WHY do obituaries cost so much???

[Guest]

There has been a death in my immediate family following a serious illness (what a horrible summer this has been).

Our family is finalizing the funeral preparations. We wanted his obituary to be in as many papers as possible but we stumbled upon an unexpected problem. To post those obits it's free in Mississippi, free in Upper Michigan, but it costs $600 in Missouri and almost $400 in Kansas (which doesn't even include the picture).

My parents are placing it in their area (and the other two as well), but we can't afford to put it in our hometown paper - not with everything else right now. My husband had to speak with the newspaper person after I became too upset to finish the phone call earlier today.

My husband did make me laugh, though when he told her he knew it wasn't HER fault personally, but that the newspaper had quite a racket going. He said - you lose a puppy - the newspaper puts that ad in for free. You lose family - and the newspaper extorts a ridiculous amount of money.

Sigh.

Sorry - just needed to vent.

 

[Guest]

Well, hell.

I intended to put this in the GB.

 

[cahab]

1) Costs after a death (in this country, anyway, not sure about yours) are usually paid for from the estate, so the assumption is that you suddenly have a lot of extra cash.

2) People are so upset for the bereaved that they feel it would be churlish to quibble about money at such a time.

3) Businesses charge what people will, and can, pay.

Don't you just love capitalism?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your comments, cahab.

I think mine were more in the "rhetorical lament" tone. Not really needing advice, just needing to vent.

The only costs waiting for estate money are from the funeral home. Everything else (flowers, travel, hotels, clothing, obit, etc) we are paying now.

Capitalism or no (and everyone wants to make a buck) I've always believed it wrong to take advantage of people who are dealing with grief.