yogurt stand inside...then they got rid of it. *Shakes fist*
 
After coffins and then the inevitable illegal drugs, what other markets will Wal-Mart venture into? Pimping out prostitutes? :lol:
 
yaywalter
Pimping out prostitutes? :lol:
Click to expand...
Considering prostitution should probably be legal, yeah, that's a pretty reasonable idea. They'd bring in the customer with healthy, safe, good-looking girls. Business would spring up all over the place. Some would probably offer a smaller number of "higher quality" girls for a higher price, etc. Exotic boutiques with Latins and Indians and Asians. Maybe someone would come up with a McDonald's-like prostitution quickie drive through.

No, I'm serious.
 
Keef
Considering prostitution should probably be legal, yeah, that's a pretty reasonable idea. They'd bring in the customer with healthy, safe, good-looking girls. Business would spring up all over the place. Some would probably offer a smaller number of "higher quality" girls for a higher price, etc. Exotic boutiques with Latins and Indians and Asians. Maybe someone would come up with a McDonald's-like prostitution quickie drive through.

No, I'm serious.
Click to expand...
 
ericdemoryGT
Walmart will be the one in the coffin soon. Walmart has destroyed many businesses. Close down Walmart NOW!
Click to expand...

Yes, Wal-Mart forcible kept other people from shopping elsewhere :rolleyes:

Grow up, people let those businesses die by wanting cheaper prices. The end. Welcome to a free-market.

As for the coffin selling, I don't see a problem. I'm pretty Costco has a Funeral section online, so shrug.

As for cost, my family does cremation, so not sure how this will impact that.
 
Max Powers
They're selling their goods for money, that's what they're supposed to do. The competition will cause the funeral homes to lower their costs, and the consumers win. I see no problem.

It's kind of funny, but something like this would never make me hate Wal Mart.
Click to expand...
👍

We don't have actual Walmart stores over here (there is a website) but they own some local supermarkets. I wonder if they'll sell coffins too.
 
Azuremen
As for the coffin selling, I don't see a problem. I'm pretty Costco has a Funeral section online, so shrug.
Click to expand...

Costco actually has a coffin display rack, well the Costco I go to does at least.

And I see nothing wrong with Wal-Mart selling coffins, funeral expenses are too high and maybe this will bring part of it down to a reasonable level.
 
Joey D
Costco actually has a coffin display rack, well the Costco I go to does at least.

And I see nothing wrong with Wal-Mart selling coffins, funeral expenses are too high and maybe this will bring part of it down to a reasonable level.
Click to expand...

I think the fear is the commercialization, and thusly the desanctification of, death. Wal-Mart's tunnel-visioned market domination leads to an utter lack of regard for human interaction—notoriously bad and difficult Customer Service counters for example. Just imagine you have a problem with that coffin? (Whatever problems coffins have, I have no idea.) The fact those are only available online—without the support of a funeral director or anyone to help you pick it in person—only lends weight to that fear.

Funny that I just started watching 6 Feet Under, too. Heh.
 
Love it.

Funerals are one of those things that cost waaaaay more money than they should because few businesses choose to cater to it. I'm happy that a big store like Walmart will be helping everyone out by helping cut prices.

Maybe next they'll start offering wedding dresses.
 
Danoff
Love it.

Funerals are one of those things that cost waaaaay more money than they should because few businesses choose to cater to it. I'm happy that a big store like Walmart will be helping everyone out by helping cut prices.

Maybe next they'll start offering wedding dresses.
Click to expand...
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?p=3210

close? A wedding at Walmart..Only in California...too...
 
Pimping out prostitutes?
Click to expand...

:lol: Yeah. Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Brittney Spears, and a creepy one that will make you kill yourself... Nancy Palosi. :lol: (lol, while being sick) :lol:

Yes, Wal-Mart forcible kept other people from shopping elsewhere

Grow up, people let those businesses die by wanting cheaper prices. The end. Welcome to a free-market.

As for the coffin selling, I don't see a problem. I'm pretty Costco has a Funeral section online, so shrug.

As for cost, my family does cremation, so not sure how this will impact that.
Click to expand...

I'm not even going to argue.
 

Latest Posts

Back