Cottle and Keys (UWS) writing in the Journal of Australian Political Economy No 54 reveal that the funeral industry is rapidly changing all in the name of vertical integration and increased profits. The end user is left to manage as best he/she can considering they have most probably not given the idea of arranging a funeral much thought until the last minute. http://media.wix.com/ugd/b629ee_86642c07340b3e5b5e512d64dc8eb06a.pdf