Charging for obits

[sporting_guista]

Question: Do your papers charge for obits? My mom's aunt died and the local rag wanted $370 for a six-inch obit and pic; minimum is $195/four inches.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Um, yes.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Yes. And when my mom died last year we had to run it in three or four papers because she had lived in a few different places for a while. I was stunned by how much it cost. I knew we charged something for them, but the prices were obscene.

 

[2underpar]

we charge by the word, and occasionally we cut off funeral homes that don't pay. i think if you work here, you get the half-price rate.

 

[jlee]

Yup. We started charging about a year ago and haven't seen a drop in obits, so I guess it was a smart move on the paper's part.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Charging for obits is not a recent development at a lot of papers.

 

[Point of Order]

Someone should start an all-obit newspaper.

 

[redsox99]

We charge nothing for the standard obit. But if the family wants it in their own wording, they pay for it. And most funeral homes add an obit fee regardless of if the papers charge or not.

 

[sporting_guista]

We charge nothing for the standard obit. But if the family wants it in their own wording, they pay for it. And most funeral homes add an obit fee regardless of if the papers charge or not.

I thought this was std practice now redsox, thanks. guess not tho.

 

[micke77]

yep, our paper charges for obits. started the trend, oh, probably six or seven years ago. i have never agreed with it, but such is the way many papers have gone. damn, one can't even pass away without having to pay somebody for the deed.

 

[sportschick]

Most places a death notice is free. The obit is paid.

 

[Moderator1]

Obits are considered part of classified advertising now, I believe.