How much time do I need for delivery?
For those who need a casket almost immediately, we offer expedited service. If your order is placed before Noon EST, delivery is available the next day. In some cases, we can have the casket delivered to you in as quickly as six to nine hours.
If you dont need your as quickly, we can guarantee ground delivery within seven to 10 days.
We highly recommend ground delivery for those who are pre-planning, as timing is not critical. If there has been no pre-planning, air transport usually is necessary because the need is very time-sensitive (especially for those loved ones who have entered into a hospice program) and seven to 10 days is too long a period to wait for the to be delivered.
Negotiate wisely. This is a service business, and like many service businesses, costs may start high and can be negotiated to a lower amount.
If youve visited other funeral providers, tell them that youre shopping to compare prices. Then ask for, and review, an itemized list of expenses that includes transfer of the body, the hearse, the limo, etc. plus the cost of the service (their time). Only after the price has been presented and services agreed to, should you start negotiating by telling them that you have chosen your casket, or urn, or other products. Those costs can then be removed from the contract before signing.
Dont feel obligated to purchase a package if it includes goods and services you dont want or need.
Choosing a Casket
While you have every right to purchase a casket through your funeral provider, you now have the option to purchase a casket online. Because it can be done in the comfort and privacy of your own home, you or your family can spend as much time as needed to make the perfect selection. Also, because the casket and the funeral home services tend to be the most expensive items associated with a funeral, purchasing a casket online can be very budget friendly
There are three steps involved with this process: choosing the right casket, comparing prices and purchasing the casket, and having it delivered.
Choosing a casket can be overwhelming at times due to the large selection of funeral caskets to choose from these days.
Start with the basics, would you prefer a wood or metal casket. After this look at your budget and see what price range will better suite your financial situation, and then you can pick accordingly. After that it is just a matter of personal preference. Think of the colors that your lost loved one enjoyed, and what kind of personality did they have. Were they reserved or exotic in taste, this will help you in choosing the right funeral casket for there personality. Also, there are special caskets for veterans, which show that pride of the armed forces in the artwork on the casket.
When it comes down to it the only thing you need to remember is to pick the casket that you think is best for your family, never let a funeral director or anyone else try to make you purchase a casket you are not happy with. Once you find the perfect casket to honor you loved, you can rest knowing that you have done what in your heart was best, and that is what is most important.
Notice: The Federal Trade Commission Rule 16 C.F.R. Part 453 states:
Funeral homes can no longer condition the purchase of a casket with the purchase of other funeral goods and services. If you choose to purchase your casket from a source other than a funeral home, the funeral home of your choice MUST accept the casket you have provided without duress or embarrassment to the consumer.
You can call us toll free at 888.448.4001 to get a delivery timeline for your area.
How does the casket get to me?
For expedited service, the casket is transported via a major airline, and then a courier service delivers it to the funeral home of your choice. To simplify the process, we coordinate delivery details with your funeral home so you dont have to.
For ground service, we use several national trucking companies that work from our warehouses located in major cities across the country. We can deliver the casket to the location of your choice, including a funeral home, a residence or even a storage area (which is especially helpful for those who are pre-planning).
Can I pick up the casket from the airport myself to save money?
Absolutely. You will need a cargo van, or pickup truck and tie straps, but this is a way for you to save money on courier costs that are incurred for casket delivery from the airport to the funeral home.
What do I need to place an order?
For expedited service, we need your order, the zip code of your funeral home in order to determine shipping costs, and payment. For ground service, well just need your order, delivery address and payment, shipping is included in the product price.
What method of payment is accepted?
We accept major credit cards, personal checks, money orders and PayPal. E-Checks are only accepted through PayPal. See Payment Info for details.
Do I have to pay sales tax?
Orders from Texas are the only ones on which we are required to charge sales tax. If youre outside of Texas, you can purchase your casket through Express Casket and pay no sales tax which may save you hundreds of dollars.
What if I change my mind?
If you want to change your selection, we are happy to accommodate your request, however, the exchange must be made prior to shipping confirmation.
When your casket order is confirmed, Express Casket will immediately prepare your casket for rapid delivery. Because of the urgency with which we expedite your order, we urge you to review your order thoroughly before completing the purchase.
Refunds will be debited a cancellation fee to recover the costs of delivery, equaling roughly 30 percent of the total sale price, with additional fees possible depending on the return requirements for the item currently in transport.
Upon the confirmation of a completed purchase, it implies that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.
What is the (GPL) General Price List and why is it so important to get the list before mentioning us?
The General Price List (GPL) is the keystone of the Funeral Rule, which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). By law, the GPL must contain itemized prices for the goods and services the funeral service provider sells, as well as other important disclosures. It enables consumers to comparison shop and to purchase, on an itemized basis, only the goods and services they want.
Will a funeral home let me buy a casket at Express Casket?
Yes. The federal governments (Clayton Act) designed in part to prevent economic monopolies requires funeral homes to allow their customers to buy goods and services from outside companies.
Are your caskets sealers or do they have locks?
Yes of our metal caskets are sealers and have locks. A funeral home once told me that it is important to get them in as quickly as possible when the tears are still flowing. This is when it is much easier to get a big check. When there is less grieving, people are less likely to throw their money away. Below are some of common scare tactics that you may hear from the funeral homes:
Dont you want your mother to see your dad looking her best?
Of course you would want a sealed casket wouldnt you?
How is the casket protected from shipping damage when you order from us?
The casket has large, 5-inch thick Styrofoam caps that completely cover the ends of the casket and then a cardboard box is placed over the top of the whole casket. There is roughly 3 inches between the outer box and inside the casketso if the box is ruffled on the outside, the casket will not be scratched or dented 3 inches below the box surface. We never have damage to our caskets during shipping although sometimes the outer box is scratched up which has nothing to do with the casket 3 inches below. After it gets to the airport the express courier typically picks up your casket and delivers it directly to the funeral home.
What is the difference between 18 and 20-gauge steel caskets?
As reference, 18 gauge steel casket is about the thickness of the hood of a car and 20-gauge steel is about the thickness of a license plate.
What is the size of a standard casket?
Typically, caskets are 24" deep, 27-1/2" or 30-1/2" wide and 81" long. Interior measurements are a bit smaller.
Do you sell vaults?
No, but we may in the future
Are You Wondering if the Funeral Home You Used Was an Ethical One?
It probably was (IF)you can answer yes to these questions:
1) Did you receive a General Price List early in planning the funeral and before you made any decisions that would affect the price of the funeral?
2) Did you receive a Casket Price List prior to picking out a casket?
3) Was there a casket on display that cost less than $1000 while still maintaining reasonable overall funeral costs?
4) Did they tell you the online seller sells used caskets. That is why his price is cheaper.
5) Did they tell you that online seller is selling dented caskets
6) Did they tell you people fall out of the bottom on those online caskets?
A Guide to Discount Caskets
Caskets are often the most expensive part of a funeral. The average casket costs around $2000, and some models can cost well over $10,000. Many people assume that all caskets are expensive and do not seek out bargains, but discount caskets are actually fairly common. It is usually a good idea to find a casket dealer rather than buy one from the funeral home.
Discount casket dealers, both in stores and online, have the same selection of caskets as a funeral home at a much lower cost. There are a variety of ways to find discount caskets. It is possible to find companies that offer caskets from a variety of manufacturers at wholesale prices al of the time. Some casket dealers have sales on older models in order to maker room for newer types of caskets. It is also a good idea to try to buy caskets directly from the manufacturer. Each of these options offers the opportunity for huge savings.
Many casket dealers will put older models on sale to clear them out and make room for the newer caskets. These older models are in perfectly good shape and are quality products. Casket dealers may also offer discounts on top of the line caskets because the suggested retail price is too high for most buyers. These discount caskets provide luxury and style at a fraction of the original price.
You may or may not know this but there are over 20,000 funeral homes in the United States accounting for over $25 billion in revenue annually. That money doesn't come from cheap funerals. It comes from expenses that are insane when you think about the actual service being provided.
There are actually three corporations that dominate the industry; SCI, Stewart and the Loewen Group. These three giants account for about 15% of the total funeral business in the United States. The reason you probably haven't heard of them is because when they buy up a funeral home they usually keep the old funeral home's name in order to give the impression of a small family owned business. This couldn't be farther from the truth. And because they have basically taken hold of the industry, they can charge whatever they like for funeral services. How much?
Let's take a metal casket. If you take the cost of a metal casket, materials and labor, the casket actually only costs about $500 to $700 to make. This same casket is sold to families for about $3,000. That's well over a 400% markup. If any other industry tried to get away with this they'd be shut down.
It is often possible to buy caskets directly from the manufacturers. This is a good way to avoid the markup that many casket dealers and funeral homes may charge.
Purchasing discount caskets a good way to make the cost of a funeral more manageable. Discount caskets provide the same quality as more expensive caskets at a greatly reduced cost.
Funeral Planning Checklist
Planning a funeral can be a very difficult task, especially considering the circumstances. When something as tragic as a family member or friend passes away, the last thing you want to deal with is planning the funeral. For this reason, we have compiled a list of things to remember when planning a funeral. Although this will not help with the emotional stress you are experiencing, it may take off some of the pressure you are experiencing in such a difficult time.
When planning a funeral, consider the following:
1. Collect personal information and compile to form an obituary.
2. Choose a funeral home
3. Choose whether the deceased will be buried or cremated.
4. Select a casket
5. Choose the funeral location and type of funeral service.
6. Decide when and where the visitations will take place (attend visitations as well).
7. Decide what the deceased will wear (if buried).
8. Select the music for the funeral service.
9. Choose literature to be read at the funeral service.
10. Arrange for funeral transportation (funeral coach, limousine, clergy car, etc.)
11. Choose the clergy or the officiator.
12. Select who you want to be the pallbearers.
13. Select which family member or friend is going to perform the eulogy.
14. Choose a cemetery (if not already chosen by the deceased).
15. Select a burial or cremation plot (if not already chosen by the deceased).
16. Submit the obituary to the appropriate newspapers, etc.
Depending on whether or not the death was expected, many of these considerations may have already been planned by the deceased. If the death was sudden, chances are there will be more planning on your part.
There are a number of things to consider which cannot be arranged before the death occurs. These will need to be taken into consideration as well. These include issues such as applying for death certificates, applying for a burial permit and arranging a location and for food for the reception.
Other considerations which are usually discussed, but are a lot less crucial to the funeral planning process, include matters such as flower arrangements, jewelry of the deceased, memorial cards and accommodating out-of-town guests. These are very important issues, but they can most likely be performed by someone else other than the individual doing the rest of the planning.
The funeral planning process is very difficult for just one person to take on. You will need to come together and support each other and make sure you each contribute your part to the planning process. Dont put the burden on just one person, its too much to deal with at a time which is already very stressful