It’s almost as if you’ve collectively formed the idea that “anyone who buys such a coffin must be a huge nerd”, followed by “nerds are losers”, followed by “nerdy losers must be made fun of”.

I’ve read about musicians buried in coffins shaped like pianos or guitar cases, you can buy all sorts of custom-made coffins these days, shaped like boats or animals, at least in the U.S. and no-one is making snide remarks about that. What’s so sad, silly and “nerdy” about a coffin that’s shaped like a photon torpedo case? (Which is already coffin-shaped and was used as a coffin in star Trek III so it’s not such an outlandish idea.) In centuries past, famous people and nobility were often buried in churches in stone sarcophagi with a carved statue of their lifesized likeness lying on top. So what. Not to mention all the statues and custom-carved gravestones people put on graves (even in Germany these days after the laws that regulated gravestone shapes and sizes have been loosened).

1) Hardcore Trekkies, who must absolutely have every bit of the franchise,

2) collectors of kitsch, who’ll stick the damn thing in the corner and tell their friends about the stupid thing they bought online.

I’m not sure how to feel about the coffin. I feel offended for all reasonable fans of Star Trek, who have seen their series exploited far beyond reason by all sorts. On the other hand, I feel contempt for the super nerds who can’t see past their obsession, so I must reluctantly applaud these vultures who made the damn thing.

I would have no problem with someone who was attracted to this idea. I can agree that maybe demand may be quite low, but I see no reason to belittle people who feel passionately about Trek enough to be buried with it. There have been much weirder things people have been buried in/with.

If you don’t then it’s a plain box, maybe you’ve been watching too much TV when the funeral directors try to push out their expensive line-up. Funerals can be very expensive, but they don’t have to be.

If you ask me it has nothing to do with ‘failing at life’. Destructor points out the idea of treating death jovially and I think he has a much better take on things.

Me? I’m getting cremated and having my ashes put in a bottle of Jim Beam.

If people want to waste their money on tat, let them.

This isn’t a dig at the US in anyway, but don’t you guys spend a huge amount of money on your coffins, sorry… caskets, anyway? Here in Englandshire the usual coffin is a pine box.

It is almost as if they invented the word ‘Casket’ just to get more money out of you.

“Gee Bob, we just aren’t making enough money selling these pine coffins. What can we do to ensure we can all afford this year’s ferrari?”
“Hey Steve!!! I’ve got it!!! Let’s call them ‘Caskets’ and increase the price by 8000%!!! We then apply emotional blackmail about wanting their loved ones looked after in the best way!!!”