Artificial Christmas Tree — should I look now or wait?

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

I don't know what to do. Are pre-lit any good? I'd like a bigger one than before, so will probably have to buy some new lights anyway.

I've switched between an old falling apart artificial one and a real one for the last few years, but this year an artificial will work better and I refuse to spend nearly as long wiring the branches back on as it actually takes to decorate it!

I'm looking for a seven foot tree ideally. I'm not really near any garden centres, and one that could be delivered would be preferable, although not absolutely necessary. Have any of you bought a nice one recently? Am I best to wait until they come into the normal shops in a couple of months?

I can't quite believe I'm posting this thread in September. Having said that, I have a really busy few months coming up, so should probably get organised!

The Balsam Hill sale ends tomorrow.

We bought a pre-lit tree last year and it's great. Way more lights than we'd ever be able to put on ourselves!

Ours is semi-realistic, rather than ultra-realistic (so the ends are in the realistic material but the branches aren't, though they're not awful either) and I got it from www.werchristmas.co.uk with 10% off as I found a discount code via Google. It's a lovely tree and I'm glad I went for it!

I'm going to see what the good peeps at QVC have to offer or see if Costco have any trees that will actually fit in my house

The wereChristmas site is good though when I looked before there were a lot of sold-outs.

DH goes (not even ) when I mention trees and mutters about eBay but our last (completely shit tree that I hated with a passion) was an eBay 'bargain' .....so I'm not letting him have a say

A few years ago a bagged an £85 7 foot false tree from B&Q for £15 in a flash sale. I paid before collecting in Darlington store. The miserable wench on the customer service desk actually tried to stop me from getting it (saying it was too cheap and a mistake must have been made) but I got it in the end despite her actions. 🎄

We have this one in 8ft. I like that it has a more natural shape although it does take ages to arrange. www.christmastreeworld.co.uk/the-mountain-pine-tree

There are some good savings on that site floored!

The Balsam Hill sale never ends but doesn't often get any better either! I am buying a second Balsam Hill tree for another reception room this year, first one must be 8 years old. I would recommend them.

Bloody hell, the Balsam Hill sale has indeed ended and the tree I had in my bag has gone up £100! I will wait until it inevitably returns! Their sale was always permanent (a joke).

After the wreath we ordered from balsam hill looked liked Christmas road kill, there’s no way I’d ordered a tree from them. Their customer service was also terrible. Such a let down as we were willing to buy a tree from them but not now

We have the balsam Silverado that we got for half price now listed and it’s a fantastic space saver

I found their customer service brilliant, they sent me a part of the stand that I broke on year two free of charge and both my tree and garland are fantastic, hence I am going back now I need a second one!

After reading a lot of reviews on MN over previous years and realising that all the TV shows that have a Christmas tree up behind the guests on the sofa are usually Balsam Hill ones I bought one last year in the "sale." Probably around this time of year.

It is the most realistic tree I have ever had, varying branch lengths mean it doesn't look like a triangle. I got the Royal Blue Spruce and everyone who saw it up at Christmas thought it was real.

It is an unlit one but totally stunning. Takes a good amount of time to fluff it up the first time you put it up, don the gloves and prepare to do battle. If you can see through it, it isn't fluffed up enough. You can feel the quality of the branches as you fluff it.

It does weigh quite a bit though so think on that when you store it. It fits into a strong bag and Dh passes it up to me in the loft.

We have a 7ft prelit Balsam Hill tree for the conservatory and it's beautiful. I've also purchased decorations from them and have been very happy with the quality, speed of delivery and customer service. Highly recommended!

We have a beautiful 6ft artificial Xmas tree with thick branches. It was expensive when I bought a long while back. It still looks lovely; but it's too big for us now and would be better placed with a family. Except trying to find somewhere to take it is proving impossible. I thought there would be lots of charities who might be able to give it to a family in need but no. And I loathe the idea of chopping it up into landfill – more environmental waste.

Has anyone had a similar problem/solution?

I would just offer it free for collection on your local Facebook page if you have one. Someone will be grateful for it I’m sure!