The retail giant has begun selling caskets and urns online.
Bentonville, Arkansas (WiredPRNews.com) – Wal-Mart is now offering caskets and urns for sale online. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the move may provide increased competition for funeral homes, which typically sell their caskets for significantly higher than Wal-Mart’s current price offerings.
R. Brian Burkhardt, funeral director and “Your Funeral Guy” blogger, is quoted by the AP as stating of the benefits the move will have for consumers, “You can get a quality casket for $1,000 rather than pay $2,000, $3,000 or $5,000 in a funeral home. That’s where it helps the consumer.”
Some, however, believe Wal-Mart’s online sales will not be a threat to funeral home businesses. Pat Lynch, president-elect of the National Funeral Home Directors Association, is further quoted by the AP as stating, “There’s no question in my mind as a funeral director for nearly 40 years that the most critical element is the human contact.”
As noted in the report, the retail giant’s competitor Costco previously began offering the items for sale online as well.
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