Funeral leaflets through the door in the middle of a Pandemic

[buggeroffvirus]

I am prepared to be told that I am over reacting but here it is. Yesterday we had a leaflet put through the door advertising a local Funeral Director. At first i just put it in the bin because the two smiling faces of a couple wearing black garb seemed a little bit odd.
I have since become more annoyed and have rang the service and voiced my concerns to a very pleasant man who was in charfge of out of hours business.
I pointed out that I thought it was in very bed taste during a Pandemic when people like my husband have been shielding and at great risk since March.
In my opinion there is no need to advertise as people generally use firm that have been used my friends and family and reputations go by word of mouth. I probably should not have said that it seemed like Ambulance chasing but there you have it.
There will be no shortage of business for Undertakers so there is no need to advertise. The people that I have used in the past for my parents were always caring and polite.
The gentleman on the phone said that he could see my point but other firms were doing it !!!.
I would never use a funeral director who did this sort of marketing if I could avoid it. My God they will be offering a three for two next.
So my question is having I got this out of proportion or not.

A massive over reaction - pretty embarrassing that you rang and complained at length to the bloke who covers the phones out of hours!

(I too have a very close loved one in the extremely clinically vulnerable category....there are a lot of them...you are still massively over reacting)

@satnighttakeaway prepare yourself. You will have them everywhere now😂

Unfortunately people die all the time. What would be crass is if they stood outside leafleting old people's homes or intensive care units.

They are a business and need to advertise. I would have just put it straight in the bin.

people like my husband have been shielding and at great risk since March.

Why has he been shielding since March? Surely that's personal choice? Nobody has been advised to shield since August (?) and even now it's just 'be a bit more careful'

YABVU to complain about a company advertising their business. I'm sorry your husband is vulnerable, mine is too, but you are being massively offended over nothing.

They’re a business, they’re allowed to advertise. You do realise that people die all the time and more people die in the winter every year so it’s a good time to advertise. As for people using the same firm, well none of my family will use the same local firm as we live in different places.

Can’t believe you phoned to moan, embarrassing.

You are being massively unreasonable.

What next? Taking umbrage because someone might dare to suggest your driveway is shabby by putting a paving leaflet through your door?

Calling takeaway shops for taunting you with takeaways when you can’t get out?

I’m sorry you are shielding but people advertise their businesses - more so in these times. People die. People need funeral directors. It isn’t distasteful. It is practical.

I really hope they had a good laugh about the complaint rather than think they had done something wrong. Yabu.

Thank you for replying, having read your posts I agree that I have over reacted. I am stressed like everyone else but that is no excuse.
On reflection it does seem a little out of character, normally I wouldn't complain about anything. I feel a bit daft now.

Who would you use if you had no friends with experience, at 3 am? My mum chose the coop, simply because it was the middle of the night and they were the one name she could think of. That's why they advertise. There might be no shortage of business, but there certainly remains competition between different companies for that business. Advertising is a very normal way to run a business in direct competition with others offering the same services.

I do understand that death can be a very scary prospect, and closer than one would like for you and your family at the moment, but it remains that everyone dies at some point and the funeral homes and undertakers will be necessary for us all one day. Them not advertising will not prevent a single death, just reduces their business.

I'm genuinely surprised that your phoned them actually. I find that far more unusual than a business advertising their trade.

Don’t feel daft OP.

We all have a wobble now and then.

Away and get a cup of tea and settle yourself.

Funeral firms thrive on the exploitation of the vulnerable. YANBU not to want their leaflets.

It makes perfect business sense.

Despite the pandemic, many funeral firms are taking a big loss in income due to all the restrictions.

Massive overreaction.

Why shouldn't they advertise? I wouldn't have a go to company for this or know someone who had recently used one to ask.

@buggeroffvirus YANBU. It's incredibly crass & horrible.

I've noticed the increase in life insurance adverts on the TV.

Oooh a bonkers BATSHIT 'only on MN' thread

Just what I need this boring Saturday

Missed your next post op, sorry.

Perhaps, like many of the rest of us you are just feeling for sensitive at the moment. I've gotten upset by things at work that I know I wouldn't normally. Little things can push you over the edge. Particularly if you and your husband are higher risk, this could have just reminded you of that.

Sadly so many people are afraid to think about let alone talk about and plan for a funeral.

It's an important service to advertise about. I have a funeral plan so my next of kin don't have to worry about paying for it.

My mother was shielding, stopped for a while and is now shielding again as per her new letter. We discuss death and funeral plans when needs be, it's so important.

@buggeroffvirus

Thank you for replying, having read your posts I agree that I have over reacted. I am stressed like everyone else but that is no excuse. On reflection it does seem a little out of character, normally I wouldn't complain about anything. I feel a bit daft now.

Don't feel daft! Of every industry possible, you chose one that would have huge experience with anxiety and upset laden people. They will understand very well why you phoned. The people I have met with at funeral homes have been the most caring and compassionate staff I have met anywhere.

I'm sorry you found it offensive but I think you have massively overreacted!!!!
Death is the only certainty in life - why shouldn't they advertise?
It's not like they were standing outside ITU handing out discount vouchers

That poor man! Sounds like he handled it well though.

[quote WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]**@buggeroffvirus* YANBU*. It's incredibly crass & horrible.

I've noticed the increase in life insurance adverts on the TV.[/quote]
Isn't it more likely that lots of businesses arent advertising because they aren't open so ones that havent been affected can probably get more airtime for their money?

What a complete overreaction

Gosh op, I wish funeral directors did offer 3 for 2, that would have saved me a heck of a lot of money a few years ago when I had to arrange 3 family funerals in a short time.
YABU. They are a business, and, like everyone else trying to make a living, they need to advertise. Did you know that covid is only 19th on the cause of death list currently? Most of an undertakers customers die from heart disease, strokes and cancer. Never any shortage of these customers.
Put your smelling salts away.

I had one for my local funeral director. I just laughed and binned it.

Try not to lick the leaflet and you’ll be okay.