December ’98 Volume 1.12
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 |
FD’s request meeting Bonnie Tippie of the New York Funeral Directors Association has invited Maynard Cheris; National Casket Retailers Association Chairman to a February meeting in Florida where State Funeral Director Association leaders will be in attendance. After consulting the National Casket Retailers Association’s antitrust attorney Maynard responded in a letter saying he would attend the meeting on the condition that the organizers of the meeting obtain a Business Review Letter from the USDOJ. (the following example of a Business Review Letter was sent along with Maynard’s response: http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/busreview/1877.htm )Bonnie responded by stating they were not going to discuss pricing and a letter would be unnecessary. However Maynard said "Attending a meeting with competitors without obtaining a Business Review Letter from the USDOJ. would be irresponsible it’s like not having automobile insurance just in case you have a car accident, if the meeting is legal then what’s the problem it doesn't’t cost any money to obtain a letter" With the growing number of funeral industry seminars and meetings on "how to compete with discounters." The National Casket Retailers Association published and distributed a pamphlet called "What Trade Associations Should Teach". Many Funeral Directors were buzzing about the pamphlet at the recent National Funeral Directors Association meeting in Boston however, while we have convinced some that it is illegal for competitors to meet and discuss pricing strategies others ignore all warnings and boldly march on. The National Casket Retailers Association challenges the National Funeral Directors Association, Ron Hast and the other "Coaches" to obtain a Business Review Letter from the United States Department of Justice for all of their future seminars and meetings. If what they are doing is legal, obtaining a letter should be a piece of cake. The National Casket Retailers Association offers the following caution to all Funeral Directors: Never attend a meeting where competitors will be present unless the organizer of the meeting has obtained a Business Review Letter. National Casket Retailers Association Membership Plaque The National Casket Retailers Association is offering a membership plaque for members to hang on the wall in their stores. The size is 9" X 12" and the cost is $75.00 which includes shipping & handling |
Funeral Confusion
The funeral industry is confusing some. On the one hand they want the EPA to allow funeral directors to freely pump bodily fluids and chemicals down the drain. But, they recently convinced an Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals that the casket, in which human remains are buried directly impacts sanitation therefore to protect the publics health, welfare and the environment, caskets should only be sold by licensed funeral directors.
The court has also banned out of state casket sellers from shipping caskets to Oklahoma because they may not comply with the construction requirements and fail to prevent contamination of the environment. Jessica Mitford must be rolling!
The Federal Trade Commission bans untrue claims of "Protective" features in a casket. But, someone has pulled the wool over the eyes of the court in Oklahoma. This is about protecting something but its not the public its Funeral Director profit.
This is a hot topic among the funeral industry these days. They would like to ban casket stores in every state and some want your help doing it. Here’s one way they attempt to fool casket sellers:
Sales pitch "casket stores are popping up all over and that’s not good for you (the casket seller) or us (the funeral home) so we want your help supporting our legislation banning casket sales by anyone other than a licensed funeral director since you are already in business you won’t be effected you will be grandfathered in but, other’s will not be able to open"
Be advised trying to create a monopoly and attempting to restrain trade is illegal. Do not let them confuse you!
National Casket Retailers Association Video Expose’
A video is being produced for consumers that will cover schemes like multiple cremations, Used caskets, Missing jewelry & gold fillings, Organ harvesting, Pre-need sales & At-need switching scams. The people in the video are actual consumers, former funeral directors, Cemetery, and Crematory employees.