Disappointed with my balsam hill

[LeapinLizards]

I wanted a really good fake tree & opted for balsam hill. They look so amazing on their site & had excellent reviews. But I've just put it up & feel so disappointed - it looks NOTHING like the one on their website. It looks sparse rather than full - it looks like a cheap fake tree, really.
Others who have a balsam hill, did you need to spend a long time separating out all the branches & twigs? Is it that I've not done that correctly? Or were my expectations just way too high?

I have the 8 foot version of that tree. It does indeed take a good 2-3 hours to fluff the tree. Loads of videos on you tube.

This was our first (and last) artificial tree. I had no idea you had to fart around with them so much. It is far quicker driving 20 miles to the tree nursery, arguing with DH over which tree to get, wrestling it into the trailer, sawing the end off, wrangling it into the house and attempting to get it to stay upright in the pot. All of that is a walk in the park compared to the hell that is tree fluffing.

I'm glad I didn't go for a BH tree as they do sound like utter faff. Our fake one needed a bit of fluffing, but nothing like 3 bloody hours' worth!

I've watched the videos & tried to follow their instructions. It looks a lot better but still not as good as their pics. There just doesn't seem to be enough foliage on mine for it ever to look as full as it is meant to.

It looks much better now! I think you need to fluff it a bit more on the inside of the branches am sure that's the last thing you want to do

It will look even better when you've decorated it.

Please post a (final) pic when you're all done. I bet it's gorgeous

It looks loads better. Take a break and then, if you can bear it, fluff the insides some more. From the top and underneath. I am sure you just want to chuck the whole thing in the bin, but it will improve. And you won't have to do all this again next year, I promise. When it is decorated and lit, it will look fab.

My BH tree! Bought it this year, at first i wasn't impressed but it looks much better once fluffed up.

OP, please change your username to flufflikeafiend

OP, the other posters’ photos look like completely different trees to yours I wouldn’t be thrilled. My tree cost about £60 from Tesco a couple of years ago and looks fab, if you’re looking for a replacement that won’t break the bank.

Mine’s this one.

I’m trying to step away from this thread, but Bigkingdom your tree looks fantastic.

Which one is it?

Eeek I haven’t unboxed mine yet, I should have but haven’t got round to it. I hope it’s ok!

pippin8 thanks! This is the one i bought.

www.balsamhill.co.uk/p/bh-balsam-fir-artificial-christmas-tree?sku=2806373

Ok this is v helpful so thank you. I have earmarked the whole of Friday to put our bh one up while the kids at school so we can decorate it that evening. I will have toddler around but maybe he can help fluff.

Thanks for the feedback & suggestions (including suggested name change tentomidnight ). I've done some more shaping, primping, preening and I'm tired of it - got in touch with BH to ask them for advice & they sent some more tips, which really helped. I think it looks a lot better but i'm not 100% keen on it. But it will cost me £15 to return it & I'm even less keen on that option. What do you think of it now?

I would send it back. No point spending so much money unless you are totally happy with it. I would also ring them up and get them to pay the postage as it's not as described.
Then pop to argos.

It looks better OP. I just checked the link you had to the details on their website, it now looks exactly like photo no 6 - the one that’s decorated. I honestly think if you decorate it now you’ll be happy with it.

Am interested to know what else they told you to do to it?! What more could be done at this stage?

I also think it looks pretty close to the one in the BH pictures , unfortunately I think perhaps you chose the wrong type of tree and should have gone for one of the denser options . I reckon decorated it will look lovely though as it’s much improved from your earlier pictures

I think it looks great, very realistic

Jeez and I thought fake trees were meant to be less hassle than real ones!

Lovely trees all

macnab they told me to pull each tip outwards and upwards. I didn't do each & every tip but not far off it & it has really helped. And I am happier with it but I think Floral is right - i chose the wrong tree.

I think it looks lovely. It will be great all decorated and lit up.

It is a pig fluffing them, I totally agree. It’s just so boring.

Dh is on ‘fluffing’ duty with our new BH tree on Sunday , I shall tell him to start early to make sure it all gets done . At least it will be easier next year .

I think it looks stunning.
The super fluffy ones look very artificial to me. Real trees are very sparse and gappy which is why the decorations hang so beautifully.
Yours is perfect and very realistic.

I thought a fake tree was supposed to be the easy/stress free option ha

@ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy

Where is the tree in your pic from? I need a new one but don't have the budget for Bh.