UNDERTAKERS they are piranah's who exploit the dead?

Question

$ 3000 for the cheapest coffin
$ 5000 for the parlor
$ 2500 as adminstrative fees

Its not cheap even to die, because the undertaker exploits the corpse. what do you think?

Answer 1

Did you think the garbage men would take away your dead relatives?

You can get way cheaper than that, but if you want anything fancy you have to pay. A "green" burial in a biodegradable coffin would be much cheaper; minimize fuss like flowers and so on and it's less still. But what sort of send-off did you want to give your loved ones? And didn't they leave any capital with which to pay for their own funeral?

Answer 2

That's a sweeping generalization that doesn't make much sense. You don't have to have a coffin or a parlor if you don't want to - be cremated.

Morticians (not really called undertakers anymore) are necessary because the body is a complex thing to dispose of, and it does require legal documentation. Which I suppose are the administrative fees. And as far as exploitation of the corpse, I have no idea what you mean by that...

Answer 3

Agree. But, wait there is a solution.
A pine coffin: $1500
Cremation is included.

Why bury? It is damaging the environment. The alternative is clean, a better way and also it frees up the precious lands for agricultural and other uses. It has become more acute as our population ages and also increases at the same time. Who ever came up with the idea of burial? It is insane, archaic......... and, the undertakers take full advantage of the bereaved.

Answer 4

I think you are right. It is bad enough to loose someone unexpectedly, but then the cost also devastate you. BUT-
It is a whole lot better that it was just a few years ago. The average funeral today for a "walk-in" (no previous plan), is about $12,000. Some states allow a "pre-pay". If you can do that-you can save about 50% or better. It can be financed for. Less expensive plans go for about $50 a month for a max of 8 years. It is far better if you pre-plan.

Answer 5

Look, they're in business to make money, just like any other business, and they're providing a service most people don't want to even think about. Because of the emotions involved, people don't approach this the way they'd approach any other purchase, but you don't have to get ripped off unless you allow yourself to be.
Isn't it the same with weddings? Aren't the florists, caterers, photographers, etc., doing the same thing? It's up to you how much to spend on this stuff--you can't blame a businessperson for trying to make as much money as he/she can. That's just capitalism.

Answer 6

They are taking advantage of the grief of the living, not the dead. The easiest way to prevent your loved ones from dealing with this needless expense is to arrange in advance for you body to be donated to a worthy cause such as organ harvesting or science. You can arrange your own low cost memorial service in advance too. Hardly anyone actually doies this though, because we don't like thinking about our own mortality.

Answer 7

can you imagine haveing a repeating dream where the undertaker in your town comes up to you and tells you that you will soon be another of his valued customers, whether you're satisfied or not? i think that this life insurance thing can be a racket, because people who can't afford a lot can only get enough to put their asses in the ground and this can leave a hardship for the wife/husband and children.
can you imagine having a dream where you die and are buried and they come and re-posess your corpse because your survivors can't come through with the rest of the money?
i personnaly know of a man who died and had his tombstone re-posessed. his children eventually caught up the payments. and they put it back.

Answer 8

WALTER
What's this?

DONNELLY
That is for the urn.

WALTER
Don't need it. We're scattering the
ashes.

DONNELLY
Yes, so we were informed. However,
we must of course transmit the remains
to you in a receptacle.

WALTER
This is a hundred and eighty dollars.

DONNELLY
Yes sir. It is our most modestly
priced receptacle.

DUDE
Well can we--

WALTER
A hundred and eighty dollars?!

DONNELLY
They range up to three thousand.

WALTER
Yeah, but we're--

DUDE
Can we just rent it from you?

DONNELLY
Sir, this is a mortuary, not a rental
house.

WALTER
We're scattering the ******* ashes!

DUDE
Walter--

WALTER
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE BEREAVED DOESN'T
MEAN WE'RE SAPS!

DONNELLY
Sir, please lower your voice--

DUDE
Hey man, don't you have something
else you could put it in?

DONNELLY
That is our most modestly priced
receptacle.

WALTER
GODDAMNIT! IS THERE A RALPH'S AROUND
HERE?!

Answer 9

But all the right-wingers assure me that free enterprise ALWAYS results in the best possible service for the lowest possible price.

Answer 10

Refuse to do anything and the city will get rid of the stiff.
You don't have to have a funeral either. My father didn't because he thought they were silly.