AIBU to think they should replace the Christmas tree?

[BloodOrangeCheesecake]

Hi all,

Apologies for any mistakes - English is my second language.

I bought a real Christmas tree at our local farmer’s shop few days ago, kids got all exited about decorating it this evening - only for us to find out that every single tip of every branch is chopped off (I’m assuming to make Christmas wreaths)

AIBU to contact the shop and ask to replace it?

DH says to leave it but it annoys me - I don't want a butchered Christmas tree.
It is quite visible (at least to me) and can’t really be covered with baubles etc

If it's a "nice regular shape" after trimming that supports the argument that it was trimmed for aesthetic reasons.

You are being ridiculous and grabby.

I don't understand the problem if it's a nice shape.

I didn’t have much time to spend at the shop as was running late somewhere else. Plus it was dark.

Sold as seen not their fault you didn't look

How am I being grabby if I’ll just ask to REPLACE the tree. Which I’ve paid for.

Im not asking for freebies, right?

In my 50s and I've never seen a mutilated tree like this. YANBU OP, don't understand the grief you're getting. I'd try to exchange it as well. We also use live candles on our tree and there's no way to position them if the tips are gone.

If you spend, say, £60 turkey at, let’s say, Tesco’s and turned out it has gone off, would you also think “suck it up, not their fault I didn't look”?

I really don't think you can send it back. You could have viewed it more thoroughly.

I can't see why you can't decorate it? Hang baubles using paper clips so you don't need to try to push strings over the ends. It looks like a nice dense tree - is it a Canaan fir?

That’s what I’m thinking, thank you.

We have real trees every year - and yes, occasionally some branches have been chopped off to me it a more regular shape.

However never every single bloody tip on every branch.

There’s nothing wrong with the tree in the photograph. Poor tree, there’s nothing mutilated about it.

This is the strangest thread I’ve ever read - it’s not remotely comparable to an off and therefore inedible turkey and you’re being completely unreasonable to draw that comparison.

I’ve seen trees that have been trimmed to shape but not with an obvious big hole like that. I wouldn’t be happy with that tree if it’s like that all round. Yes, ask for an exchange.

If the tree was dead that might be a valid analogy. Except you've described the tree as lovely and a nice regular shape.

Where's the full photo of your supposedly mutilated (yet lovely) tree?

It is difficult to explain; I guess because it’s every single tip and also we don’t use tinsel or have tonnes of baubles so those “stumps” will be quite visible even once the tree’s been decorated.

def no bits hacked off mine. But we looked carefully at all the trees before carefully picking it and then it was wrapped up for us. No way could we have then taken it back!

unless you ordered it somewhere where it wasn’t seen in advance, yabu! It was sold as seen.

If it’s difficult to explain just post a pic of the whole tree so people can see for themselves

But you wouldn’t have picked it in the first place! OP apparently did

I would just leave it, enjoy it, and double check next year.
Life’s too damn busy to be running around with a Christmas tree.

@GrumpyPanda you use live candles in your tree?!?!?!

after your pic I just don’t believe it’s “every single tip”. If you post a pic if the whole tree people can offer a more helpful view

If you post a full photo then we can tell.

How are people judging it to be "mutilated" and to have an "obvious big hole" when there is a single close up photo of a branch?

You do realise how long the pieces they use for wreaths are? Far longer than just bits snipped off the ends. They use entire branches at least 18 inches long from a separate tree that won't be sold.

People saying ‘it’s not every tip’ - I assume OP means that it’s the end of every main branch that is snipped (not all the sub branches).
This would really annoy me too, but in reality I’d not do anything about it, life is too short to drag it back. Maybe go over some of the cut bits with a dark brown marker or brown shoe polish if they are standing out?
They probably won’t be noticeable in the evenings with the lights on.

So I decided to start a thread on mumsnet to lie about “every single tip”? 🙄

Christmas tree is kinda round 3D object - I can’t really take a photo of every single tip (in one photo) because it’s errrm…a round 3D object, right?

Some more pics below

As I said, 100% it wasn’t done in order to trim the tree. It’s quite clearly done to get material for wreaths (that shop also sells)

Coincidentally, I make our wreaths myself every year and I know perfectly well that ideally you use the tips (though I normally just hack off couple of lower back wall-facing branches)

Other side.
I’d say around 20-30 tips at least were chopped off. I’m not going to count obviously🤣