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Monday, July 7th
Michaels is a crafting superstore, but don't worry: while they do have ornaments that let you get your DIY on, there are lots of Christmas decorations for your tree that won't require any extra work.
Ornament selection strays from the focus
We felt a little annoyed at first, when we started shopping at the Michaels site for Christmas ornaments. Despite having the "Best Match” preference set, our initial matches right on the Christmas Ornaments category had decidedly un-Christmas-y things like a raw wood ornament in the shape of a beetle and a tabletop water fountain. Because nothing says "deck the halls” like bugs and Zen?
Filtering isn't great and ornaments are expensive
It really didn't get a lot better as we started focusing in on the ornaments that were clearly appropriate for the holidays. For a set of 52 shatterproof (read: plastic) ornaments featured on the main page, the price was an uncomfy $143.99 (but at least there was a code for 20% off on all regular-price purchases). Unfortunately, the filters weren't much help in getting us to more reasonably-priced sets: we could narrow down the ornaments by brand, color, or shape, but there wasn't anything beyond a few "set of 6” or "set of 4” options in the Size filter that worked.
Most Christmas ornaments are from third-party sellers
We also noticed that out of the 9,900+ results Michaels mentioned on the Christmas Ornaments page, almost 9,000 of them were offered by third-party "Marketplace” sellers: retailers and manufacturers who apply to sell their items through the Michaels storefront. (You can tell by looking for where it says "Sold and shipped by” in the previews of each item.) That's not unusual, and Michaels certainly isn't the only store on our list to do so. But, some of the ornaments we saw were coming from stores we reviewed separately, and we're not sure that it wouldn't just be better to buy directly from those retailers.
60-day returns and free shipping on orders of $49+
One positive is that whether an ornament is Michaels' brand or coming from a third-party seller, you've got a 60-day return policy, in-store or by mail. And, as far as we can tell, Michaels' "free shipping on orders of $49+” doesn't distinguish between who's selling and shipping your Christmas ornaments, either.
Ornaments don't usually have reviews
However, despite being such a huge retailer (and pretty popular at the holidays for Christmas decorating), most of the ornaments don't have many reviews, if any at all. That's a downside compared with some of the higher-ranked stores on our list with feedback that totals in the hundreds or thousands, complete with customer-submitted photos to show how the ornaments look on their trees.
Below average for Christmas ornaments
Michaels is fine as a store but lackluster when it comes to Christmas ornaments. The selection isn't easy to shop, results are often unrelated to the holiday, and the prices aren't anything to say "wow” about. Take our rating for Michaels as an indicator that there are better places to shop when you're decorating your tree.
The world of Christmas ornaments is incredibly diverse. From traditional glass baubles to quirky, novelty ornaments, there's something for everyone. Many modern ornaments feature popular characters from movies, TV shows, and cartoons, adding a touch of pop culture to the holiday season.
The tradition of decorating trees, particularly during Christmas, dates back centuries. However, the concept of hanging ornaments on trees is believed to have originated in 16th century Germany. Back then, people decorated their trees with fruits, nuts, and other edible items. Over time, this evolved into using more decorative items like candles, paper decorations, and small trinkets.
As this tradition spread throughout Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, the ornaments themselves evolved. Handcrafted glass ornaments became popular in the 19th century, particularly in regions like Germany and Czechoslovakia. These delicate decorations were often intricately painted and adorned with glitter. In the 20th century, with the advent of mass production, Christmas ornaments became more accessible to the general public. Materials such as plastic, metal, and fabric were used to create a wide array of ornaments, though traditionalists still looked for the old-world styles in glass too.
Personalization has also become increasingly popular. People now look for ornaments that can be customized with names, dates, or special messages, making them unique keepsakes for families and loved ones. Many families have the tradition of buying a new ornament every year to reflect their interests, hobbies, or significant life events. For example, newlyweds may look for ornaments that celebrate their first Christmas together, while pet owners may seek out ornaments shaped like their furry companions.
Are you ready to deck out your Christmas tree? The world's best selection is, of course, online, but where should you shop? Here are a few things to look for that can help you get started:
To help you find the perfect Christmas ornaments to adorn your tree and create lasting memories for years to come, the elves at Top Consumer Reviews have shopped the selection at some of today's most popular retailers, ranking them from best to worst so that you know which ones are on Santa's "nice” and "naughty” lists. Happy decorating!
Select any 2 Christmas Ornament Stores to compare them head to head