All you BJs/Costco members, die in bulk...

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

CHICAGO (AP) — Whether you're in the market for a good night's sleep or the eternal kind, one store at least has you covered.

Costco Wholesale Corp., better known for bulk chicken and cases of soda, started test marketing caskets alongside mattresses at a North Side Chicago store Monday. They're also being sold at a suburban Oak Brook store.

"This is certainly something that can be an easy value," said Gina Bianche, a buyer in Costco's corporate office in Issaquah, Wash. "I don't want to say cheap value, but it just needs to be done."

Each of the six models from the Universal Casket Co., in colors including lilac and Neapolitan blue, is priced at $799.99, made of 18-gauge steel, considered medium weight for caskets, and can be delivered within 48 hours

<<<snip>>>

"A casket at Costco, yeah, I think it's pretty bizarre," said Inga Barth, 53. She wondered about buying a casket with only a kiosk and small samples of the caskets' material to look over, though, saying, "When you go casket shopping, you want to see the whole thing."

That didn't trouble John Neuhaus.

"I want the adjustable bed and mattress for my neck," he joked, pointing to one of the features highlighted at the kiosk. After all, he said, "It says eternal rest."


Read it here...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-08-17-costco-caskets_x.htm

[hlthe2b]

1. Given the ripoffs rampant in the US funeral industry....

I'm not sure this is a bad thing.... They aren't putting them on public dislay with the discount DVDs and patio furniture, I don't think--so it probably is a service....?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

3. It's just funny.

I do understand the point of them- it's just a little bizarre. They're selling them right next to the mattresses...

[hlthe2b]

6. I'm sure Walmart is just cringing that

they didn't think of it first....



CEO of Costco is a big DEM contributor/supporter, so I won't criticize them too much. I do agree it is sort of funny....(and yucky)...But, I'm sure they will be more discrete than we might imagine...

[Catholic Sensation]

7. not sure how this is yucky

they're not selling cadavers

[hlthe2b]

9. No, it's really not.... 'just the thought of having em sitting out at the

front of the store (which I'm quite certain they'd never do) is sort of yucky...In reality, I'm sure they'll be quite discrete and it's undoubtedly much ado about nothing...

[bogey18]

2. VOLUME VOLUME VOLUME

They'll put the caskets in the back so you will have to pass by the patio furniture to get there.

[bogey18]

4. DON'T GO INTO THE LIGHT..DON'T GO INTO THE BLUE LIGHT

SPECIAL

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

5. OK THAT'S CREEPY

OVER THE LINE. ;)

[Bozita]

8. What's that Bush-supporting funeral corp that holds a major share of ...

... the death business in America today?

The name on the funeral home may be the same, but the owners may be different.