Wal-Mart starts selling coffins, urns online

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The world’s largest retailer wants to keep its customers even after they die.

Wal-Mart has started selling coffins 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 coffins on its site.

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

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

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

The coffins come from Star Legacy Funeral Network, Inc., a company based in McHenry, Ill.