Dodgy Christmas Trees

Tiddlywinks

You live in London and can't find a legitimate seller of Christmas trees?

thorsoak

Make-it-3 wrote: »

For the first time this year, I am considering buying a Christmas tree (we have a nearly 3 yr old who is getting "into" it all - we have never bothered previously).

Now come December, every disused shop, car wash, garage forecourt and empty corner has been taken over by pop-up units selling trees. I'm sure its all cash in hand and no idea about whether they have been ethically grown. There doesn't seem to be any legitimate stores you can buy them at.

Anyway getting to the point, if I buy from one of these dodgy dealers, what is the going rate for a tree? I've had a quick peek and there's never any prices on them. Should I expect to barter?

Just think about it......there are not going to be many permanent Christmas Tree shops .....after all, the peak selling time is December - and you don't see many "price drops" after Christmas Eve, do you? Lots of smallish farms will have an area of woodland where they will grow and harvest Christmas trees, and sell them off at the argicultural markets - and legitimate dealers will buy them and sell them at various outlets.

The supermarkets - Asda, Tesco and Waitrose - are all selling Christmas trees, as do B & Q and Homebase. Outside our local Ikea store, they also have a pop-up shop selling Christmas trees. Living in the country as I do, there are also many farms selling trees direct.

It is a seasonal market after all - if it worries you that you might be buying from a dodgy buyer, then buy from one of the supermarkets - personally, I always buy from a farm!

paulineb_2

You don't know it's cash in hand and what's an ethically grown Christmas tree? One where another is planted in its place?

Tbh as long as people buy sweatshop clothes and factory farmed meat I think pondering over where your tree came from is the least of your worries.

I hope you get the tree you want.

Tiddlywinks

paulineb wrote: »

...I think pondering over where your tree came from is the least of your worries.

I disagree... some of the pop-up stalls / vans etc may be selling stolen goods:

http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/-bargain-christmas-trees-could-be-stolen-warn-police.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-25241103

I don't want to make a criminal richer just to grab a 'bargain', do you?

zaksmum

We get ours from the local fruit wholesale market.

Usually pay about £20 for a 6ft plus tree.

I'd prefer an artificial one but O/H insists on a real one and leaves me to hoover up all the fallen needles!

Make-it-3

I haven't seen any in my local supermarket, I guess maybe the bigger ones have them. We are awash with convenience supermarkets here and any big supermarkets/garden centres/DIY stores are a taxi ride away.

Katie - thanks for the links to the online stores. At least I have some idea of the prices now (a bit more than I really wanted to pay tho!) for something that is going to be around for just a couple of weeks.

Perhaps an artificial one maybe the way to go ...

littlerat

The range do a basic 6ft artificial for £15 (down from £20), I have the 4ft version and it's a good little tree. Not the bushiest ever but I've seen far worse, plus by the time decorations are on it, it looks good.

Real ones do look nice but are extremely messy. Plus artificials don't smell, don't rot, plus pack down into their box again until next year, even a cheap one will last a few years.