| Funeral Homes Vs. Cemeteries And Others (NAPSA)—Why choose a funeral home rather than a cemetery, crematory or casket store? Because over the past several years, the funeral industry has experienced dynamic change. A significant percentage of the traditional, community-oriented, family-owned funeral firms have been acquired by large, publicly-traded companies. Many cemeteries, cre- matories, casket retailers, burial vault sellers and certain religious organizations, which in the past played partial roles in the funeral process, have now expanded. In many cases, they now offer a full array of funeral merchandise. In many instances, moreover, cemeteries, crematories, casket retailers and other providers do not fall within existing funeral industry government regulations, including the federal FTC Funeral Rule. Consequently, while these alternative providers may arrange funerals, and sell caskets, urns, outer burial containers and other merchandise, in many cases they do not have to provide consumers with advanced itemized prices for these goods and services. Nor must they make mandatory consumerprotection disclosures, such as the fact that caskets are not required for cremation. Therefore, it is very important that families seeking funeral services understand the industry, the type of provider they are dealing with, and the scope of funeral goodsor services the provider can supply measured against what the family may require. Funeral homes that are members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes follow the standardsof the organization’s Code of ASKET er) STORE An (CEMETER & FUNERALS Alternative providers may arrange funerals and sell caskets, but in many cases they do not have to provide itemized prices for these goods or services as funeral homesare required to. Good FuneralPractice and pledge: To provide the public with information about funerals, including prices, and the functions, services and responsibilities of funeral directors To afford an ongoing opportu- nity to all persons to discuss or arrange funerals in advance To make funerals available in as wide a range of price categories as necessary to meet the needs of all segments of our community, and to affirmatively extend to everyone the right of inspecting and freely considering them all * To quote conspicuously in writing the charge for every funeral offered, and to clearly identify the services, facilities, equipment and merchandise included in such quotations. To learn more about funeral homepractices, visit www.selected funeralhomes.org.
