"More than a hundred sprang at the new arrangement right away," says Timofei Borodin, manager of one of such companies, with the proud name of Social Partnership. "It's very convenient-you pay in advance for everything: certificate drawing, the coffin, the bier, and a place in the cemetery. It all goes at a reasonable price, within a 7-12 thousand ruble bracket [roughly $250 to 400]. You make a contract, and your near and dear will have no trouble at all after you pass away. All they need is to call us and mention your contract number," he advertises the invention.
As for clients who have no relations, "we regularly inquire after their health."
"The client's money goes to other needs as long as he is alive-to keep up the company hospice, buy medicines for it, and pay the staff. So we never come off losers," concludes Borodin.
In fact, the undertakers get non-interest bearing credits from the clients. What if the company closes or goes bankrupt? It can-any day.
Clients, in their turn, do all they can to save on their own funeral. One Yulia, a funeral parlor manager, told a peculiar story.
An elderly married couple bought two low-price coffins and placed them on the balcony to wait when the purchasers sleep their last sleep. The coffins rotted away before their thrifty owners did, and the couple demanded them exchanged for new ones or the sum restored. A bad disappointment awaited them-no undertaker would take a coffin back, just like a store wouldn't accept lingerie!
