The Memorialist: Purchasing Monuments

“Reprinted with permission from the Author”
Author: Burton Fletcher
Publication Date: 2005-05-20

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. With preneed, you also avoid inflation and on-demand pricing. Most important, you’ll relieve stress on your family during their difficult time of need.

Burton Fletcher, with over 20 years business experience, owns AAA-Memorials.com, MonumentsAndAccessories.com, and ValdostaMemorials.com. He is a licensed memorialist in Georgia and Florida. He is the founder and president of the Georgia Monument Builders Association, www.GAMonumentBuilders.com. He enjoys genealogy and visiting cemeteries, and studying Southern monuments. Reach Burton at 229.245.8858, 888.9Statue, 888.978.3882 or Burton@ValdostaMemorials.com for all your monument needs. . © Burton Fletcher 2005 All Rights Reserved