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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think they should replace the Christmas tree?

185 replies

BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 20:29

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

AIBU to think they should replace the Christmas tree?
OP posts:
Glitterbiscuits · 09/12/2023 22:48

Also bought ours from a farm shop.
Whereabouts are you?

Museum10664 · 09/12/2023 22:49

BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 22:36

But in this case only few random tips would’ve been chopped off here and there, right?

Surely chopping every tip of every main branch would just make tree “slimmer” in shape but not change the shape?

Show quote history

im no expert on that, im just guessing based on how i would trim a tree

Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 22:50

LivStanshall · 09/12/2023 22:43

I’d definitely take that back. It looks awful. For what it is worth, I made a wreath at an event today and the tips we were given weren’t long branches say 12-18 inches, they were short, just the tips, and were tied in with wire and then filled with baubles etc.

The poster with 18inches branches for her wreath probably lives in a train depot or a fire station😆

OP posts:
PomegranateRose · 09/12/2023 22:52

If you’re going to be picky about a Christmas tree, you need to look at them properly in the daylight before buying 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 22:56

Hellenika · 09/12/2023 22:29

Christmas trees do not grow in nice regular shapes with lovely fullness. They have to be trimmed into shape. Like a hedge is trimmed into shape.

Show quote history

Ironically I come from a country were we would chop our trees from local woods (once you paid a licence) - i know perfectly how natural less-than-perfect fir tree would look: it is usually wonky on one side (lack of sunlight or being in a shadow of bigger tree etc) or random rogue branch being longer that other branches etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 22:57

*perfectly well, even

OP posts:
Bs0u416d · 09/12/2023 23:00

I can't get remotely worked up about this. I can't see it will matter once it's decorated and if it has a nice shape, who cares. It'll be in a chipper in 3-4 weeks. Also

Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 23:00

Glitterbiscuits · 09/12/2023 22:48

Also bought ours from a farm shop.
Whereabouts are you?

Yorkshire

OP posts:
JanglingJack · 09/12/2023 23:02

It does look like someone has got a bit scissor happy with it. If you're not happy with it send the photos to the farm shop to discuss with them before lugging it all the way back with no netting. I wouldn't be happy with it. Partial refund?

SliceOfBread · 09/12/2023 23:03

Ardith · 09/12/2023 22:43

If it was delivered I’d be sympathetic but you say you picked it out and collected it? Stuff like this is ‘sold as seen’ you can’t take it back just because you’ve noticed a flaw.

These are my thoughts…

In all honestly I’d expect the shop will either say it was like this when you bought it and sold as seen or that as it’s been a few days there is no way of knowing you haven’t done it yourself…

User3735 · 09/12/2023 23:04

Yeah you aren't being OTT. This year we decide gonsave some moment and get a supermarket tree, knew we were taking a risk not being able to see it, and it IS rather sparse on branches and the worst tree we've ever had, BUT we only paid £26 for a large one. Of course I wouldn't take it back, that was the risk we took. But that is not your situation, you bought a full price locally sold tree which would have been over £50, and I've never had a real tree butchered like that. If you'd bought it for £20 I'd say let it go, but not at that price.

We nearly bought a £55 Costco tree. Then last night we were in Costco and they were clearing all the trees for £9.99! Nothing wrong with them, they just want all the real trees gone. I felt bitter about our £26, I'd be crying if I'd spent £65! OP take it back or call and ask for a partial refund?

TwoMoreBoxesJayne · 09/12/2023 23:04

I wouldn't like it either. YANBU

User3735 · 09/12/2023 23:05

Sorry, so many typos. This year we decided to save some money*

Wellscunnered · 09/12/2023 23:06

Your English is terrific and you’re not wrong to be unhappy

ShouldGoToBed · 09/12/2023 23:09

This would annoy me too, we buy a real tree every year and I’ve never seen one that’s been hacked about like this. If your kids won’t be upset I’d take it back.

wronginalltherightways · 09/12/2023 23:14

I'd ask for a new one; it will dry out and go brown faster.

That's not on.

Snugglemonkey · 09/12/2023 23:17

Scarletttulips · 09/12/2023 20:31

LOL - some people are starving and cold this Christmas.

Someone being worse off does not make op unreasonable for being unhappy with her tree.

Schmusimausi73 · 09/12/2023 23:17

BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 22:16

I feel that pile on is because i’m a foreigner - it is something i notice quite regularly on here: responses are usually harsher and OP is often ridiculed even if AIBU is completely valid

Show quote history

I’m a foreigner as well and I’m still rolling my eyes at your “dilemma” 😂

Perihelion · 09/12/2023 23:19

My tree bought in Scotland has also had a few branches chopped off. But is actually the best shaped tree I've ever had.
I don't think it was for wreaths, but to shape it. I wonder if the late pruning is to do with the weather this year, or a lack of workers to prune earlier in the year.

Switcher · 09/12/2023 23:23

That would really annoy me too, and I'd just sit there being annoyed.

Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 23:28

Schmusimausi73 · 09/12/2023 23:17

I’m a foreigner as well and I’m still rolling my eyes at your “dilemma” 😂

Show quote history

Well good on you, I guess. But for me £65 is quite a bit of money.

Analogy with turkey was crap one, I admit, but let’s say you bought £65 Lego set (or something similar along these lines) for your kid and some bricks were missing because shop decided to make one extra Lego set (wreath in my case) out of them to make some extra £.

You will just suck it up, right? 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 23:30

Switcher · 09/12/2023 23:23

That would really annoy me too, and I'd just sit there being annoyed.

That’s what I’ll do, I guess.

And will leave my money elsewhere next year.

OP posts:
Original poster
BloodOrangeCheesecake · 09/12/2023 23:33

Perihelion · 09/12/2023 23:19

My tree bought in Scotland has also had a few branches chopped off. But is actually the best shaped tree I've ever had.
I don't think it was for wreaths, but to shape it. I wonder if the late pruning is to do with the weather this year, or a lack of workers to prune earlier in the year.

Edited

Maybe you are right. Though on mine every single main branch tip is missing. I mean who has time for such meticulous pruning??

OP posts:
DecemberSleet · 09/12/2023 23:34

Yes, I think the Lego analogy is the same - Lego is to be played with for years. It needs to be perfect.

This is a one off event. And it still does a job.

It works be like spending £60 on a birthday cake which is a bit shit.

I might complain. But ultimately I'd chalk it up to experience and not go there again. As long as the cake was edible and not covered in swear words or something mad!

Goldbar · 09/12/2023 23:34

That tree looks terrible, OP. I'd ask for a replacement. They'll probably argue it was sold as seen, but no, I wouldn't be happy with that.

There's loving a tree's natural imperfections, yes, but there's nothing natural about the way that tree has been butchered.