When I lived in Baton Rouge (around 20 years ago) I was employed by Green Oaks Memorial, an SCI cemetery as a sales person. I cold called people, set up appointments in their home, and offered them a variety of options including regular plots, mausoleum and lawn crypts. I also worked “at need” cases, where people who had not pre-planned would come in to purchase plots when their loved ones had passed away. While the price for any given plot never changed, “at need” families often chose spaces based on their emotions, and thus bought in the higher prices locations of the cemetery (close to the road, etc.). Before getting hired there I had not heard of the terrible experiences people had with this industry. I was fully schooled in it by the manager who told me horror stories about things that happened before the industry was regulated, and how SCI expected us to follow all laws. The cemetery was as beautiful as a park, everyone was treated with respect and dignity, and so far as I could see, there were no ethical issues at that location. Yes, the prices were higher at SCI cemeteries than family owned, but a percent of the sale (10%?) went to a perpetual fund that by law only the interest was drawn out for the upkeep of the cemetery, including replacing damaged markers, mowing, etc.-forever. The comments I’ve read above from other people do not reflect my personal experiences at Greenoaks which was very positive, and I’m very sad for the people who have suffered. I believe there are many laws already on the books (state and federal level) that govern some of the issues outlined in the comments.
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