How are Caskets Delivered to Funeral Homes?

Many customers are moving away from purchasing a funeral casket at the funeral home. Online casket retailers provide a more comprehensive range of options at a lower average cost, making online casket purchases more popular than ever. 

Buying a casket online has many advantages, but it also comes with many questions. For example, how does the casket get delivered to the funeral home? Do funeral homes have to accept caskets from third-party vendors? What rights do you have as a consumer when buying from online casket retailers? 

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has clearly defined rules regarding purchasing caskets and what funeral homes must accept. We’ve outlined those rules below so you can confidently place your order and have the funeral service you want. 

What is the FTC’s Funeral Rule?

The FTC’s Funeral Rule is composed of several rules to protect consumers and supply them with adequate and accurate information concerning funeral arrangements. A few of these rules apply specifically to purchasing a third-party casket, delivery regulations, and what a funeral home can and cannot do. 

Let’s take a look at what the Funeral Rule covers concerning a casket purchase from third parties:

• Consumers have the right to purchase whatever funeral arrangements they want and are not required to accept funeral packages that include items they do not want. This right must be stated on the funeral home’s general price list. 
• Consumers cannot be turned away from a funeral provider if they wish to purchase their casket from another source.

FTC Funeral Rule for Casket Delivery 

The Funeral Rule also protects how a casket can be delivered to a funeral home and how funeral providers must accept these deliveries. 

• By law, a funeral provider cannot refuse or charge additional fees for delivering and handling a casket from another source.
• The consumer doesn’t have to be present when the shipment arrives at the funeral provider. (Please note: inspecting the casket to ensure your shipment is correct and free of defects is always a good idea.)

How are Caskets Delivered to a Funeral Home?

Our caskets are delivered through a shipping method called white glove delivery. White glove delivery is an elevated shipping service for high-value and fragile items. White glove service also offers expedited shipping, reducing the likelihood of damage to the casket. 

White glove shipping providers typically offer the following services:

• Scheduled Delivery – The shipping service will usually contact the customer to find the best time for the customer to receive delivery of their item. The delivery time will need to be coordinated with the funeral director and aligned with the hours in which they typically accept deliveries. 
• Protective Packaging – The items ordered through the white glove shipping service are in protective packaging appropriate to the product. 
• Unpacking and Assembly – Where many shipping services drop your item at the front door, a white glove shipping service will typically bring an item to the exact location designated by the customer. They will also remove the product from its package and assemble it. 
• Debris Removal – Some white glove shipping providers will remove trash and debris after the item has been delivered and set up to the customer’s specifications. The funeral home cannot charge a fee for disposing of those materials. 
• Damage Inspection – If the item is damaged or part of the shipment is missing, the delivery service will handle returning the product and procure a new item or fix any problems that might have arisen during the shipping process. 

Buying a Casket Online 

There are benefits to buying a casket online, such as lower prices, more options for customization, a wider variety of oversized caskets, and the convenience of shopping from home. However, as a consumer, you must know your rights when making funeral arrangements. 

If the funeral home or funeral directors you work with refuse to comply with the FTC regulations or charge you additional fees, you can contact Sky Caskets for help. 

FTC Funeral Rules to Protect Customers

• By law, a funeral provider cannot refuse or charge for the delivery and handling of a casket from another source.
• The consumer must not be present when the shipment arrives at the funeral provider. However, it is a good idea to inspect the casket to ensure your shipment is complete, that the merchandise is free of defects, and that the merchandise is correct.
• Consumers cannot be turned away from a funeral provider if they wish to purchase their casket from another source.

What is ‘White Glove’ Shipping?

White glove shipping is a custom method of shipping that is usually tasked with delivering large items and including services with those items. Below is a list of services typically provided by ‘White Glove’ shipping providers:

• Scheduled Delivery – The shipping service will usually contact the customer to find out the best time for the customer to receive delivery of their item.
• Unpacking and Assembly – Where many shipping services simply drop your item at the front door, a white glove shipping service will typically bring an item into the exact location designated by the customer.

Often the shipping service will set up and/or assemble the item to the customer’s satisfaction.

• Debris Removal: After the item has been delivered and set up to customer specification, the delivery service will remove any shipping materials and trash associated with the delivery.
• Damage Inspection: The delivery service will also inspect the item to ensure it is not damaged.  Suppose the item is damaged or part of the shipment is missing. In that case, the delivery service will handle returning the existing item and procure a new item or fix any problems that might have arisen during the shipping process.