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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree

174 replies

Timinfuckingruislip · 03/12/2019 20:16

As a big treat got a Balsam Hill tree - I’ve bemoaned my other trees for years and don’t like the smell or mess of real trees.

Now it’s great, and Pre-lit etc.. but for the price, I don’t know, I expected it to look amazing- it’s nice enough - but not quite as “wow” as I was expecting.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Timinfuckingruislip · 03/12/2019 22:07

@nokidshere I wonder who the hell buys them at the full price? I’m not exactly thrifty - but £8 for six mini baubles?

OP posts:
RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 03/12/2019 22:12

I like artifactually baubles

But they are expensive..ive only got 2 Grin

BarbaraofSeville · 03/12/2019 22:13

Well I suppose if you're spending hundreds of pounds on a tree (who buys those at full price - no-one, they'll only be 'full price' in July or another month where no-one would think about buying a Christmas tree) you're not going to use normal price baubles on it are you?

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 03/12/2019 22:17

Get your gloves out, whack some Christmas tunes on and get fluffing OP. Xmas GrinI like my BH one mostly because I was able to get one with a fairly slim profile. Once it's all decorated it will look lovely. What about a wicker tree skirt thingy for the bottom of it? We got one from dunelm and it finishes it off nicely.

Original poster
Timinfuckingruislip · 03/12/2019 22:17

@barbara - nah still... hundreds on a tree yes. But can you’d spend about five time’s that to fill it up with baubles at that price.

OP posts:
MarchionessOfCholmondeley · 03/12/2019 22:18

I've just got out my Balsam Hill tree for the second year in a row. I bought it (in the never ending sale) because I wanted a tall narrow tree for the fire side in the entrance hall.

I like it slightly better than I did last year, but I was hugely disappointed last year. Even after much fluffing it didn't seem to look anything like the beautiful photos left by other customers in the reviews.

TBH I much prefer the B&Q tree in living room which has been decorated in garish colours the kids

Original poster
Timinfuckingruislip · 03/12/2019 22:20

@RufusthebewiIderedreindeer wow just googled them... gorgeous! What a price tag though!

OP posts:
RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 03/12/2019 22:22

They are horrendous price wise

And im really not sure what to think about the snowmen 😳

VenusTiger · 03/12/2019 22:43

I have a BH tree, my DH didn’t want real ones anymore and I agreed, seemed so mean iyswim, so he said, get a good one that’ll last and I opted for a BH. Had it a few years now and I know what you mean about the shape, it’s too regular, so I tend to twist some of the branches and individual twigs around so they’re not perfect and look more natural.
We paid just over £200 but we were paying £70 on the real ones every year.

VenusTiger · 03/12/2019 22:46

@Timinfuckingruislip I can send you a pic if you want but in a message, as it’ll be outing.... friends have seen it already

Hairwizard · 03/12/2019 23:00

New fake tree bought last week at the range. £60.
Bought 400 lights for it as was recommended but think it could have done with a few more.

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
Hairwizard · 03/12/2019 23:03

This prob gives better idea of tree. The bracnches are different tones of green aswell. Thought it was the nicest looking tree out of all their trees they had there .

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
KristinaM · 03/12/2019 23:52

That’s a good tree for £60 @Hairwizard . And very nicely decorated.

TheImprobableGirl · 03/12/2019 23:53

My tree! Complete with errant elf on the shelf. Please ignore her

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
salsamad · 04/12/2019 00:28

My skin reacts badly to real trees so we’ve always had fake Christmas trees. Our ‘old’ tree was a hand me down and our current tree is over 15 years old now, but still in fabulous condition. It was about £120 when we bought it in the sale after Christmas. Love my wide variety of baubles - some are from Liberty and some my DS made at nursery (he’s 22 now 😊).

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
Hairwizard · 04/12/2019 06:46

Thanks @KristinaM! I love all the tree pics up on here. Really lovely!
Lol am a bit ocd with the decorating. Still moving baubles around lol.
Havent looked at the bh ones but thought the christmas tree world ones were nice but was a bitXmas Shock at their prices.
Bought a pre lit one last year too for the sunroom from dunelm with glitter on. £80. Not the best looking. Quite gappy. Looked alright in pic on box. And cos of the way the branches are you cant hang as many baubles.

70sWitch · 04/12/2019 18:08

Wow! Just had a look at the Christmas Tree World site and they've hiked the prices WAY up. I see why some of you are saying they're expensive.

Clearly best to buy "off season"

Clingingtothewreckage · 07/12/2019 22:43

@Timinfuckingruislip I bought a BH tree too and I’m putting it up tomorrow for the first time. I’m now slightly apprehensive and have set aside two hours to fluff it outXmas Hmm. Let us know how you get on.

KristinaM · 08/12/2019 02:36

Remember the two essentials for fluffing your tree - Christmas music and a glass of something seasonal 🥂🍹🍸

BillHadersNewWife · 08/12/2019 05:30

I think of all the Balsham Hill ones, that one is a bit meanly branched. It's too thin...

frostedviolets · 08/12/2019 07:38

I had a quick look at the Christmas tree world website yesterday for that lovely mountain pine tree shown on here.

Nearly fell off my seat at the price!!
It's only slightly cheaper than Balsam Hill!

I don't much like the idea of killing a tree every year, nor do I like fake trees much either though.

I have a teensy little real live Christmas tree in a pot in the front garden, it was about as tall as my palm when I bought it, it's still pretty diddy.
It's got lots of growing to do before I can bring it in every year to decorate... 😂

Dongdingdong · 08/12/2019 07:41

YABU - I can’t stand artificial trees, they’re soulless. Take it back and get a real one.

DookofBust · 08/12/2019 07:55

OP, I have got two BH trees, one since 2009 and I love them, but I sent the first one I ordered back. I also sent one from Christmas Tree World back in 2009 which was a PITA but I did.

There is a huge difference between some of the trees, the Berkshire fir has got traditional tips which is your regular sort of tree tip/branch, first photo.

Some of them have got more realistic tips and that was the tree I wanted, second photo, although I didn't realise that until I had made the mistake!

I hope you either like it by now or have returned it!

To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
To be a tad disappointed with my balsam hill tree
Dontpaintitgrey · 08/12/2019 07:58

I’m not happy with ours, I think it might be the one we chose, we got it in the sale also so the price doesn’t bother me as the decent ones, but nowhere near as decent in the garden centres weren’t much less. However it’s not got the wow, I wish we had tried to see them somewhere.

There’s a bar near us that has one and it’s amazing but that type would have been too far for the space where ours is. We also should have got an 8ft, DH convinced me 7 would be fine, it is not - high ceilings. Back to real next year when hopefully won’t be worried about DC eating pine needles!

I couldn’t be bothered with the fluffing! Maybe we need to fluff more too!

bananasandwicheseveryday · 08/12/2019 08:06

When we replaced our last artificial tree, I looked at the BH ones as I'd read so much about them on here. Can't say I was blown away and we ended up going for this . This will be it's 3rd or 4th year and I think it looks great when it's decorated. We also add extra, coloured lights. I really don't like 'themed' decorations - our tree is full of the decorations that represent our life together. I love it when the decoration box cones out every year and every single one has a happy memory attached.
Good luck making your tree special OP.