Truth about deceptive cremation practices

By Paul Larson

< a href="https://chapelofthehighlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Larson2.jpg">Larson2

MILLBRAE –
Attacks from a
number of out of
state cremation
corporations
have been waged
upon our local
and well
respected mortuaries. By now many of
you reading this article have been
targeted by the flood of junk advertising
being spread across the Peninsula & Bay
Area by these cremation outfits that use
deceptive language to spread their
misleading message. It’s no secret that
“societies” such as Trident / Neptune
Corporation are using scare tactics to
sway consumers when they are most
vulnerable. Their mailings, which are
many times disguised as friendly notes,
use falsehoods to imply that their
business practices “just makes sense” or
are “much less expensive” luring in
unsuspecting consumers. Their shrewdly
worded letters which use implications
such as “fancy and expensive funeral
home”, “falling victim to pressure to
overspend”, “spending your family’s
inheritance” or “up-selling” are crafted to
imply some sort of dishonesty.

The truth is that these “societies” are
no more than competitors to your locally
owned mortuary, and their costs are not
only comparable, but many times MORE
expensive than what your local mortuary
offers. I’ve had families come to me at
the Chapel of the Highlands with stories
of being seduced by certain “cremation
societies” with talk of lower costs and
other persuasive language. Tales of unimpressive staff and meetings in
bunker-like facilities are common. After
comparing our Chapel’s cremation costs
to the “societies’” costs it was discovered
that OUR total balance was lower.
Families have realized that it would have
been much less expensive and more
comforting if they had called the Chapel
of the Highlands first. Our Chapel is
well experienced with a highly regarded
reputation for assisting families with low
cost cremations… decades before
“cremation societies” ever existed. We
are also a full service facility offering our
Chapel for Memorial Services if desired.

  • Do your homework and call your
    locally owned mortuary first to
    compare costs;
  • Don’t let cremation societies’
    message of being “much less
    expensive” fool you;
  • If you must use a “cremation
    society” find out where they are
    headquartered and about any prior
    litigations.

Thank you for reading my rebuttal. It
bothers me that these “societies” are
openly using misleading language and
making blanket implications about
mortuaries. Their tactics are unwarranted
and my only desire is for the truth to be
known.

If you ever wish to discuss cremation,
funeral matters or want to make preplanning
arrangements please feel free to
call me and my staff at the CHAPEL OF
THE HIGHLANDS in Millbrae at (650)
588-5116 and we will be happy to guide
you in a fair and helpful manner. You
may also visit us on the internet at
www.chapelofthehighlands.com.