Always low prices ...

... even, it seems, for those headed six feet under. Apparently, Walmart is now in the casket business:

The world's largest retailer wants to keep its customers even after they die.

Wal-Mart has started selling caskets on its Web site at prices that undercut many funeral homes, long the major seller of caskets.

The move follows a similar one by discount rival Costco, which also sells caskets on its site.

Wal-Mart quietly put up about 15 caskets and dozens of urns on its Web site last week.

Prices range from $999 for models like “Dad Remembered” and “Mom Remembered” steel caskets to the mid-level $1,699 “Executive Privilege.” All are less than $2,000, except for the Sienna Bronze Casket, which sells for $3,199.

Caskets ship within 48 hours. Federal law requires funeral homes to accept third-party caskets. Returns are not accepted, the company says on its site, unless the product has been damaged during shipping. ...

Article here. I can see it now: Aisle 7 -- Baby strollers, school supplies, office furniture, caskets and urns. I guess this is what they mean by "cradle to grave" consumer retailing. :)

(This lovely casket can be yours for just $895. Click image to enlarge. From: Walmart.com)

The article quotes a funeral director who says that markups on caskets can be as high as several hundred percent. A quick search of Walmart's site shows caskets ranging from $895 to $2,900, with most under $2,000. I suspect the prices of caskets will be going down even further in the near future, now that Walmart and Costco are in the game.