PURCHASING A MEMORIAL Deciding to purchase a memorial for you or a loved one in a very personal decision. When it comes at a time of great emotion, it should never be undertaken in haste or under pressure. Furthermore, it’s probably something you’ve never done before. You will need help and guidance. As you consider buying a memorial, ask these questions and carefully weigh the answers you receive. Will your memorial dealer respect your recent loss? So often in today’s world of high pressure, aggressive sales tactics, a monument salesman can lose sight of the circumstances surrounding your recent loss. His concern is to make the sale, no matter what. Culberson Memorials knows that shortly after the loss of a loved one can be the worst time to purchase a memorial. We know that it is often best to wait for your life to return to some degree of normalcy and that this can take weeks, months or even longer. A memorial is a one time purchase, intended to last forever. The decision should never be rushed. When you are ready, we will be there to help. Will your memorial dealer take the time to fully explain the choices you have regarding granite colors, sizes, shapes and finishes? When it comes time to purchase a memorial very few people have any experience. If not properly counseled, the choices can be overwhelming. Culberson Memorials has the experience and training to lead you through these choices in a way that will make it easy to arrive at the proper decisions. We will offer to provide you with a colored drawing of how your choices will look in the final memorial design. Very few monument salesmen will offer this service to you. This is because they either do not have the resources to provide such a drawing or they are concerned that they may loose the sale because the extra time involved will give you the opportunity to shop elsewhere. When it come to price will your memorial dealer work with you to make certain that you receive the best value for your money? Because you likely have limited experience with memorials, you will naturally be concerned that you are getting the best value for your money. Comparison shopping is good, but it only works if you compare apples to apples. Unfortunately, when comparing memorials from one dealer to another, it is very easy to end up comparing apples to oranges. We understand this and will do our best to explain why different granites have different prices. We will clearly specify any additional charges relating to any options you have chosen. Most of all, we will obtain for you the best possible price, while taking into consideration all of the wishes you have expressed. Our supplier is one of the largest quarrying and fabrication companies in North America. Together we are your assurance that you will be getting the best memorial value for your money. Will your memorial dealer give you a copy of his Guarantee before you purchase? A memorial should be expected to last for a very, very long time, if not forever. The primary ingredient of granite is quartz, a very hard and durable mineral. It is almost always impervious to weathering and erosion. However, because it is a rock, a crack can occasionally get past the many inspection points in the manufacturer’s quality control program. It might not show up for years, but when it does you need to know that the memorial will be replaced. We will be proud to show you our Guarantee. It is one of the strongest in the industry, protecting you not only from defects in the memorial itself, but also from any concerning quality and workmanship. When it comes to memorial design will your dealer be able to rely on the support of a design department, staffed with artists, whose goal is to give you the memorial you want? An interesting thing happened when computers met the monument industry. To a great extent, artistic design went out the window. Today, more and more monument suppliers rely solely on computer design programs. Instead of asking the purchaser what he wants, they promote their stock designs. We believe that your memorial should reflect your wishes and your life. We will show you a wide array of standard designs, which meet the needs of many people. In addition, we will work with you to determine you wishes and explain your options. Based on your wishes, we will provide information to the artists, who will design a one-of-a-kind memorial, just for you.      We have presented this information to you in the hope that it will be of some help to you in making the right choices for your memorial. A memorial is intended to be a lasting tribute to your loved one and the life you shared. What you carve in stone is permanent, so take your time and above all, don’t let anyone pressure you into making a hasty decision. Culberson Memorials works exclusively with Birkmeier Monuments and Wholesale Granite Distributors of Delphos, OH. Since 1880, Birkmeier has been a leader in memorial design and manufacture. Through their artists and resources, we are enabled to offer personalized memorials for everyone’s needs, from the simplest to the most complex design.     For information, please contact us:  info@culbersonfh.com