Frequently Asked Questions

6. How do I pay for my order?

The shipping cost for the headstones is based on the weight + zip code. So, in order for us to give you a shipping cost, we would either need the item no# or the weight of the item, plus the zip code. So, before contacting us for shipping costs, please have the item no# (along with size), or the weight of the stone and the zip code. But, on average, to ship a 24"x12"x4" flat maker anywhere in the USA is going to be around $75 - $80. That size marker weigh approximately 120 lbs.

The average turnaround time on the headstones is approximately 6 - 8 weeks. Keep in mind that many smaller stones, like flat markers normally ship out faster than the larger/upright stones. Bronze markers take 8 weeks turnaround.

No. You must check with the cemetery and ask what their policy is for the installations. Some cemeteries allow outsiders to install on their grounds, and some cemeteries don't allow it, and they must be the ones to install it for you. If the cemetery allows you to hire your own installer, you can easily find a local bricklayer or mansonry worker that are more than qualified to install your headstone. Remember, that's all bricklayers do, lay bricks. make foundations and such. You can also look for a signage company (company that put up signs).. they could do it too, but I'm sure they're more expensive than a local bricklayer.

The best thing that you can do is to give them all the information about the headstone you're wanting to order, including the

• length
• width
• height
• color
• material of the headstone.

That should be all that they'll need from you. With that said, we don't fill out any paperwork and submit to cemeteries... I'll explain why.

I have been told by one of my plant managers to not sign forms and send them into cemeteries because when I do that, I'm signing a type of agreement/acknowledgement with the cemetery, and if the groundskeeper should acidentally nick a headstone from mowing the lawn, it'll be easy for them to place blame on us. Also, our sales are between us and the customers. We don't do 3rd party form fillings at all.

If you should happen to run into that problem then all you need to do is tell them that you're going to call the Federal Trade Commission or the Cemetery Association in your state and talk to them about it. I have found that all the customers that did just that, they were able to order without the form fillings.

The reason it works is because those organizations know how unethical cemeteries can be and they know that cemeteries will make it hard on you when you're buying from an outside source. Some cemeteries don't like it and they'll make it hard on you. But as long as you just say "Well, I'm going to call the FTC or the Cemetery Association and see what they have to say"... odds are, they'll allow you to order your headstone without the paperwork they claim WE must fill out. We have still sold to those that claimed the cemetery requires it when we told them what to say to the cemetery workers.

There are headstone companies on the Internet that will fill out cemetery paperwork for you.

NOTE: Keep in mind that it is against the law for any cemetery in the USA to deny you a headstone bought from a 3rd party. If they do, they'll be in trouble if you report it. Some cemeteries will work on your emotions. They know there is a loved one buried out there and they know that people will pretty much pay anything because they don't know any better. They will sometimes make it hard for you, hoping you'll just give in and buy from them.

When you're ready to order, simply call or email us with all needed information. After we have all the info needed to take your order, we'll create an invoice and email it to you. The invoice will be coming from PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to pay for your order. Simply click on the link on the left side of the page where it explains how to pay if you're not using a PayPal account. We do not accept checks or mailed in payments. The safe aspect of PayPal is that when you pay for your order, we do not ever know your credit card no#. PayPal will be the only one that'll have that info.

Email all pictures to sales [at] affordable-headstones.com. Here are some tips for sending in pictures.

a. If you're scanning the image, scan it at the highest resolution your scanner will go. Although the image file size will be very large, it will also make sure that we have a full image/closeup of the picture.

b. If you're wanting a picture to go on a headstone, simply scan the picture at the highest resolution the scanner will go. We will make the picture from the scanned image. So, by all means, scan it at the highest resolution available, then email it to us.

c. If you don't have a scanner, then simply go to a office supply store like Kinkos or another place and have them scan it for you. Make sure to tell them to scan it at the highest resolution available. Although the image will be large in file size, we will shrink the image to fit on the stone.

Make sure that if you're going to take the picture yourself to get the complete headstone. Taking pictures very close to the image itself with digital cameras will result in a perfect picture.

Make sure that you get a picture in daylight and that the sun is either behind you or above you. Don't take pictures with the sun in front of you because it will most likely glare the image.

If the sun is in front of you and you have no choice but to take the picture, make sure that you're aiming the camera down at the headstone, yet at the same time, avoid having the glare of the sun reflect inside of the camera lens.

A sketch is normally ready in approximately one week or earlier. Keep in mind that your order cannot be completed until you approve the sketch. NO ACCEPTIONS!