People need to eat, and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) sells food. People need to cover themselves, and Wal-Mart sells apparel. You get the idea – the biggest needs may be thin-margin, and their all sure things. Wal-Mart plays in the inevitable, which makes its latest market entry a little less surprising than you might think. Wal-Mart is pushing caskets and urns – depending on how you want your remains preserved. What is a bit shocking, however, is that the brick-and-mortar player is selling its death gear online.
Wal-Mart is using its low price strategy to beat funeral homes, which have seemingly forever been the biggest sales channel for caskets. Prices start at $999 for the low end models and go up to the Sienna Bronze Casket at $3,199. Except for this last one, all models sell for under $2,000 ... and all product ships within 48 hours. The funeral homes are over a barrel on this one, since federal law requires them to accept third-party caskets.
Wal-Mart is supplied by Star Legacy Funeral Network, and both are apparently happy with the first week's sales.
The Bentonville-based retail giant is not the first to get into the gloomy business of bodies. Discount retailer Costco (NASDAQ: COST) is already in the online casket business.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2009 @ 2:18PM
JFD8 said...
When you're going under six feet,
Our coffin deals cannot be beat;
From cradle to grave
At Wal-Mart you save
When we mark your checkout receipt.
News Short n' Sweet by JFD8
http://twitter.com/JFD8
10-30-2009 @ 5:19PM
Miki said...
This is a great idea! However, little do consumers know that they come unassembled. Judging by the slanting bookshelf in my living room that falls apart when I put an actual book on it, I'm going to have to say that I personally would go with quality over price on this one. Plus, who's going to want to come back from the dead to assemble their own casket? Talk about an inconvenience.
www.oomikioo.wordpress.com
10-31-2009 @ 2:05PM
boxingloves1228 said...
protest walmart for this had a daughter killed in car wreck 2 years ago think of it all the time dont need t walk in walmart and see caskets and rember that should be keep in funeral homes