Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How much of a prat am I going to look if I ask them to replace this tree?

157 replies

MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 08:27

We ordered an xmas tree of a certain size to be delivered this morning. Yesterday i went out and when i got home a tree was outside the front door and there was a message saying they were dropping it early. The tree looked bigger than i want so i measured it and it's 2ft bigger than ordered. It wont fit in our living room. We wanted one which was floor to ceiling.

We don't have tools and things, or the time or inclination to be chopping bits off. Where we would need to chop off the top would mean it looks ridiculous and wouldn't have a 'point' anymore.

I want to call and tell them to collect it and deliver one the right size. Will i look like a twat? I understand it must be hard to find exactly the right size tree to order, but they do advertise trees by size and i'd rather a smaller one if necessary.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
hesterton · 03/12/2016 08:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

longdiling · 03/12/2016 08:30

No you wouldn't look like a twat at all, it won't fit in your living room and it's not what you ordered. I would definitely call. If you did want to cut it down to size you'd have to chop the bottom off which is a faff.

DollyPlastic · 03/12/2016 08:32

Why would you look like a twat? Definitely call them.

Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 08:32

Yes i thought i may ask if someone passing would chop some off. I'm sure they are busy, but it really wont fit at all and i promised the dc decorating the tree today.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 08:33

It's just the words sound silly 'my massive tree is too massive'. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 08:34

Okay i'm going to call.

OP posts:
Reality16 · 03/12/2016 08:36

No you won't look like a twat.

littlesallyracket · 03/12/2016 08:36

YANBU. As you say, a tree isn't going to be an exact height because, y'know, it's a tree - but a difference of 2ft from what you ordered is massive if they advertise them by height. They should either be able to replace it or trim it from the bottom.

Tbh I suspect they just delivered the wrong one and that somewhere a woman with a huge palatial mansion is annoyed that her tree looks a lot smaller than she ordered.

Obviouspretzel · 03/12/2016 08:55

How on earth would you look a twat? It's two feet of difference! That's got to be at least 20% ?

Oysterbabe · 03/12/2016 08:57

LOL @ chopping off the top 😂
You would chop off the bottom.

Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 09:01

Well i suppose because i asked for 9ft, it seems like 'what's the difference' once you are past a certain hugeness it doesn't matter. We've never gone bigger than 6ft before and we have recently moved to a bigger house and it's been crappy lately, so on a whim i ordered a 9ft tree to cheer myself up. Thinking it would fit exactly floor to ceiling. Then it arrives and it's actually 11ft, and i look like i've shown off a bit or completely miscalculated the height. Blush which i did a bit and 9ft will touch the ceiling so may need some trimming at the top

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 09:03

Oyster - with the tools i have available (bread knives and large scissors) i could probably cut thru the thinner trunk at the top - not a chance i could get thru the thick bit at the bottom (i'm not that much of a twat to think the optimum way to do it would be lobbing off the top! Grin )

OP posts:
FurryLittleTwerp · 03/12/2016 09:08

Chop off the bottom - buy a pruning saw with big rough teeth - cheap from B&Q etc - my best ever tool - I use it every year to take a little off the bottom of the tree so it takes up water more easily. The work of moments - well, a couple of minutes.

Don't chop off the top - it will look sad & silly.

Serin · 03/12/2016 09:08

Definitely ring them!

It's their fault not yours.

It's the same as ordering a size 12 jumper and being sent a size 16.

MardyGrave · 03/12/2016 09:15

You should always chop a couple of inches off the bottom of your real tree when you receive it, like you do with fresh flowers, the end can dry out and not absorb water as well.

I find real trees often have a very tall top branch which can be trimmed adequately, putting a centre piece star there will signify it's the top even if it becomes level with other branches around.

Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 09:16

No answer. I'll wander down to the stall. If they can't change it today i'll buy a saw - we need more lights from B&Q anyway. I moved all my furniture and cleaned the room in readiment yesterday so i am strangely excited to put it up.

Thanks for not telling me i'm a berk for going too big. :)

OP posts:
MardyGrave · 03/12/2016 09:18

Oh and if you are going to the shops today, double check that the stand you have will hold the trunk of the big tree, it seems obvious but I've completely underestimated that the trunk will be far chunkier on a bigger tree.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/12/2016 09:18

Oh god yes complain. If you order a 9ft tree then that's what you should get.

I nearly drove a 80mile trip to buy a 8ft tree, realised in time our newbuild has 7.5ft ceiling height!. I was literally out the door, purse in hand before I thought to measure up Blush

CondensedMilkSarnies · 03/12/2016 09:19

Please chop 2 ft off the top and then post a pic so we can have a laugh admire it Grin

Silvercatowner · 03/12/2016 09:20

Not a prat for ordering a tree that is too big. It is a teeny bit twattish not to have the tools or the skills to hack some off the bottom - you should do this with 'live' trees anyway, so they can take up the water more effectively. It's the simplest of jobs (albeit a bit messy) requiring basic tools and just above zero competence.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 03/12/2016 09:21

They sent you an 11ft tree...Jesus H, it must look bloody enormous. Grin Call them and ask for a smaller one, ie the size you ordered...

Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 09:23

Okay for you condensed i will, complete with action shots of me hacking at it with a bread knife, with my baby in the sling and my 2 and 4 year old clambering all over it, while i cry and shout and get a big red face. Ahh the spirit of christmas Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsKoala · 03/12/2016 09:25

I'll post a pic ShowMe.

We don't have gardening tools because this is our first house with a garden and we only moved in in the summer and events have been pretty lively round here since then. We were going to get bits in the spring. But i might get one of those saws today anyway.

Do i just chop the branches off to give me a 'stem'?

OP posts:
user1477282676 · 03/12/2016 09:25

Is there really not a saw in your house? Do you have any tools at all? What about your neighbours? Older men always have saws.

BakeOffBiscuits · 03/12/2016 09:26

That scene would make a great Christmas card MrsKGrin