Please recommend a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree

[artvandalay]

Much do DH's dismay, we need to start using fake Christmas trees now because of DS's allergies. DH is a HUGE real tree type of guy, so I know he's not happy about it, but oh well.

I was told to get pre-lit because it just makes things easier.

Any ideas/links/advice? Should I get one from Amazon? A friend told me to check out Costco but we don't belong to there anymore.

How much should I expect to pay for a good quality one? We need a rather large one (maybe 8 or 9 ft). Looked at a few on Amazon in that size and saw some for around $600... do not want to spend that much!

Thanks!

[mom2akm]

We needed a pre-lit Christmas tree last year and I shopped around for a long time. I liked the one at Costco but by the time we made up our mind, they were all gone. I ended up with one from Home Depot because they had a sale and I can stack a 10% off coupon. May be not the best deal but good enough for me. I was told Home Depot had a good sale on Christmas tree on Black Friday which I missed. BTW I love the tree, I cannot wait to take it out again soon.

[Trigglet]

I haven't seen them IRL yet, but we're thinking about getting one from Big Lots :bag - I saw an advert on TV the other day for large pre-lit trees (7.5ft I think) for less than $150. You can check them out on the website

http://www.biglots.com/browseItem/trees-accessories/5229

I can't speak to their quality or longevity, but for that price it might be worth a punt!

[elbenn]

I too am looking for an excellent quality artificial tree. I lust after the Frontgate trees (link below), but they are so expensive. Even though they have a 20% off coupon right now, they are still more money than I want to spend, but I do want that type of quality. So if anyone knows of where to get Frontgate quality for less, please share!

http://www.frontgate.com/holiday-decor/christmas-trees/

[mom2khj]

We've been extremely happy with our tree from Tree Classics.

http://www.treeclassics.com

[elbenn]

Just saw this deal on SD--don't know anything about the quality of it though.

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3577786

[lablover]

We had to do the same thing a couple years ago and it was very hard for DH (I had fake trees going up so it was easier for me). We first bought one from Costco but just weren't happy with it so we returned it. We ended up going expensive and buying one from Frontgate. I wanted to get one that was as realistic as possible, even though it isn't the same as a real one. I do love how much easier it is to set up!

[MSWR0319]

I bought our artificial tree on Black Friday from Sears a few years ago. I loathe artificial trees, so it had to look as week as possible. It's really nice...for a fake tree. I looked at them before Black Friday so o knew what I wNted. Then ordered it online (pick up at store) and picked it up late in the afternoon when no one was in the mall.

[elbenn]

We had to do the same thing a couple years ago and it was very hard for DH (I had fake trees going up so it was easier for me). We first bought one from Costco but just weren't happy with it so we returned it. We ended up going expensive and buying one from Frontgate. I wanted to get one that was as realistic as possible, even though it isn't the same as a real one. I do love how much easier it is to set up!

Did you get any sort of deal--right now they have a coupon for 20% off but they're not on sale. Is that the best they offer? Last year, I checked after Christmas for specials but they never got very cheap. There's not even any cashback rewards for frontgate!

ETA: Which one did you get? Does it have the big bulbs or smaller lights? They all look so beautiful, how did you decide?

[dogmom]

To piggy back onto the conversation, anyone know of a nice tree with NO lights? It's not like lights are hard to put on, I like to change lights every year, and they seem to be the thing to break. But all the nice ones have lights, I just don't want to pay for it.

[lablover]

Did you get any sort of deal--right now they have a coupon for 20% off but they're not on sale. Is that the best they offer? Last year, I checked after Christmas for specials but they never got very cheap. There's not even any cashback rewards for frontgate!

ETA: Which one did you get? Does it have the big bulbs or smaller lights? They all look so beautiful, how did you decide?

I think we got the Fraser fir, because that was the type of real tree we used to get. Either that or the Douglas. It was such a last minute purchase because we had planned on the Costco tree so I didn't really have time to track prices, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't more than 20 percent off. I do have to say that I don't think our tree is as full as the picture on the website, but once I fiddled a lot with the branches and all of the ornaments were on we were happy with it.

[calv]

have been VERY happy w/our GE tree. One of the most realistic looking ones I've sene out there and we love the 'real' looking tips throughout the entire tree. got ours at sears

[artvandalay]

I too am looking for an excellent quality artificial tree. I lust after the Frontgate trees (link below), but they are so expensive. Even though they have a 20% off coupon right now, they are still more money than I want to spend, but I do want that type of quality. So if anyone knows of where to get Frontgate quality for less, please share!

http://www.frontgate.com/holiday-decor/christmas-trees/

Oh, they are lovely! Quite pricey, tho :(

We've been extremely happy with our tree from Tree Classics.

http://www.treeclassics.com

Thanks for the link. These look really nice! The reviews look pretty good. Do you remember which one you purchased?

Also I never thought about Sears... I think we will take a look there, too.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions... I"m still looking at links :)

[mom2khj]

Oh, they are lovely! Quite pricey, tho :(



Thanks for the link. These look really nice! The reviews look pretty good. Do you remember which one you purchased?

Also I never thought about Sears... I think we will take a look there, too.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions... I"m still looking at links :)

I wish I did! I was just trying to remember when we bought it, I think it was in '04, and there weren't even as many choices back then but I honestly cannot remember which one it was. I just know it is a fuller one that has a lot of "uneven" branches, it's had to describe but it makes it look very real from a distance because it isn't an even "triangle". If that makes sense. I also wanted one with lots of lights and it has that!

[Jenn850]

You might give craigslist a try. I wanted a tall tree last year, and stalked a few places, but they never really went on sale. The 7 footers did. I was prepared to suck it up this year and just buy one when I checked craigslist. We got a 10' for $80. It has tons of lights, and you can alternate between white and colored etc. It might not be hand painted with built in pine cones, but for $600 I can go in the back yard and find pine cones to put on fresh;) The women selling was moving and it just didn't fit in the new place.

[amldaley]

Costco has a couple of GORGEOUS trees.

We have been really happy though with our tree from Walmart - tried to find the link but I can't.

After having several different artificial trees, the things I would look for are a tree that has the branches that fold up and down as it is easier to assemble, tips that hold ornaments well and at least 100 lights per foot of height.

[marymoo86]

are there any artificial trees that you don't have to worry about the PVC/lead issue?

ETA - saw uschristmastree carries made in USA no lead trees. Any experience??