Do you get free samples and $1.50 hot dogs in heaven?

[Ghoulish Delight]

So, in looking for the giant inflatable snowglobe that I saw at a Costco online, I found this surprising section of merchandise in the menu bar...

"urns & caskets" (http://www.costco.com/Common/CategoryMain.aspx?cat=20595&eCat=BC|20595&whse=BC&topnav=)

Who knew!

[CoasterMatt]

This (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11006415&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=) is the box I'm gonna have my mortal remains shoved in... Costco membership is eternal, I guess.

[Alex]

In most places this is actually relatively new. In many places there were laws that said only funeral homes could sell caskets. Retail sales is something that has cropped up in the last decade though it is still far from universal.

Note that Costco does not directly sell the caskets (but are rather acting as a front for Universal Casket Company. Notice also that you can only buy and ship the caskets to about 25 states. In the rest, interstate shipment is probably illegal or the state has more stringent restrictions on who can sell caskets.

Here is an example of the debate (biased towards on side) in Oklahoma.

http://www.ij.org/economic_liberty/oklahoma_caskets/8_24_04pr.html

Most of the so called "death care" industry is a scam that works on government protectionism and monopoly that would have made Standard Oil blush in embarrassment.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Most of the so called "death care" industry is a scam that works on government protectionism and monopoly that would have made Standard Oil blush in embarrassment.Yeah, I was a bit surprised to see a couple funeral home workers in my insurance license classes. Very odd business indeed.

[Not Afraid]

Why do I find the inflatable snow globes to be odder than caskets?


I always swore that I wanted my urn to come from Pier 1.

[€uroMeinke]

Can you be burried in an inflatable snow globe?

[jdramj]

As long as you don't mind being pushed thru the blower to be the snow!

[Kevy Baby]

I am an occassional wood-worker (well, sawdust-maker). As morbid as this sounds to some, I've always had a desire to make my own casket. But it is not something I really want to do now (no place to store it) and I am afraid that if I wait too long that I won't have the energy or capacity to do so. Kits, supplies, plans, etc. are available in several places including Rockler (http://www.rockler.com/search_results.cfm?filter=casket&submit.x=0&submit.y=0).

What Susan (or whomever) does with my ashes, I don't care. I just want to make the box.

[Kevy Baby]

As long as you don't mind being pushed thru the blower to be the snow!A blow job. What a way to go!

[Capt Jack]

mmm...no box for me thanks. seems a terrible waste of space to me.
just reduced to ashes and spread over......oh I dunno.....over there somewhere.

Im betting at that point I wont care much.