November ’98 Volume 1.11
Casket Retailing
The Newsletter of the National Casket Retailers Association, Inc.
www.casketstores.comBoard of Directors Chairman Maynard Cheris Impressive Casket, Inc. Gurnee, IL. 847-662-4664 Treasurer Laura Wend Affordable Casket, Inc. Southgate, MI. 734-281-7450 Directors Rob Karlin California Casket Co. Los Angeles, CA. 310-390-9969 Melanie Kirkland Casket Room St. Cloud, FL. 407-891-7788 Robert Schlitzberger American Budget Casket Houston, TX. 713-926-6060 Barbara Forbes Casket Store Dallas, TX. 214-696-3123 |
California
Regulates Casket Sellers August 12, 1998 California Governor Pete Wilson signed into law Bill AB 1709, The new regulations in SEC. 3. Section 17530.7 of the Business and Professions Code effect California casket sellers as follows: 17530.7. It is unlawful for any person, other than a funeral director as defined in Section 7615, to sell, or offer to sell, on a retail basis, a casket, alternative container, or outer burial container, unless that person does all of the following:
(b) Places the price in a conspicuous manner on each casket. Individual price tags on caskets shall include the thickness of metal and type of wood or other construction, as applicable, in addition to interior and color information. (c) Places in a conspicuous manner on each casket represented as having a sealing device of any kind, the following notices in at least eight-point boldface type: "THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC OR OTHER EVIDENCE THAT ANY CASKET WITH A SEALING DEVICE WILL PRESERVE HUMAN REMAINS."
(e) Provides to the buyer a statement that includes a notice to the buyer that he or
she may contact the office of the district attorney in that jurisdiction with any
questions or complaints. At a minimum, the information shall be in eight-point boldface
type, and state the following: |
The following portion of the new law requires California Funeral Homes and Cemeteries to make available a copy of a new "consumer guide for funeral and cemetery purchases"
SECTION 1. Section 7685.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
7685.5. (a) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall make available to funeral
establishments and cemetery authorities a copy of a consumer guide for funeral and
cemetery purchases for purposes of reproduction and distribution. The funeral and cemetery
guide that is approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the
funeral and cemetery industries and any other interested parties, shall be made
available in printed form and electronically through the Internet.
(Don’t pass up the opportunity to help the Dept. of Consumer Affairs author this new guide as stated above)
(b) A funeral establishment shall prominently display and make available to any individual
who, in person, inquires about funeral or cemetery purchases, a copy of the consumer guide
for funeral and cemetery purchases, reproduced as specified in subdivision (a).
SEC. 2. Section 9663 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
9663. (a) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall make available to funeral
establishments and cemetery authorities a copy of a consumer guide for funeral and
cemetery purchases for purposes of reproduction and distribution. The funeral and cemetery
guide that is approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the
funeral and cemetery industries and any other interested parties, shall be made
available in printed form and electronically through the Internet.
(b) A cemetery authority shall prominently display and make available to any individual
who, in person, inquires about funeral or cemetery purchases, a copy of the consumer guide
for funeral and cemetery purchases, reproduced as specified in subdivision (a).
You have until January 1999 to comply with the new law, for further detail call the California Dept. of Consumer Affairs at 800-952-5210
Price Fixing in Boston?
Some of the topics on the agenda for the 1998 National Funeral Directors Association Convention October 26th have the smell of Price Fixing. According to the agenda David Walkinshaw of Saville & Grannan Funeral Home in Arlington, Mass. Will make two presentations to the funeral directors (competitors) in attendance "Putting all your eggs in one casket?" And "Understanding Innovating Funeral Service Pricing". Scott Gilligan National Funeral Directors Association General Council, will make a presentation entitled "When its BYOC (bring your own casket) what do you do?"
The National Casket Retailers Association has published and its members have distributed a guide to educate funeral directors on anti-trust laws. But, based on the National Funeral Directors Association’s bold agenda (after having received the guide) ignores the warning.
Illinois Funeral Directors Association Executive To Resign
Robert Ninker the Executive Director of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association has announced his resignation. You may recall the Illinois Funeral Directors Association recently conducted a seminar for funeral directors (competitors) Ron Hast was flown in to speak on Funeral Service Pricing & Packaging, Addressing Third Party Casket Sellers & Competition in Bloomington, IL. on Sept 30th 1998
New Applicants for National Casket Retailers Association Membership
Michael Fortune
Precious Memories Casket Co.
1100 Dartford Lane
Bowie, MD. 20721
Allen Hicks
Peachtree Caskets Direct, Inc.
2850 Holcomb Bridge Rd. #130
Alpharetta, GA. 30022
National Casket Retailers Association Bylaws
Each member will receive a copy of the newly adopted bylaws with this newsletter.