Success at selling Caskets & entering the retail funeral trade made very difficult

The National
Casket Retailer's Association (NCRA) is made up of devoted owners of casket stores. It has nothing to do with the teaching of sales technique or the retail end of the business of those members. But what the NCRA does do, is try to make sure that the "field" has a more level and fair competitiveness in the death care industry. They maintain a very informative web site at www.casketstores.com that has many pages of information the public needs when trying to learn more about this subject, also a bulletin board for those that might want to ask questions or get more feedback, and a store directory. Going "outside" the regular channels for in depth information on how to save money, who to contact when any abuse might have occurred and reading up on the funeral process, is something everyone should do - and prior to the need to arrange a funeral.
The Senate has conducted two days of hearing in Washington over April 10th & 11th. There were many testimonies of the types of abuse that have happened in the past. Plus the FTC is considering revision of the funeral rule, and also spoke at the hearing . The trade has gone through many changes in the last few years - and much of what the public needs to know, has been kept in the dark. The internet has had many new pages put up on how to plan your funeral on line, how to buy pre need insurance polices and even "casket stores" that are funeral directors selling product to their clients, that get delivered to another mortuary. Many times, the customer is arranging a funeral - at what they think is their neighborhood -long standing reputable named funeral home, when in fact it is owned by one of the largest corporations buying all the Mom & Pop shops they can, and increasing the costs 30% or more. The NCRA would like the public to be informed, and to that end, please ask question after question of the "provider" that you might be seeking services or product of. Know who owns the business, and also, what KEY questions to ask. While it IS great news the government is looking more in depth of the actions of some of the industry, and trying to protect the public, the bottom line is, those that are in this trade are still salespeople, and if you are an uninformed individual, that is a salesperson's dream. The good in the industry are tarnished for the acts of the dishonest and greedy. Did you know there are MAJOR firms that restrict the wholesale of their caskets and vaults to the retail outlets? Wonder why there would be a need to have a license for an undertaker to sell a grave liner or a hand-crafted wooden casket (or steel, fiberglass)? It is to keep the prices terribly high to the public. If retailers can not get the "goods" they may be forced out of business. But more and more, the trade is listening to what the public wants, thanks in part to the Baby Boomers. But those are just two examples.
The Senate is loking for further comment for a period of 2 weeks, up to April 25th. If you want to write in, the email is: Cecil_Swamidoss@Aging.Senate.Gov
Until a quite few more changes are implemented, it is not a level playing field, and it is not a trade that takes to the public's value of freedom of choice. Made difficult yes, however thousands of thousands of the public have benefited from the lower prices at casket store retailers , the determination and changes in the funeral industry. Visit the NCRA website and learn more how those and other "tactics" are not working. Most any retailer can get any name brand product, (instead of direct from wholesale firm) but now , from funeral directors that are in line with our cause.

The National Casket Retailer's Association would also like to welcome Thema Jaco of PeachTree caskets, as our new secretary.



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