A Quiet Funeral What DO you get?

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What DO you get for your money?

The funeral trade is one business where the customer really gets what they pay for....

The main problem is that they are rarely told just what it is they are paying for! 

The final funeral cost is most usually determined by the coffin selection made, hence the often surprising enthusiasm of the funeral arranger for certain items in their range. Choosing the cheapest coffin can have a surprising effect on the overall cost.

• Many coffins unless clearly stated otherwise, are made of some form of compressed wood-chip. They will have a bonded, veneered or laminated exterior to give the appearance of "real" wood. That's not to say that they don't look the part.
• New, American imports are now coming into use - not fashion - which are coloured and, in some cases, made of MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard - a cheap wood substitute).
• Linings and gowns are not, despite appearances, made of silk unless specifically stated - far too expensive.
• Unless clearly stated, all fixtures, handles etc., will be a form of "brassed" plastic - cremation regulations do not allow base metal in any quantity nor substances liable to give off toxic fumes. Few companies supply any different items for burial then cremation despite the arrangers inferences - too expensive to stock a variety.
• Printing (Order of Service for example) is often performed in house and (very) poor photocopy work sometimes provided in place of the "real" thing.
• Floral tributes selected from a brochure photograph frequently appear much smaller and quite different to that which you remember ordering.
• Often funeral staff, bearers etc.are part-time, even moon - lighting and will appear in a surprising variety of "uniform".
• Funeral vehicles are often mismatched by make, model and even colours!
• Displayed photographs usually show staff wearing smart caps and gloves and matching uniforms, frequently proving to be quite different to that worn for the actual event.

Oh, and by the way, the funeral companies do NOT re-use the brass handles after a cremation - the things are mainly plastic these days anyway - or the coffins. There are strict regulations governing the use of cremators and what goes in, stays in.

And of course you also get the satisfaction and comfort that can be gained by knowing that all the details are to be taken care of by a competent professional, leaving you with nothing to worry about.....

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Persons acting upon information gained from these pages or personal contact do so at their own risk. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of any information contained herein.