Miscellaneous Topics

  We’ve written about this before, but it needs to be said again—because families are still being hurt by it. Across the funeral profession, a troubling practice has been quietly growing: funeral homes offering free or drastically reduced funerals—not out of compassion, but to pad their year-end numbers. The goal isn’t service. It’s statistics. A friend of mine manages a funeral home and is dealing with this daily. A nearby competitor is doing dozens of funerals at little to no cost—simply to say they “served” more families this year. Just today, that competitor offered a complete funeral —full service with visitation, funeral, casket, burial vault, and open & close of the grave—for $2,850 . Let that sink in. The wholesale cost of the merchandise and services alone exceeds that amount. The opening and closing of the grave typically runs around $600 , which the funeral home doesn’t profit from at all. My friend offered the same service for $5,000 , which is likely break-e...

  Disclaimer The views expressed in this article are based on personal, professional experiences gained while working in a customer service environment and are offered for the purpose of discussing communication challenges and service dynamics in a respectful and constructive manner. These opinions are solely those of the author and do not represent the views, policies, or positions of any employer, organization, or affiliated entity. This article is not intended to target, demean, or discriminate against any individual or group based on nationality, ethnicity, immigration status, or cultural background. Rather, it aims to address real-world communication barriers and expectations that can impact the effectiveness of customer service interactions for both customers and service professionals. Any references to language proficiency, behavior, or expectations are discussed in a general and non-specific context and should not be interpreted as applying universally to all individuals...

  In small-town America, funeral homes carry deep roots. Families grow up with a particular funeral director caring for their loved ones. Generations return to the same chapel because of trust, familiarity, and tradition. In communities like ours, reputations last decades — and so do rivalries. One trend I’ve noticed throughout my years as a licensed funeral director and embalmer is the smaller towns, competitors  hate each other. Not because of wrongdoing. Not because of ethics. But simply because they operate down the street. It’s an old belief… one that should’ve been buried a long time ago. The truth is simple: Your competitor is not your enemy. They are another professional doing their best to serve grieving families and make a living. And learning to work with them — not against them — benefits you, your staff, your community, and the funeral profession as a whole. 1. Professionalism Doesn’t End at Your Front Door Funeral service is built on dignity, compassion,...