FinalThoughts, for example, has ruled out flashing banner ads in its e-mails. Nonetheless, the funeral field is crowded with Web sites of dubious origin and questionable decorum, causing consumer groups to worry. The Funeral Consumers Alliance, an industry watchdog, has asked federal regulators to require full disclosure of pricing by funeral homes on their Web sites, according to Executive Director Lisa Carlson. But on the positive side, there is also a lot more information available to consumers. Some say lower prices could be a result.
Overnight shipping is free.
Troxel, who has used the Internet to cut out the casket middleman since fall, said he's been upbraided by dozens of morticians angry at losing one of the most lucrative parts of their sales package. People are buying their health care, their life insurance, their shoes and everything else on the Internet. When it comes time to save a few bucks burying grandpa, we're going to go to the Internet for that, too. Little surprise, then, that some funeral directors now provide Webcasts. As they're watching, they can e-mail a message to be read to the family.