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Friday, June 20th
Ornament Shop has been proudly selling Christmas ornaments since 1982, and they've been one of the largest online retailers of personalized ornaments since 1999.
The style is a little childish
We felt a bit unimpressed as we started to browse the Christmas ornaments at Ornament Shop: most of them strike a note that's a little on the cartoonish side for us, definitely more cutesy than elegant.
Lots of designs on display, especially for family ornaments
But, there certainly seem to be a lot to choose from. You'll find almost every imaginable sport and activity featured in designs at Ornament Shop, and if you're trying to find a family ornament that will include your new family of two or your very own Brady Bunch plus all the grandparents and more, it's more than doable here.
Wide range of categories
It's easiest to get what you're looking for at Ornament Shop if you start with a category. Those include Baby, Occasion, Pets, Sports, Hobby, Kids, Jobs, Travel, and so on. But, if you scroll through the top categories featured on the main page, you'll also spot options for photo ornaments; the ones we saw were for Weddings/Engagements or Memorials to honor a loved one who passed on.
Not as many choices as it seems
Just don't get your hopes up too high. When we went to what was supposedly a popular category, Engagement, we were shown zero products for "Anniversary, Engagement, Wedding Christmas Ornaments”. Our luck got a little better in Outdoor Recreation & Activities, with 181 ornaments to choose from. But, even the ornament with five stars only had one review, and it was from 10 years prior.
You'll spend almost $100 to get free delivery
You're also going to have to order a lot of Christmas ornaments to qualify for free shipping. Ornament Shop requires a minimum order of $99.
Typos and other site issues
We were also a little underwhelmed when we noticed a big typo right on the main ornaments page: "Collectable Ornamets” instead of "Ornaments”. And, that was also the case when we clicked on an FAQ link and were taken to a page called "Shipping”, where there were 4 out of stock items on display (and no FAQs or Shipping info to be found).
Reputation is really mixed
All of that makes us glad to see that Ornament Shop has an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau, and a strong average of 4.1 stars across more than 19,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Otherwise, we might have wondered if this store was on its way out, reputation-wise. However, when we started reading through the most recent reviews, the feedback was a mixed bag. We found some people describing ornaments that arrived in perfect condition and right on time, and others saying that their items were broken and that it took a long time to get any kind of resolution from Ornament Shop. It's great that they promise 100% customer satisfaction, but they need to actually deliver on that promise for it to count. And, unfortunately, we're not quite sure we can say that's the case for every order placed here.
Not a retailer we recommend anymore
From what we can see, Ornament Shop is resting on its laurels a little bit. It's great that they have received lots of 5-star reviews over the last 40+ years they've been in business, but at the moment, the attention to detail seems to have slipped (as demonstrated by typos on their own website, empty product categories, and recent customer reviews). We've had to drop this retailer in our ratings because, quite frankly, there are better places to get customized Christmas ornaments now.
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