"Wal-Mart has started selling caskets on its Web site at prices that undercut many funeral homes, long the major seller of caskets.
The move follows a similar one by discount rival Costco, which also sells caskets on its site. Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., quietly put up about 15 caskets and dozens of urns on its Web site last week.Prices range from $999 for models like "Dad Remembered" and "Mom Remembered" steel caskets to the mid-level $1,699 "Executive Privilege." All are less than $2,000, except for the Sienna Bronze Casket, which sells for $3,199.
Caskets ship within 48 hours.
So here's my plan to save my heirs a little dough when it's my time to duck out. Joanne orders the cheapest box from WalMart or Costco. She then bribes a couple of my neighbors to help her heft me into it. I'm sure Eric Hoglund and Bob Bain will happily do it for a 12 pack of Sam Adams. They are good friends.
Then she calls Laurel Department of Public Works for a special pick-up.
Thirty-five dollars to DPW and I'm outta here the following Wednesday!
