Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3840

I'm looking to the absolute best quality as it's the only way I can get my wife to give up "real" trees.



edit: grammar in subject heading.

Last edited by montag on 11-09-2003 at 05:04 PM

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1936

I'd skip Walmart/Lowe's chains and head to home accessory stores. The trees there seem to have more branches and limbs, and some even have tiny pine cones.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Oak Hill, Virginia
Posts: 874

Last year we checked out the artificial, pre-lit trees at Home Depot. Lowes, Target and Wal-Mart. We decided on the one from Wal-Mart. Great quality and price.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 1903

We got our tree five years ago at Michael's... you know, the hobby store? It's held up well.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Hillsborough NC USA
Posts: 173

We are considering getting one this year as well. What looks better, the pre-lit, or the fiber optic?

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Morton Grove, IL, US
Posts: 1256

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, MI. It's about 3.5 hrs from chicago, and a few miles from the biggest Outlet Mall in the Midwest (Birch Run Prime Outlets). We go out there 3-4 times a year for general shopping, and just went last month to do 80% of our christmas shopping.

To picture Bronner's..........imagine a traditional style store the size of Home Depot or Meijer, that sells ONLY Christmas stuff. Here's a directory . Last time I was there, there were about 150 trees to choose from, ranging in size from 6" to 28'.

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Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Posts: 5268

We ended up getting a pre-lit one at Target last year, but ended up adding our own lights on top of it anyhoo. IIRC, we spent about $120 on it.

Oh, and consider yourself Shannoned - it's "an" artificial Christmas tree.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3840

quote:

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Originally posted by edhara
We ended up getting a pre-lit one at Target last year, but ended up adding our own lights on top of it anyhoo. IIRC, we spent about $120 on it.

Oh, and consider yourself Shannoned - it's "an" artificial Christmas tree.

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 1205

Frontgate

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Somewhere in Texas
Posts: 5057

Not sure of the best place to buy.

But the best time to buy is right after Christmas. 50-75% off prices are normal then.

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3840

quote:

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Originally posted by Anubis
Frontgate

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Sterling, VA
Posts: 649

ChristmasDepot

They are a bit expensive, but we checked out their store in NJ two years ago and wound up buying one for my mother ~$399. For an artificial tree, it looks amazing. Most of their stuff is very nice, of course the shipping will cost you too... but if you're looking for the best stuff, definitely check these trees out...

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: AZ
Posts: 999

We just bought one from JoAnn's Fabrics. They have coupons all the time... go sign up for their newsletter. We got our tree at 40% off. Nice 7.5 foot fir.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 972

http://www.treeclassics.com/

Absolutely the highest quality. Free Shipping. MB Guarantee - no questions asked.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Canton, GA
Posts: 2270

We bought a new one today at Garden Ridge. Pre-lit, 9' tall, 1200 lights. $315 after 30% off.

I'm sure more than 80% of these things are made by the same couple of companies in China, but this one is a GE.

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 423

I will never buy another pre-lit tree. Tried it last year. Bought the tree (just a small 4') at Michael's, brought it home and set it up. Perfect. I left the room for about 5 minutes, came back, and the lights were out. I couldn't find the short anywhere.

Let's just say I wasn't much in the Christmas spirit when I slammed the tree on the counter at Michaels less than 30 minutes later, and demanded an exchange. Got the same tree w/out lights, put on the lights we had, and never had a problem with it.

Now that we're in a house, the 4' isn't even going to see the light of day. We're going for the 9'!!

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Sun Valley, ID
Posts: 2145

We got rid of our artificial last year and went back to real trees.

As far as I am concerned, we could never put up another one, and that would be fine with me.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Dallas
Posts: 3556

We got ours at Target...their Timberland trees are pretty nice...

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 968

Lowes

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Canton, GA
Posts: 2270

Our 'old' 9' tree had around 2,000 lights on it last year. My wife said if we don't get a pre-lit tree, we aren't having a tree this year (which I really wouldn't mind). That was a BIG pain in the rear. Plus I was always tripping the circuit breaker. Not to mention that you could roast marshmallows near the tree and the intense light would burn out your retina and fry the optic nerve.

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