Wal-Mart starts selling coffins

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世界最大零售業者沃爾瑪 (Wal-Mart)希望,消費者死後仍繼續是他們的顧客,上周悄悄開始在網站銷售棺材和骨灰甕,價格比許多殯儀館的售價更優惠。

好市多 (Costco)先前已在網上賣棺材,沃爾瑪現在跟進。沃爾瑪的網站共提供15款棺材和數十種骨灰甕,棺材售價從平價的999美元、中等價位的1699美元,到較高價的3199美元都有。

棺材定購後48小時內即可出貨,透過快遞業者送達。聯邦法律規定,殯儀館應接受來自第三方的棺材。沃爾瑪網站說,棺材不能退貨,除非運送途中受損。

沃爾瑪的棺材來自伊利諾州麥亨利鎮Star Legacy殯儀網路公司,該公司執行長說,開賣一周的反應超過他們或沃爾瑪的預期,沃爾瑪網站今後將銷售該公司200多種產品,包括寵物骨灰甕和紀念珠寶等。Star Legacy也供貨給好市多。

沃爾瑪集團的山姆俱樂部 (Sams Club)網站也銷售花圈等,每隻約300元。

沃爾瑪網站允許消費者不必立刻付清,在購買後12個月內付款即可,而且不計利息,即使棺材漲價,消費者也不受影響。棺材價格的漲幅經常多達兩三倍。

全美殯儀館主任協會會長林區表示,沃爾瑪參與棺材市場的競爭並不特別令人擔憂。殯儀館的棺材價格從500到5000美元不等,沃爾瑪的售價差距並不大,且沃爾瑪網站不能像殯儀館那樣,面對面和家屬接觸。

 

【2009/10/29 聯合晚報】

 

 

 

Wal-Mart starts selling coffins

The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, now plans to hold on to customers even after they die - by selling coffins.

Prices range from a "Mom" or "Dad Remembered" steel coffin for $895 (£540), to a bronze model at $2,899.

The retailer is allowing customers to plan ahead by paying for the caskets over 12 months for no interest. They can be dispatched within 48 hours.

Catering for cradle-to-grave needs, Wal-Mart already sells everything from baby wear to engagement rings.

A spokesman for the supermarket giant, Ravi Jariwala, said the new coffin range was "a limited beta test to understand customer response".

The retailer is offering caskets at prices that undercut many funeral homes, say correspondents.

But an industry spokesman said it was not unduly concerned about Wal-Mart's move, because he said the firm could not offer bereaved families the human touch.

Pat Lynch, of the National Funeral Home Directors Association, told AP news agency: "There's no question in my mind as a funeral director for nearly 40 years that the most critical element is the human contact."    (BBC news)

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