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What are my legal rights as a consumer?
The law, better known as the
F.T.C (Federal Trade Commission) Funeral Rule, protects consumers by
allowing you to purchase funeral items, such as caskets, from a source
other than a funeral home, without being penalized in any way.
When you begin the arrangement process, the Funeral Director, by law, must
give you a General Price List of the goods and services they provide. With the exception of the non-declinable fee,
(the basic fee of the funeral
director and staff which must be accepted), you can select or omit any
item on their general price list. The Funeral director cannot change the
prices on their list, charge you a fee, or offer you a different
price list, to penalize you if you wish to buy a casket elsewhere.
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What does Direct Casket
West Coast do?
Direct
Casket West Coast sells caskets directly to consumers at about 1/2 the cost of
funeral homes.
Why are our caskets so much less than funeral
homes?
We
buy our caskets in huge quantities directly from the manufacturer.
Funeral homes buy them one at a time from distributors, middlemen or
highly priced sales people.
Can I purchase at the time I need it or can this
only be done in advance?
You
can purchase either at the time of need or in advance of need. Purchasing
in advance has many advantages, but whether you choose to wait or plan
ahead, we will deliver the casket to the funeral home in a timely fashion,
within an hour's notice if need be. Satisfaction guaranteed!
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Will my funeral home accept the casket I purchase
from Direct Casket West Coast?
Federal law, since 1994, states that funeral homes must accept the casket,
without charging you a handling fee or manipulating their prices in any
way to penalize you.
What will the Funeral Director's reaction be?
Of
course, the funeral home won't be pleased that they are losing the casket
sale. They will try to convince you that you are making a mistake buying a
casket from a retailer. They will tell you that it might come in damaged, that they
can't be responsible, that it may not fit in the grave, etc..
They may try to convince you that their caskets are superior in order to
substantiate their significantly higher prices and have you believe that
the savings are not worth it. Meanwhile, the savings are
significant. On average, we will save you at least $1,000 and in most
cases, closer to $2,000 on the casket. We can also save you a great deal
on flowers and vaults. We can also give you invaluable information
prior to your making the funeral arrangements so that you are an informed
consumer.
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Are these the same caskets that funeral homes
sell?
Our
line of caskets are found in many funeral homes across the country. Come
in and see for yourself. We know that you will be amazed at the quality
and prices. We can get any brand and any model at huge savings.
Does Direct Casket
West Coast sell anything besides caskets?
We
are a great source for flowers, vaults, urns, and monuments, all at
greatly reduced prices. Additionally, we can provide you with invaluable
information to help you make informed decisions regarding funeral arrangements,
information such as which funeral homes are fairly priced, what you should
expect to pay, etc.
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Why should I pre-plan?
There
are so many good reasons to pre-plan. We plan for every aspect of life,
having a family, vacations, weddings, and retirements are all
planned. We even prepare for the eventualities that statistically have
remote chances of occurring. We buy insurance for car accidents, fires and
floods. Since we do not like to think about death, we avoid making plans
for it, the one event that is certain to happen, and never at a good
time.
What are some of the advantages of preplanning as
opposed to waiting?
First of all, pre-planning will spare your family this task at a difficult
time. You have the peace of mind knowing that this burden has been lifted
from your loved ones. Secondly, pre-planning allows you to make rational
decisions ahead of time, avoiding the urgencies that arise when death
occurs. Although you will always save an enormous amount of money
buying from Direct Casket West Coast, studies show that people who pre-plan their
final arrangements spend, on average, less than half of what people who
wait until the time of need spend.
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What are some other advantages of preplanning?
Your personal wishes are fulfilled, you get what you want, and you lock in
on today's prices.
Does this mean that what I spend today is the
guaranteed price in the future?
Precisely. By purchasing now, no matter what the price of the casket is in
the future, your funds and accumulated interest will be accepted in full
for the casket you selected when the time comes to deliver it.
Do you hold my money until the casket is needed?
Your money gets placed in
an interest-bearing trust account, insured by the F.D.I.C. This account is
opened in your name and Direct Casket West Coast has no legal right to it until we
deliver your casket. All funds including interest may be withdrawn,
without penalty, at any time prior to you taking possession of the casket.
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This means that I get my money back if I change my
mind or need the money for something else?
That’s correct. All you are really doing by buying in advance of need is
transferring money from one account you own into another account you will
own. You will have selected the casket you want, reaped the benefits of
pre-planning stated above, and have the option, at any time, of closing
your account and getting your money and interest back.
How can I learn more about pre-planning?
Call us at: (800)77-CASKET (WEST COAST)
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What
information can you provide me about Cremations?
There are two types of
cremations. The most expedient form is known as a "Direct
Cremation" whereby the funeral director picks up the deceased from
where they have died and takes them directly to the crematory to be
cremated in an alternative container. No ceremony is performed. The ashes
are returned to the next of kin. They can be scattered or placed in an urn
or keepsake. A memorial service may be held at any time and anyplace to
memorialize the deceased. This is the least costly method of disposition.
The other type of cremation,
and the one funeral homes would prefer you purchase, is where the
same events take place as if you were having a regular funeral- embalming
and other preparation, viewing, casket, etc. The only difference is at the
end of the ceremonies, the deceased is taken to a crematory instead of the
cemetery. Since you will need some sort of casket for the viewing and you
will be using the funeral home facility and all of its attendant costs,
the only savings you will realize as compared to a regular funeral are the
difference in price between cemetery charges and crematory charges.
Sensible Alternative Funeral Services, Inc. offers cremations
at very
reasonable prices. Please call us at (800) 77-CASKET, (626) 857-1194 for details.
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