buying a Christmas Tree

[hbprodirect]

Hi, whats the best real type Christmas Tree to buy?

thanks

[atnas]

The real spruce, growing in a court yard, is the best deal.

[markgbarba1987]

Artificial ones doesnt really work for me anymore.. The real ones really look nice and they smell good as well. So I'd prefer that..

[steph535]

it depends on what you like and what you are looking for in a tree. Spruces are gorgeous, but don't retain their needles as long as some others. Do you like long needles? Short needles? There are several good ones to choose from. What kinds are available in your area? My favorites are balsam and frasier fir. Frasier firs retain their needles the best, I think and balsams are the most fragrant and retain their needles quite well, too. Scotch pines are not among my favorites, but they have sturdy branches for hanging heavier ornaments on.

[Papa_Christmas]

When I lived up North and cut my own tree every year I always liked a Norway or a Blue Spruce never liked long needles for my Christmas Tree.The spruce trees always worked well for all my heavy ornaments.

[nyquiyup]

I bought a prelit 7 footer at Home Depot last year. The lights on the middle section promptly died, so I called the store, and got a replacement. Then another section, and another. I have probably 30 hours into switching bulbs on this drat thing. In the past I had real trees, and I just left the lights on the tree when I threw it out.

My advice is buy one without lights and save yourself some serious foot-stomping temper tantrums in front of young children like my prelit tree has caused.

[Mistletoe]

I unfortunately am being out-voted and am looking to buy an artificial tree. From what I can discern, I think I want a 6 or 6.5 ft Nordic Spruce (which I can't seem to find). I would like to know what brand and kind people here have found to be their favorite, and if they know of a good company to buy them from. I've seen the 'Real Feel' kind that sounds appealing, but I'm not sure if I'm falling for the hype.

[Mistletoe]

Well, four years ago I splurged and bought an artificial tree from Balsam Hill for my bedroom. It has clear and colored incandescent lights on it and a remote where I could have either color or both. I loved it. This year when I put up the tree (the first year out of warranty), no lights worked. I spent HOURS on the phone with tech support. After wanting me to check all the bulbs on the tree, among other things, we finally got the clear lights to work (the remote ensemble wasn't working). We could not get the colored lights to come on. Balsam Hill refused to sell me the original remote ensemble replacement, saying it was only available to people still under warranty, but I could buy their new remote that would only work with clear lights (no thanks). To mollify me they told me they would send me some colored lights that I could string on the tree myself, even though they normally only do that for people still under warranty. The purpose of me spending that kind of money was so I did not have to string lights. In 2 weeks I received a package of clear lights. When I contacted the company again to tell them that they sent the wrong color, I was told that that was all they could do for me, since I was no longer under warranty. I then asked how to remove the casing that the two strings of lights went into to plug into the remote sensor, since it appeared that they were triangle top screws. He told me to use a screwdriver head I already tried and all it did was spin, as if the screw was stripped. He ended up sending me a random YouTube video with a guy saying he had a hard time also finding something that would unscrew these types of screws and offered suggestions. I still haven't been able to get the casing off. Balsam Hill refused to send/sell me the tool that would do it.

Looking for a place online to write a bad review about them, I came across so many complaints about them (including the Better Business Bureau). I would never have guessed that a company that looks so well put together could be this bad. If they had told me that I was paying that much money for three years of use I never would have considered it.

I heartily regret giving them any of my money.

[JollyElfDC]

Well, four years ago I splurged and bought an artificial tree from Balsam Hill for my bedroom. It has clear and colored incandescent lights on it and a remote where I could have either color or both. I loved it. This year when I put up the tree (the first year out of warranty), no lights worked. I spent HOURS on the phone with tech support. After wanting me to check all the bulbs on the tree, among other things, we finally got the clear lights to work (the remote ensemble wasn't working). We could not get the colored lights to come on. Balsam Hill refused to sell me the original remote ensemble replacement, saying it was only available to people still under warranty, but I could buy their new remote that would only work with clear lights (no thanks). To mollify me they told me they would send me some colored lights that I could string on the tree myself, even though they normally only do that for people still under warranty. The purpose of me spending that kind of money was so I did not have to string lights. In 2 weeks I received a package of clear lights. When I contacted the company again to tell them that they sent the wrong color, I was told that that was all they could do for me, since I was no longer under warranty. I then asked how to remove the casing that the two strings of lights went into to plug into the remote sensor, since it appeared that they were triangle top screws. He told me to use a screwdriver head I already tried and all it did was spin, as if the screw was stripped. He ended up sending me a random YouTube video with a guy saying he had a hard time also finding something that would unscrew these types of screws and offered suggestions. I still haven't been able to get the casing off. Balsam Hill refused to send/sell me the tool that would do it.

Looking for a place online to write a bad review about them, I came across so many complaints about them (including the Better Business Bureau). I would never have guessed that a company that looks so well put together could be this bad. If they had told me that I was paying that much money for three years of use I never would have considered it.

I heartily regret giving them any of my money.

Sorry to read of your bad experience.
I wanted a prelit tree for the convenience, but everyone I knew who had them said the lights go out after a few years, and they're really hard to get off. I was also told those trees are very heavy. I still like the idea, but until they improve, I will just deal with stringing the lights myself.

[Mistletoe]

Sorry to read of your bad experience.
I wanted a prelit tree for the convenience, but everyone I knew who had them said the lights go out after a few years, and they're really hard to get off. I was also told those trees are very heavy. I still like the idea, but until they improve, I will just deal with stringing the lights myself.

Thanks for your sympathy. I was so happy to be splurging on myself with it- 3 years was not enough! I am going to just string colored lights over what's there and hopefully find a remote that will work with the 2 sets of lights. Actually, I'm mentally prepared for next year and the white lights to stop working. Live and learn.