Import Container Orders

Terms

Container order terms are 30% down payment, 70% when container leaves Port of Origin. Expect delivery approximately 90 days after receipt of order. Distributor Price Container Landed includes all freight charges to your door. Please, no mixing of different manufacturers’ caskets. Buchanan Group, Private Label accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Checks. Wire transfer of funds (see attached Wire Transfer form) are also available for your convenience.

Know the Details for Efficient Inventory Control

Order date to delivery date takes an average of 70-90 days depending on manufacturer. Keep in mind the statistical death cycle: October thru April when ordering. Additionally the Chinese holiday closes all Chinese manufacturing in the month of February. December 10th of each year is the last day to place orders for January delivery. Distributor’s container orders will be processed anytime, even during the February closing.

Pre-planning is imperative to assure casket availability to your Funeral Home clients.
Container quantities vary per manufacturer:
Metal casket containers: 64 quantity
Wood casket containers: 54 - 64 quantity
Knock-Down casket containers: call for details

Share a Container Program

Partial container orders are available through our “Share a Container Program”. This program allows for a Distributor to buy a minimum quantity of caskets at Container Landed prices. Another Distributor may share a container, or Buchanan Group may also contribute to the container while restocking warehouses.

Call Michelle LaPan for share availability: 317.716.9498 or call: Michael Grout: 317.626.6706.

**Note: Buchanan Private Label Group is not Responsible for Homeland Security charges. Nor responsible for delays incurred from Home  Land Security. Although this occurrence does not happen often, the purchaser needs to be aware of circumstances beyond our control.

New Distributor Introductory Offer!

If you are a new Distributor, a truckload quantity (53’ Semi / 72 Caskets) is offered at container landed prices plus freight. This one-time offer allows the new Distributor access to caskets quickly, assuring inventory to Funeral Home clients. Buchanan encourages a container order soon after receiving truckload. The container order lead time is an average 90 day delivery timeline, allowing the Distributor ample flow of caskets. Our regional warehouses support any casket deficit the Distributor may encounter.

Truckload Orders

Truckload orders derive from our regional warehouses. Buchanan Group Private Label warehouses several hundred caskets at these locations to support our Distributors. This “safety stock” is for the Distributor that needs caskets quickly, and/or are temporarily out of stock on particular models. Full truckload quantity is 72 caskets per 53’ semi tractor trailer.

Truckload Terms

Truckload terms are 50% down payment, 50% / 30 Days. Buchanan Group, Private Label accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Checks. Wire transfer of funds (see attached Wire Transfer form) are also available for your convenience.

Buchanan Supporting Warehouses

FOB Columbus, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, & Indianapolis, Indiana.
Buchanan warehouses support our Coreline caskets. See coreline casket binder or refer to our price list under FOB for clarification. Warehouse locations are accessible by major Interstate highways, allowing for minimal delivery time. Buchanan Private Label supports each of the three warehouses by offering delivery (common carrier) or Distributor pickup at these convenient locations:

Please contact Michelle LaPan for pickup or freight charges on delivery of your casket orders. Michelle’s e-mail: caskets@buchananprivatelabel.com or call 317.716.9498. Inventory in each warehouse is balanced monthly, feel free to suggest any additional models that will support your Distributorship in the warehouse near you.

Although Buchanan suggests container ordering as the most cost efficient, Distributorships can order and we can ship via common carrier. Freight charges will be communicated before shipping. Our freight rates are some of the most competitive in the industry. All Distributors will have a detailed inventory report via email every Friday, showing availability of caskets by model. Please refer to this inventory before ordering.

Distributor Credit Line Program

Designed for Efficient Distributor Cash Flow.
Buchanan provides credit lines for qualified Distributors. Most lines are capped at $3,000.00, negotiated amounts above this threshold are available upon approval. Terms Net 30 days on outstanding balance. This program is designed to help our Distributors cash flow needs. Your success is our success!

Product Liability Insurance

Buchanan Private Label holds a $2 million dollar product liability insurance on any defects or product failure that may occur. This policy covers all import caskets, and domestic caskets sold under the Buchanan Private Label name. This assures our Distributors’ that Buchanan Private Label stands behind our import and domestic products.

Supporting our Distributors and their Funeral Home customers is of the utmost importance to Buchanan. If a claim occurs, please contact Michelle LaPan, our Business Manager:  317.716.9498.

Casket Damage Precautions

Maintaining quality and minimizing Casket damage is very important to our Distributors and to The Buchanan Group.

Buchanan Private Label import caskets are inspected by qualified U.S. trained inspectors before they leave port. Additionally, Buchanan Group has enlisted industry packaging professionals to insure caskets are packed for safe, secure delivery. Further, all components of casket packaging are recyclable, we encourage all our Distributors to participate in recycling. As noted on shipping box, do not use forklifts when moving caskets.

We urge all Distributors to adhere to the following guidelines concerning handling of caskets.

These guidelines are a result of first hand experiences in our own warehouses. The less you move caskets, the less possibility of damage occurring.

1. Caskets, although packed securely need to be gently handled. DO NOT walk on top or sides of boxed or unboxed caskets.

2. REFRAIN from dropping caskets. This sounds like an obvious statement, but most claims of casket damage result from dropping on hard surfaces. Solid wood caskets specifically are heavy, dropping even a few inches from the ground can loosen or crack the components of caskets. As a Distributor this means loss of profit and delayed deliveries. We encourage church carts, and additional help if available to move caskets. Forklifts if not used properly will puncture or damage outside cartons.

3. Buchanan Private Label DISCOURAGES excessive stacking. Shipping or storage should be upright, foot end, this is clearly marked on outside of packing carton. Secure casket shipment properly while being transported. Straps or adjustable bars will prevent tipping, and sliding of caskets. Blankets are used as a buffer between unboxed caskets minimizing unsightly “rubs” through the finish. Buchanan Private Label when applicable will ask the Distributor to sign off on “unboxed” prepped caskets when picking up from Buchanan’s warehouses. This “sign off” states the Distributor is agreeing that the casket is in good sellable condition upon leaving our warehouse. Any damage occurring from this point is the responsibility of the Distributor.

4. Buchanan’s damage rate is very low, but if a claim occurs, most specifically on boxed container orders, there is a procedure for reimbursement. We require proof of damage in the form of a picture, digital or hardcopy will suffice.  

Damage reports and photos are emailed or sent to:
Michelle LaPan:  317.716.9498 and / or e-mail:  caskets@buchananprivatelabel.com

We appreciate your efforts and will be timely in your casket replacement or credit to your account.