Or do fake trees always look crap?

[heyyyottoe]

So I treated myself to a Balsam Hill tree and I’m honestly shocked at how shit it looks.

All my previous trees weren’t great but I thought buying this brand would be better … how mistaken I was.

so sparse and ugly. If I ever bother to decorate I’ll just get a real tree from now one.

I second white company. I love ours.

Yes yours doesn’t look great. This is our Balsalm Hill one. You do need to do a lot of fluffing which drives me mad. And use a lot of decorations.

Some of us can’t have real trees - I’m allergic. So fake it is.

They do not, they look like green plastic triangles

Yes that looks a bit naff OP and I bet an astronomical price. Much rather my very old £5 Facebook marketplace tree.

The years I’ve had a real one and spent so much time picking up pines and vacuuming. Then there’s the hassle of sitting in a traffic jam at the dump trying to get rid of it - Anyone else noticed how many real trees are fly tipped after xmas? Do you think this is all taken into account when they work out which is better for the environment?

Well I was sectioned last year and didn’t want to live anymore. So the fact I’m now in a place where I want to even put a tree up … apologies my decorations aren’t to your standard.

I’ve fluffed and fluffed and it still looks shit. I’ve emailed them asking to return it. I actually feel like crying … stupid but I spent so much and it looks shit.

I think the PP was just trying to help…

It doesn’t look like you have separated the branches properly.

Real tree every year here. I love the look and they smell good too.

The faff is why I don’t get a real one. We only have a tiny car so can’t get it home easily - I remember when I was little my parents squeezing a massive tree into our 7 seater each year and I don’t think my Aygo could manage much more than a twig! And then the same issue to get rid of it (although of course you can cut it up for that part).

We’ve had the same fake one for years and have no intention of replacing it. I know it doesn’t look like something someone would mistake for a real tree. But I don’t care. It still looks nice lit up in a dark room with the baubles shimmering.

I had a very expensive artificial tree,it wasn't plasticy, came complete with fir cones. We used it for over 20 years,so there wasn't a massive impact on the environment.. I've seen awful sparse real trees,minus roots... dropping all the needles very quickly and what a waste. I had a real one for many years carefully looked after, unfortunately it died this summer.

You need glasses

Wow! Just looked at prices of Balsam Hill trees…

I don't think they look "crap" necessarily. It's my first year with a fake tree. I usually have a real one but my car broke down in spring and I can't afford to fix it or get a new one so I got a cheap one in the clearance sale for a tenner as money is very tight but my kids obviously want a tree for Christmas. They don't care and are over the moon with it.

Personally I'm just thankful to have any tree at all. It probably looks awful to many on here but I enjoy looking at it with all the kids decorations they've made. It brings me a lot to be honest.

The branches all need to be separated significantly more in order to achieve a fuller look. It can be a lot of work, especially if you've never done it before. You could put a cheap tinsel garland around the tree to fill it out this year if you don't have the energy or interest to fluff the tree more.

You are not wrong. That is unacceptable. Did you buy it online? You have a 14 day window to say you are not happy, you don't need to ask them, they have to take the return.

My fake tree was bought for £21 from the Asian hypermarket in Birmingham 36 years ago.

It's still going strong. I think it's gained eco-credentials by now.

And it still looks fine- it's part of the family now!

I am an other one saying that you haven’t fluffed the branches up. I can see you haven’t from your photo. You need to take each individual piece of foliage and move it up, down and around so that the whole of every branch looks thick. Yes this is a very time consuming boring task. If you don’t want to do this again next year, you will have to cover your tree and put it away without squashing it.
I always have an artificial tree. I am allergic to real trees. Yes artificial ones are not as good.

It's possible you've been sent the wrong one.
In the meantime if it can't be replaced in time buy a couple of fake garlands and wind them around the centre of the tree as this will add volume.
Don't give up on the tree situation though, you've come too far. Send them photos. Check it's the right one. Get a refund or replacement and say it's because its simply not as pictured.

Most places will deliver for a tenner.

Team Real Tree, the plastic ones never look good unless you're going for a deliberately fake/futuristic look, not trying to make it look real.

YANBU, fake trees just look fake

Clearly I was unable to know this and that’s the risk you run if you post for strangers opinions.

I hope you are in a much better place.

Oh bless you, op. Well done on making it this far.

You are absolutely entitled to push for your money back on that one. Hope they respond soon.

Honestly for this year why not grab one from Argos. This is £35 and has lights already on. Still your decorations on, put your feet up and enjoy being with your family. www.argos.co.uk/product/5812815?utm_custom6=PLA&region_id=02797m&deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-872-0397|cid:20330965836|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:3387906943614637055|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9195543&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20330965836&utm_term=5812815&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-872-0397&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19671821404&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuvTJBhCwARIsAL6DemiPzVuWmzSthW4Rnx04P9RxmJgQK3sNlj3z240OKbeOS5WdeQiKCqUaAjjeEALw_wcB

Bit of an unfair response to a mild comment 🤨

I like our tree, it's like an old friend that comes out year after year.