"shoppers" & responding to "do something for us"

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S_Moore: welcome back John
Jaycofd: welcome John
KentDorsey has joined.
Host_John: Hello everyone
Host_John: wet day here in the North East
Host_John: any Texans here?
Jaycofd: warm and humid here in Syracuse, Ny
S_Moore: 90 here
Host_John: Texas got some damage from huricane
Jaycofd: yes they did
Host_John: OK
Host_John: on the topic.
Host_John: what do you say to shoppers?
nascar: take a hike!
Jaycofd: answer their questions
S_Moore: you read hem the price list and ask if you can mail them a copy
KentDorsey: give them prices, be kind, and don't expect too much...
harper has joined.
nascar: Just kidding
KentDorsey: welcome harper
Jaycofd: We give them the opportunity to come in and see everything and discuss it in more detail
harper: hello
Jaycofd: We have a firm that regularly calls or stops in for a Gpl
KentDorsey: I agree smoore, ask if they want gpl copy mailed...
Jaycofd: We have to be careful becuase it could be a trap
Host_John: I think most don't know much about funeral service
S_Moore: our gpl is on line
Jaycofd: When they stop they bring us one of theirs as well
KentDorsey: mine too S Moore
Host_John: suggest a few types of service then listen to see what kind of service they want
S_Moore: i think the reception that they get on the phone can go a long way in convincening them to come in or check more
harper: is this about price shoppers?
Host_John: I try not to put industry terms into the conversation like traditional or direct
KentDorsey: yes harper
Host_John: most have no idea on how little or expensive your funerals are
nascar: you are right John most are upset over an upcoming loss
Host_John: you might also roll out the cost for newspaper announcements
Host_John: cemetery costs
Host_John: clergy costs
harper: most of our shoppers are direct cremation
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davebadger: Hi john
Host_John: Hi dave
KentDorsey: usually, these calls here also deal with payment policy, what is expected...it's a great time to discuss it...
Host_John: good to have a neighbor here
davebadger: thank you
nascar: we use credit cards, we don't offer credit
nascar: if they don't have a credit card why would we offer credit
KentDorsey: we don't offer credit either...
davebadger: talk about newspapers------ Worcester paper is outrageous
Host_John: How much is average in Worcester MA Dave
davebadger: 450
KentDorsey: I hope you are getting family to pay newspaper directly, or write check to them.../
Host_John: Lowell Sun is 230
davebadger: i try to get most up front
Jaycofd: it is about 300 here for an average obit in the Post Standard, Syracuase, Ny
Host_John: Kent we have to guarantee the newspaper
Host_John: we place the ad via e-mail
KentDorsey: in what way John? credit card?
davebadger: oh yes they feel we are the golden goose
jsmack5: newsday on long island is about 250
Jaycofd: so do we, and send a picture if they want, for $50 more
kj: we don't get many shoppers
kj: a few, but not many
jsmack5: i get shoppers every few days
kj: what we get are bogus calls from within the corporation checking out our phone skills and giving us a grade on how they like us
Host_John: how many shoppers are your competitors
kj: none
Jaycofd: we have one competitor
Jaycofd: and he advertising our prices in his ads
kj: we are a lot more than our competitor
Jaycofd: Tv website and others
Host_John: the web use in on the rise
Jaycofd: Our competitor sets his prices according to us and 4 other firms
Jaycofd: Makes up the difference on the casket price
Host_John: why not Jay we all need to be competitive
kj: if you are owned by a corporate you don't get to set your prices to meet your competition or to suit your community's economics
Host_John: the caskets online keep casket prices lower
jsmack5: not usually, john.... probably some... but not enough to take notice
Jaycofd: I do not think it is right to advertise someone elses prices
jsmack5: caskets online are not an issue here.....so far
Jaycofd: I also do not like the bait and switch that he does
Host_John: I think more and more go online to see if they got a fair price
kj: i agree, sounds like walmart where the lowest price is the law
Jaycofd: We have had a couple in the last 4 years that bought elsewhere, including funeral depot
harper: you get what you pay for
S_Moore: we have a few
davebadger: I have foud that peolple who buy caskets from an outside source never even look at our prices
Jaycofd: our competitor is a cash and carry business, where we have full service
Host_John: well walmart is effective in having people feel they are getting the best price, however most of the store is loaded with items you can only find in Walmart
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kj: how true .. we had a casket store casket the creaked when you opened it and the screws were stripped pretty much on the handles
KentDorsey: welcome hearse1
jsmack5: outside sales have not been a big factor here on long island... at least that i have experienced
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kj: but it was cheaper than our caskets
davebadger: they are brainwashed that we are going to be more money
S_Moore: hi hr
hrbeckham: Good Evening All
jsmack5: welcome hearse
jsmack5: hi hr
Host_John: good point Dave, outsourced casket sales are usually done with out knowing the funeral homes prices
KentDorsey: welcome hr
S_Moore: i Have Seen Some Of The Made In china That Looks Darned Close To Batesville
davebadger: we make family be here to accept delivery and check it over
Host_John: Look A Like is what I see too Sam
hearse1: Hello All
Jaycofd: our competitor is 2250 for service according to his ads....however the casket will run 1500 to 200 more than ours
kj: me too , was quite impressed at the canadian funeral directors trade show
jsmack5: yeah but chine is trying to kill us.... would they participate in the burial too???
Host_John: we have one in a thousand that get casket elsewhere
Jaycofd: folks on pre need, will ask us why our caskets are cheaper than so and so
jsmack5: brb
Host_John: family gets steamed when we tell them we rent the casket for cremation and cancel the casket online
kj: we had a casket price war .... all the prices dropped but the service fees went up
Host_John: KJ that is how we pay the bills
Host_John: one can only go so low
davebadger: you should charge your services acordingly
davebadger: do not rely on casket sales
kj: i have no problem with charging for services rendered
nascar: drop your salary
S_Moore: I had a friend's relative die last week. a home 75 miles away from us wanted 14000.00 not counting the plot...i sent her 12 miles down the freway and she got the same thing for 3600.
nascar: some will take your car home if you let them
kj: i dont know many people who want to handle dead bodies , let alone embalm them
Jaycofd: People don't realize how much it cost to operate
hrbeckham: people do not care how much it cost to operate
Host_John: we should shop our own costs
Jaycofd: But there are some firms that are very high priced
Host_John: take a look at how we can lower our costs
davebadger: yep hope you all know how much per day yiou need to keep doors open
kj: probably the number one reason for selling out to t corporate, they worry about the bills
nascar: ya sure, like when you are slow you jack up the prices to make up for the days you had no funerals?
Host_John: I think we all do the math on what we expect to do
davebadger: good busnessmen and women look at a whole year
kj: reminds me of the days before unit pricing .. the rich paid a lot more to make up for the poor
hrbeckham: are you with a funeral home nascar?
Host_John: at the end of the year their is not much difference in numbers
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davebadger: ahhhh Democrats --- sorry
KentDorsey: welcome fluidpusher
jsmack5: so true , John...
nascar: Yes in Ohio
fluidpusher: evening
Host_John: A good time to ask for Age Gender location Check PLEASE
jsmack5: and they dont have gpl's in ohio...
Host_John: 60, M, Lovely Lowell Massachusetts
fluidpusher: 45/m/ohio
jsmack5: 55/m/liny
S_Moore: tired old woman , embalmer in so. calif
hrbeckham: 53/ male / Ne Florida
hearse1: 53 Ny
davebadger: 58 Littleton, Ma Male
KentDorsey: 45/m/nc
jsmack5: knew that was coming, sam...lol
Jaycofd: 47, male, Syracuse, Ny
S_Moore: wellllllllllll
harper: 63/m/wv
brud: 44, m, mid-coast Maine
kj: kf - 56/ f / hamilton, ontario
S_Moore: I have been careing for the dearly departed for 61 years i am tired
jsmack5: hmmm impressed... no kids... lol
hrbeckham: understandably
kj: why understandably?
jsmack5: so, rest... we will pick up the slack..... just as soon as we get some free time...
Host_John: who
S_Moore: if you slow down around our place they toss on the dirt and sod
jsmack5: lol sam
davebadger: Adult Day Crae at my place
hrbeckham: after 61 years of doing anything...i can under stand why she is tired
Host_John: OPEN FORUM FUNERAL CHATTER UNTIL THE TOP OF THE HOUR
S_Moore: i still get excited to get up and go to work
Jaycofd: How is the employment opportunities around Massachusetts
kj: i have a director who has been licensed for 55 years and let me tell you , he can run circles around our young directors , in more ways than one
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KentDorsey: welcome mybfd and ward...
davebadger: be back in 20 min
jsmack5: all the "experienced" ones can...... new kids want 9 to 5.... weekends off....
brud: I thought it was 10-2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays only
Host_John: OK DAVE
Jaycofd: I thought it was 2-4 and 7-9
kj: and wednesday afternoons for golf
jsmack5: lol brud.... that is actual work.... other is report time
S_Moore: 1130 to 130 lunch in there
jsmack5: lol sam
nascar: The older guys do know more
nascar: I learn a lot from them
jsmack5: have a resident... if you asked him what color the prep room was.... he would have to go look
S_Moore: we might know more but it is harded to remember it...so we just keep looking for something that needs doing
hrbeckham: a push by some groups here in Florida to allow interns & others to be able to do arrangaments without direct supervision of a Lfd...(meaning they could call a Lfd on the phone if they needed to...they would not even have to be in the same city)
Jaycofd: I did an embalming this weekend that if our young Fd went to do it, he would not know where to start
Host_John: we keep the preproom locked 24/7
hrbeckham: what do you think of that folks?
jsmack5: ok... so i guess my resident does not have a key...lol
S_Moore: i think it is a mistake
Jaycofd: it is amazing anything pass a straight case with no troubles, and they are lost
kj: we keep our prep room and our store room locked
Host_John: ours had combination lock
Host_John: no keys
hrbeckham: training training training
Jaycofd: our prep room is locked
kj: but a difficult embalming makes a great time to teach an intern
hrbeckham: I also think it is a mistake Sam
Jaycofd: trust me no one is fighting me out of there...
harper: we use combination lock and when the door closes it is locked
nascar: our prep room is always locked too
Jaycofd: I can't find ours, kj
Jaycofd: he wants to play on computer or be out with his friends
kj: maybe he is in the garage washing cars
jsmack5: dont like it hr...... again my resident .... actually been a resident over a year... because he flunked the state test...... Still cant read a death certificate...... how can I trust him to make arrangements
hrbeckham: I love a difficult case I like to learn new techniques
S_Moore: we had an active duty shipin with planeside honors thi week...not one person knew what to do.
kj: we have interns / residents, who complain that they are not given enough to do
kj: of course they have to do a least 50 embalmings in the year
S_Moore: i had a chance to train a weak link.
kj: these days in a smaller place, that can be difficult
kj: esp with the rise in cremation numbers
kj: still 50 is the minimum
jsmack5: should have called me sam..... former marine... I would know what to do
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S_Moore: and All the ramp crew and office staff from Delta came out and stood at attention..delta does care
KentDorsey: welcome pog
S_Moore: Hi Pog
Host_John: wondering how TX fd's did to postpone services?
POG70: Howdy, all
Host_John: they evacuate your town, what do you do?
Jaycofd: They will be postponed for a while
kj: would that be postpone or burial at sea, your choice?
jsmack5: brb... must tend to granddaughter
Host_John: we would call family and see if we can move funeral up or postpone
S_Moore: embalm and wait for the water to go down
hrbeckham: We had one earlier this year...hearse met the plane at the airport...military honor guard took the body from the plane with pomp and place casket into the hearse. Police and fire department escorted hearse to the funeral home. Military met hearse at the funeral home and place it in our chapel.
Host_John: I
POG70: All events canceled in evacuation
Host_John: I
harper: what did they do with the hospice patients in tx
Host_John: I'd talk with family and see what to do in TX
hrbeckham: brb
kj: i am too far north for hurricanes but we did call a family and postpone a funeral because of a blizzard
kj: they figured it out .. they couldnt get out of their driveway
POG70: Family would have little to say about it in general evacuation
fluidpusher: we've delayed becaus of extreme snow, too
POG70: All activities stop and everybody goes
POG70: Question is...do you leave the body behind?
Host_John: with the forecast for the storm 48 hours out I would contact family to see what they want to do
harper: good question
S_Moore: put in a local cooler at a hospital
POG70: and let it get flooded?
Jaycofd: 48 hours out with a major storm, I would be gone
Host_John: well for the un-embalmed it is a real big issue
Host_John: I understand KJ but a blizzard is rare
Host_John: down in Lovley Lowel anyway
S_Moore: it is the elec may be out for days
Host_John: Canadians had a long power outage one winter not long ago
kj: and one summer as well
S_Moore: i would contact families and then call all avail embalmers and embalm them
POG70: Evacuate the dead, too. Take them to a safe location in another funeral home in another town?
Host_John: I remember becauset there was a shortage of caskets from one of our favorite suppliers
Host_John: Good point POG
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S_Moore: leave them in the mortuary and cover the doors and windows and leave town
kj: what is our responsibility to the safekeeping of the dead in our care?
S_Moore: John do you remember the tornado that hit lowel in about 1956
nascar: putting the remains in a safe area is a good idea
kj: do we have an oweness to evacuate them or remain with them?
nascar: away from any potential broken windows
Host_John: I was only 5 Sam sorry
POG70: If the body is destroyed or lost in the storm, what is our liability for having abandoned the body to the elements?
Host_John: we have an obligation to protect the remains
Host_John: put them in a room with no windows
POG70: so we take them with us
S_Moore: i think that is an act of god Pog...if there is time you could transport to basements or an armory
Host_John: so if the windows do break they are protected
hrbeckham: Maybe a plan where all effected funeral home (gads) work together and secure a referidgerated semi trailer, label bodys well and from what funeral home and move them out of harms way
kj: as bizarre as it sounds that we should protect the dead, who are already dead and cannot become more dead, I think we do owe the dead and their familes , to protect the body from any sort of extrinsic harm including flood, broken glass etc
POG70: hr, tall order
hrbeckham: working together...i know
kj: one of my directors shares a communal space during the winter because they do not bury in the winter months.
kj: very co-operative in that respect
S_Moore: jk what city are you in
Host_John: where do you keep remains in winter Kj?
KentDorsey: nc firms I am familiar with during Isabel, moved out vehicles, and filled vehicles with equipment, and the lone body they had, they took it to an inland fh that agreed to house...
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hrbeckham: have to deal with something.....i will be back if it is not too late...god Bless....
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KentDorsey: welcome chuck2479
fluidpusher: i think moving bodies to a safe place makes sense, if it is possible/practical
Host_John: the Tx fd's will have some good stories suggestions and failures on what was don
Host_John: done
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kj: at that particular funeral home, after the funeral, the hearse takes the body to a storage place which is outdoors and the bodies are kept refrigerated naturally
KentDorsey: welcome back ward
kj: as soon as the ground thaws in the spring, they begin digging graves
kj: surprisingly, the bodies which are embalmed, remain fairly well in the subzero or near zero temps
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Host_John: so you have a secure unheated facility to store the remains Kj?
kj: yes
harper: what does the vault company do all winter, lay their employees off
POG70: Do you ever have any unembalmed bodies held over winter for burial in the spring?
davebadger: Navy Corpsman here Turn to
KentDorsey: welcome sirwilhelm
kj: i have never seen one in that funeral home that was not embalmed
Host_John: welcome Back Dave
davebadger: Thank you sir
POG70: ok
kj: they tend to do mostly traditional funerals with open caskets and visitations
Host_John: You have different laws Kj
kj: it is done this way farther north as well where the ground freezes
Host_John: since Feds require we get permission for embalming it is not done as much as it once was
Host_John: storing over the winter was they way we did it yesteryear
kj: we also require permission but in this particular community almost all the bodies are embalmed with traditional viewing and burial
Host_John: now just a few cemeterys close in winter here
kj: the percentage of cremations is under 10%
davebadger: anybody do "green Stuff"
kj: Yes!!
POG70: Seems that overwinter storage would include embalming as a practical necessity, just as for viewing
kj: has anyone been following the discussion about the waiver for green funerals that was being discussed last week at the Nfda meeting?
POG70: We've been doing modified green burials for years
davebadger: no
kj: jews and moslems have been doing it exclusively for a long time
Host_John: we can
davebadger: it what does entail
Host_John: the best we can do here is fill unit with dirt, then fill cement container with dirt then fill grave
kj: our jewish funerals --> no embalming, shround, no jewelry , caskets have no metal parts , burial is within 24 hours
Chuck2479: Ftc has required us to list green burials on our Gpl since 1984...they just call it "immediate Burial"
davebadger: good poit
Host_John: yes Kj but still in a casket
davebadger: point
S_Moore: that is what we call it
kj: yes, here we have to bury in a container , we do not have an option
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Host_John: first time I hear that Chuck
Chuck2479: If you call it "green burial" you can add a premium, like the Whole Foods grocery chain does.
kj: in israel , they body is buried directly in the shroud into the ground
KentDorsey: nice big crowd tonight, an all star cast...i'm heading out, best wishes to all...
davebadger: i have buried one in a cardboard box but a grave box was required
davebadger: take care kent
Chuck2479: cardboard box is required by the Ftc
KentDorsey: thanks, night...
S_Moore: we have a cemetery out here that wraps in a blanket and lowers and back fills
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kj: not sure about the cardboard boxes here, we use them for cremation tho
POG70: Burying an unembalmed body in a biodegradable casket without a vault amounts to a green burial. It's also an "immediate burial"
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S_Moore: we require a vault
fluidpusher: cardboard box is Not required by the Ftc
harper: in are area all cemeteries require cave proof container, unless a family cemetery
kj: i think the novelty is that now the enviromentalists refer to it as "green"
Host_John: Back on topic now "shoppers & "DO Something For Us"
davebadger: i keep hearing about green burial and hope the dogs or wolves dont dig up
Host_John: What do you say when they say Do something for us?
Chuck2479: Same here S Moore.
kj: does anyone else have discounted packages ?
nascar: that is the best thing to do
davebadger: exactly s------ a lower priced casket
kj: the sort where if you buy it a la carte, you pay a lot more
nascar: suggest taking some things away
nascar: less newspaper
nascar: now limo
nascar: delete some extras
kj: so the family has to way up , pay less and get stuff they may not want or pay more and get what they want
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nascar: it is surprising how few will delete anything.
kj: no deletions or addditions allowed
Host_John: good point nascar
Host_John: we give a lot of stuff away
davebadger: llet them hassle with the newspapers
Host_John: register book thank you cards
POG70: We say that "others tell us our prices are very reasonable compared to some others" and , as does Sam, we suggest cutting back on items in the funeral...such as just a "same-day" visitation, or no limo, or a different casket, etc,
Host_John: prayer cards
davebadger: perfect pog
Host_John: Good suggestion Pog
kj: we offer a 1 hour visitation before the same day funeral
Host_John: with the economy turning we will hear this more and more often I think
kj: as well, we allow them to be billed directly for the newspaper
nascar: I agree John
kj: flowers , minister etc
davebadger: can any of you remember when we we had 2 day visitiation with 3rd day funeral?
fluidpusher: shoppers and those "what are you going to do for me" kinds of customers are usually only out for whatever they can get, and they usually are not happy no matter what you do for them
kj: Yes , we still do some of those
POG70: surprisingly, the modt-dropped item lately has been thank-you cards. Folks do their own on their computers.
S_Moore: 3 day visitation and 4th day funeral is normal for asians
POG70: modt=most
kj: Italian and French canadian catholic , some ukranian catholic as well
Host_John: could be Fluid none the less the economy is not getting any better
davebadger: and you price accordingly john and they pay right?
kj: actually we see it more with the older people, the younger ones who were born here, not so much
Host_John: we do what we can to get paid before calling hours
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Host_John: we will rethink our polices soon
Host_John: before thanksgiving
POG70: Our terms are payment in full at arrangement conference
davebadger: had any complaints as to your policy John?
kj: we ask for 50 % at arrangement and 50% before the funeral
sirwilhelm1: pog how do you ask for payment in full before arrangements?
POG70: We will hold a check
Host_John: no Dave
S_Moore: welcome Angela
davebadger: i have a problem with my staff as to payment policy Urrgggg
Angela_Sisk: hello everyone
kj: doesnt seem much different than what we are doing ... 50/50 if the arrangements and funeral are within 2 days
Host_John: once again a good time for Age, Gender, Location Check Please
POG70: "Our terms are payment in full at the time of arrangements" We accept cash, check, credit card, or assignment of verified insurance
Host_John: 60, M, Lovely Lowell Massachusetts
kj: kj, 56 F Hamilton Ontario
POG70: <<<71, M, Tennessee
fluidpusher: 45/m/ohio
Chuck2479: 41 M Mass.
harper: 63/m/harpers ferry, wv
hearse1: 53 ny
POG70: I guess I'll have to update my name
Angela_Sisk: 51/f/kings Mountain, Nc
davebadger: John did u age i thought i was older than you
Host_John: I round up dave
Host_John: legally I am 56
davebadger: Js are you from Lowell?
S_Moore: i round down 21, so calif
POG70: Lol !!!!!
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davebadger: whew i thought i went up a few years
Host_John: Ok
Host_John: thaks
Host_John: thanks
Host_John: still looking for ideas on response to people looking for a break
Host_John: what do you do when family just lost job because of company closing
davebadger: well if you are from a small town lip service is good
kj: here we ask if they would like to work with social services
nascar: we suggest reducing service
S_Moore: If it really gets bad John remind them that the food mart demands and expects payment before they leave the store
kj: we used in the pre texas robber days have a golden rule policy .. that is gone now
nascar: with social service there is a reduction in service KJ?
Angela_Sisk: here we can go back to school if your job closes because it goes to another country
S_Moore: contact local churches and red cross
Host_John: a good program Angela
kj: they are given a set amount to work with , that includes either a cremation or a burial, a visitation and a funeral
harper: shopping: my insurance agent's mother died in the Washington, Dc area, he showed me the bill, cloth covered casket, one nights visititation, funeral the next day and burial at Arlington National(no charge) over $11,000.00
POG70: When giving them price quotation, and sensing they are making the rounds, emphasize exactly what the price covers (casket details, etc. even give them a copy of the lithograph from catalog) and tell them to make certain the other fhs are talking the same deal with them.
Angela_Sisk: yes that is why I am going to school now to become an embalmer. Worked in a factory for 30 years
Host_John: I hope you enjoy it
davebadger: good for you angela
Angela_Sisk: so far it is great.
kj: we often use cloth covered caskets instead of wood , as well we suggest either a cloth or a rental if it is cremation
kj: i have seen a Pall used on a rough wood casket
Host_John: so back to shoppers
Host_John: you assume they will be shopping around
S_Moore: we have an upgraded cremation container that you can use for visitation and service
Host_John: do you discount your price to meet a competitor?
S_Moore: our cremation society does.
S_Moore: the mortuary does not
Chuck2479: No. It is not good for business in the long run.
Host_John: we have changed to 100% cardboard cremation container, no staples or screws
nascar: we have 7 other firms in town, if we are slow we will lower our prices
davebadger: i have turned some away i felt i was not going to be paid anyway
kj: i think one of the problems is that people get confused about the fact that funeral homes are a business , they for the most part run for profit
kj: tho we have several that are not for profit in the area but they are run by churches or synagogues for their own people
Chuck2479: you are right Kj. They sometimes have to be reminded that the cost of the funeral is directly related to the amount of goods & services they choose.
Host_John: some firms in Ohio are seeing an alarming rate of state paid funerals
davebadger: not for profit causes you to close your doors
POG70: "Our prices are already as low as we can set them and still make a profit. Which items would you like to omit in order to lower the total price?"
davebadger: bat phone be back in a min
kj: the local not for profit homes, do not keep full time staff, tho they do have a building and they charge only enough to pay their bills
fluidpusher: John, the State of Ohio abolished their state program about five years ago. No State Welfare award anymore
kj: wow .. now thats scary
Host_John: what do you say to those who have no money Fluid?
Host_John: I am getting different messages from Ohio
fluidpusher: Our city implemented a program similar to what the State used to do. But the deceased has to be a resident of the city.
POG70: No state indigent burial fund. Most counties have no such fund.
kj: then what do you do with the body?
Host_John: what do we do with the poor
fluidpusher: Each township is legally required to provide a grave and opening/closing for an indigent resident of the township.
Host_John: well that is what they were telling me I just assumed it was state aid
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Host_John: sorry
fluidpusher: Each funeral home is free to bury the poor, or not.
kj: how about a casket?
fluidpusher: I will provide a minimum service, but I do require something from the family. Every family has something to contribute. I look for some effort on their part.
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kj: fair enough
fluidpusher: There are worthy poor, and there are deadbeat poor
kj: we had a case of the worthy poor last week
nascar: LOL good way to put it Fluidpusher
POG70: One metropolitan county provides a cloth-covered cardboard casket, a grave and simple marker in county cemetery, including opening/closing. Funeral homes remove, shelter, casket and deliver to cemetery...no visitation, graveside service only. Funeral homes are not paid anything.
kj: where we bent over backwards to help make things happen
fluidpusher: I am a fourth generation in this small town, we pretty much know who really needs the help, and who is a deadbeat
nascar: with no money things slow down
cnmmnc: Yes Fp i'm not a bank, if they can not afford something, then we have to find what they can afford to pay
Chuck2479: or what they can afford to pay For
fluidpusher: And then the payment must be immediate, preferably in cash.
cnmmnc: because the right time to discuss affordability is when youre making arrangements not a month later....
POG70: It's interetsing to be at indigent burial and see the family arrives in big suvs.
fluidpusher: and red roses on the casket, pog
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POG70: right, cnmmnc
cnmmnc: Pog it happens to me here
davebadger: budda a million dollar housebing and
POG70: happens all over, I'd say
davebadger: they know the system
kj: sad but true
POG70: I type like a drunk talks
cnmmnc: I guess i cant get specific about the ethnic groups but take my word for it, I can see it coming every time
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davebadger: so how do you folks handle coolections
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cnmmnc: asking me to apply for medicaid allowance in 2 states, oh yes!
S_Moore: service is paid for or we dont lower
POG70: With all finances secured at arrangement time, there are no collections
POG70: Right on, Sam
Host_John: OPEN FORUM FUNERAL CHATTER UNTIL NEXT TIME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION