Is it better to buy a monument from a mortuary
or a monument company? The answer depends on one thing: Do you want an ordinary memorial
or an extraordinary one? For the latter, only a monument company will do.
Too many folks choose from a limited, generic selection of monuments from a mortuary. You
and your loved ones deserve more. Competent monument companies capture the unique essence
of a person.
Also keep in mind that many mortuary salespeople use the KISS (keep it simple stupid)
approach. In other words, the fewer the options, the less time needed to make a sale.
“Time is money,” they say. But quality monument businesses take time to do the
job right. For them, success is based on the priceless achievement of creating a perfect
monument for each customer.
Another caution is the lack of expertise at mortuaries when it comes to monuments.
Employees at mortuaries are specialists in mortuary science. I am not confident that
they’re adequately trained in monument design. I suspect that most mortuary
salespeople have never observed the manufacturing process from quarry to design to
fabrication. Without appreciation for differences in material, color, lettering, and
finishes, the offerings become, “Sell what we carry.”
In reality, most mortuaries don’t manufacture their own monuments, and this is true
for some monument companies as well, preferring to design and then “job out”
manufacturing. Or, mortuaries often refer clients to a monument designer who then pays a
commission. If you want to skip middlemen, save money, and see a wide selection, choose a
monument business that handles its own manufacturing.
My best advice is to make a preneed purchase. It’s an unfortunate fact that people
often make poor decisions under pressure of a loved one’s passing. Don’t leave
your legacy to guesswork; make your wishes known by selecting a monument in advance.
Is it better to buy a monument from a mortuary
or a monument company? The answer depends on one thing: Do you want an ordinary memorial
or an extraordinary one? For the latter, only a monument company will do.