Consumer Groups Find Few Funeral Homes Post Prices

by Rebecca Roberts Galloway | Jul 14, 2022

A new report by the Consumer Federation of America and the Funeral Consumers Alliance shows only a small percentage of funeral homes post prices online, making price comparison more difficult for families.

In a survey of over 1,000 funeral businesses in 35 states across the country, the groups found only 18 percent of funeral homes posted price lists on their websites.

California is the only state that mandates online posting of price lists. But even there, loopholes exploited by some funeral homes make obtaining prices more difficult.

The two consumer groups are urging a change to the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule to require posting in every state.

Many funeral homes only make the price list available if you visit in person. For many consumers, particularly those who are having to make out-of-town arrangements, it’s not practical to go to the funeral home to get the price list.

On top of the inconvenience, customers are understandably under stress after a loved one’s death which makes them targets for “upselling.”

Researchers said higher transparency was evident in western states, especially in California where it is the law. “It is possible that funeral homes in areas with younger populations and more dynamic economies are more receptive to posting prices online,” the report’s authors write.

In separate polling commissioned by the groups, 75 percent of consumers said they would like mandatory online price disclosures.

“Online price posting would benefit not just those consumers searching for price information, but also all consumers by encouraging price competition and discouraging funeral homes from charging exorbitant prices,” said Stephen Brobeck, a CFA Senior Fellow and the report’s co-author.

In earlier research by the two groups, price differences of 400 and 500 percent were found for the same service. The wide range of prices is due in part to a lack of clear consumer information, the groups say.

None of the more than 100 funeral homes owned by the largest nationwide funeral corporation posted their prices online in the latest survey.

Meanwhile, the consumer groups urge families consider giving their business to those companies that do post their information online.

Solace Cremation is committed to price transparency and posts all of its price lists on the company website, SolaceCares.com. Solace has one transparent price of $995 and no hidden fees.