# Wow, the funeral business is a huge scam **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2022, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154 "2022-02-09T13:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/161 "2022-03-30T02:49:48Z")
Such a grave mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/162 "2022-03-30T04:05:23Z")
Well, it’s a funeral and not a [Ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onbZemb4CmQ). ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/163 "2022-03-30T09:22:12Z")
I don’t mind some of the money I leave being spent on coffin dancers, as my friends and relatives could enjoy that. They would be dancing with an empty cardboard box though, as I don’t actually want to be buried (composted would be great though…not sure if that’s an option) Regarding the OP… The OP’s comments notwithstanding, I don’t think it’s generally such a big scam. They just have to have high margins as, unlike the wedding business, they have no repeat customers 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/164 "2022-03-30T14:12:25Z")
[Human Composting as a New Death Care Alternative: A Guide to NOR - US Funerals Online (us-funerals.com)](https://www.us-funerals.com/human-composting-as-a-new-death-care-alternative-a-guide-to-nor/#.YkRlpC3MJPY) it is an option and becoming quite popular. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/165 "2022-03-30T15:37:18Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > They would be dancing with an empty cardboard box though, as I don’t actually want to be buried (composted would be great though…not sure if that’s an option) Damn, now I want to have a closed-casket funeral, but up in front (maybe on a fancy gilded stand) is a box that’s been cobbled together from a couple of tv boxes, misc. UPS and ikea shipping boxes, some to-go containers, and at least a dozen cigar boxes. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/166 "2022-04-12T19:26:56Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Certainly funeral costs are high, but I would guess that’s a hard profession to be in. They are surrounded by dead bodies and grieving relatives every day. It probably takes a person with a unique perspective on life to make that a career. If the costs were cheaper, they would get paid less and it’d be harder to find employees to do the work. I agree that the costs are probably higher than they really need to be, but some of that is the surcharge for having to work in that industry. Not to mention they have to deal with stiff competition. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/167 "2022-04-12T20:18:16Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not to mention they have to deal with stiff competition Yes, but once they open their doors, people are dying to get in… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/168 "2022-04-12T22:46:08Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > stiff competition I’ve heard it’s quite rigorous. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154/169 "2022-04-12T22:47:23Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > but once they open their doors, people are dying to get in… Ehh, I heard it was a dying business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-funeral-business-is-a-huge-scam/959154.md?page=8)