(Over) charging for obits

Guys,
While this is journalistically related, I'll be honest, it's for personal purposes.
My wife had a family member pass away a couple days ago, and the funeral home handling her services told the family an obit in the Dallas Morning News now cost $1,500.
The family already paid for it, and since I don't know anyone at the DMN anymore, I figured I'd just bring that one here.
I've never heard of a shop charging anywhere near this, and I know a lot of papers still charge nothing at all.
Is this normal?

 

My small-time daily rag charges $7 per column inch. And I thought that was expensive.

 

Our small shop started charging in the mid-1990s. Until then, there were restrictions on what could be included (survivors limited to immediate family, etc.). Now that the funeral home (family) is paying, there's no end to the shlock that can be included. And while it is basically paid advertisting, it is considered "editorial content" and severely cuts into our newshole some days.

Needless to say, our rate is not comparable to that of the DMN.

 

I was just told the Fort Worth Startlegram they ran was quoted at 1/5th of the price of the DMN for the same Obit.

 

I was at a funeral today where the woman who passed away had possibly the shortest obit I have ever seen.

I found out they were being charged $3 per line, and they just did not have the money for it.

Sad.

 

MU, my deepest sympathies.

After a family member of mine passed away, the funeral home paid for the obit as part of its burial package deal.

 

There is no "overcharging" for obits. Obits are mostly a product. The product charges what the market will bear.

If it were up to me, there would be no free obits unless you're a public figure. Seriously. There are no free Fords or groceries or PS3s. We're a product, folks, now more than ever.

Don't like the price? Don't pay. So simple.

 

I believe my former shop, with a Sunday circ of about 200K, is up to around $9.50 a line. Typical obit is 25-30 lines.

 

Our obits are free.

 

We're talking about two different things here, right. Obituaries and death notices, right?
They're not the same.
Obits are a journalistic endeavour, and there shouldn't ever be a fee involved.

 

Anymore, death notices are free and obits are not, least at my last 3-4 shops.

 

MU, sorry to hear that; tell the Mrs. I said so.

Having said that, I'd double-check that. That sounds CRAZY high, right?