THE world’s largest retailer wants to keep its customers even after they die.

Wal-Mart has started selling caskets on its website at prices that undercut many funeral homes, long the major seller of caskets.

The move follows a similar one by discount rival Costco, which also sells caskets on its site.

Wal-Mart quietly put up about 15 caskets and dozens of urns on its website last week.

Prices range from US$999 for models like “Dad Remembered” and “Mom Remembered” steel caskets to the mid-level US$1,699 “Executive Privilege.”

All are less than US$2,000, except for the Sienna Bronze Casket, which sells for US$3,199.

Caskets ship within 48 hours. Federal law requires funeral homes to accept third-party caskets. Returns are not accepted, the company says on its site, unless the product has been damaged during shipping. – AP