Wal-Mart decided to test the idea of selling caskets with tremendous success in October 2011.(Neff) They opened before Halloween which boosted their sales exponentially to due to the influx of purchases for trick-or-treat displays. However the funeral home industry isn't worried because Wal-Mart isn't the first corporate giant to market caskets and urns online, Costco, Amazon, and coffins2u.com have been marketing burial products for years. Robert Fells the spokeman for the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association stated "While some of Walmart's offerings may be a discount over those at funeral homes, Mr. Fells noted that comparisons can be difficult. What's more, most homes stopped piling their overhead and service costs into casket prices after Federal Trade Commission rules required them to quote prices to anyone who asked, and to accept third-party caskets."(Neff) Legally speaking Funeral Homes dont care who or what brand supplies the casket because they can no longer make a profit off of dealing the casket to the consumer who is arranging a funeral for their loved one.(Neff) Although it is certainly possible that Wal-Mart can become a dominant force in the casket and burial urn industry Funeral homes have nothing to lose from the superstore marketing their products online.
Neff, Jack. "Walmart's Entry Won't Kill Casket Business." Adage.com. Advertising Age, 09 Nov. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
http://adage.com/article/news/walmart-s-entry-kill-casket-business/140341/
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