How to Buy a Coffin

The choice is up to you or up to the deceased, if instructions have been left for family members. Remember to shop wisely and within your means.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• General Price Lists
• Acknowledgment Cards
• Grave Sites
• Coffin Or Caskets
• Flowers
• Funeral Programs

1. Determine whether the deceased left any requests regarding coffin preferences. Even if there are instructions, you can still shop around for the best price.
2. Decide how much you want to spend on a coffin. According to the National Funeral Director's Association, the average cost of a wood coffin in 1999 was between $1,588 and $3,277, while the average cost of a metal coffin was between $880 and $6,227. With such a large variation in price, it's best to select a price range and stick to it.
3. Call and visit several coffin stores and funeral homes to compare prices. These days, coffins can also be bought online at substantial savings. These will be shipped directly to the funeral home that is handling your arrangements.
4. Ask about rental coffins that allow you to use the coffin for viewing purposes only; the body will not be buried in that coffin, but in a casket shell. This can save you a great deal of money.
5. Purchase a coffin, keeping in mind that you are not obligated to buy a coffin from the funeral home whose services you are using.

Tips & Warnings

• A coffin has eight sides while a casket has only four. Caskets have become more complex as they have been built to prevent rust, allow for tight seals and create a beautiful effect.
• If you purchase the casket from a source other than the funeral home you are working with, you cannot by law be charged an extra fee for "handling" or other services having to do with receiving the casket.
• Be on guard against sales pitches that insist you should buy a completely sealed coffin or a nonrusting coffin for your loved one, or that pitch only high-priced coffins.
• Some funeral homes try to avoid selling you inexpensive coffins by not displaying them. Ask if you don't see what you want, or request the general price list of available goods or services, which should list everything the funeral home offers - with prices. Failure to disclose this information is in violation of the law, and you can report the funeral home to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).