Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas for January 2021

Item: Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas
Rating: 4.5

Tuesday, January 19th

2021 Christmas Tree Store Reviews

Balsam Hill

Sample Pricing: 7.5' Balsam Hill Pre-Lit Noble Fir with Clear LED Lights - regularly $1299, currently $999

Balsam Hill is the luxury store for Christmas trees, with extremely high-quality, lifelike designs (and the price tags to match). We love the visual nature of the Balsam Hill online store, as well as the ability to order a branch sample kit for a small fee. This retailer has very devoted customers who say that they would never buy a tree anywhere else, especially because of perks like a three-year warranty and Flip Trees that make it possible for setup to be done in less than a minute. We're confident that your Balsam Hill shopping experience will be a pleasure from start to finish.

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King of Christmas

Sample Pricing: 7' Pre-Lit King Noble Fir with Warm White LED Lights - $319

King of Christmas has a nice variety of trees and other holiday accessories to choose from when shopping their easy-to-use online store. You'll get free shipping in the lower 48 United States, plus two years of warranty coverage. But, customer feedback is mixed: some have gotten excellent service when problems have arisen, while others have felt left in the lurch. This isn't a bad place to buy your Christmas tree, but you'll get a much wider selection and more reliable customer service from a higher-ranked retailer.

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See Trees

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See Trees

Read Full Review

See Trees

More Christmas Tree Store Reviews

The 8 Best Christmas Tree Stores

Where Can You Find the Best Selection of Christmas Trees?

You've probably got your ideal tree in mind: something that fills your front room, brings a touch of joy to a corner of your studio, or spotlights your family's favorite memories and traditions from years past. For many people, putting up the Christmas tree signals the start of the holiday season - some even leave their tree up year-round! Whether you're an early decorator, last-minute elf, or all-year-long Christmas fan, you'll want the right tree for your space and style.

However, finding the Christmas tree you want can leave you feeling a little Grinch-y. Brick-and-mortar stores have started displaying holiday merchandise earlier and earlier, and it's not uncommon to find trees out of stock before December even arrives. You could go the live tree route, but unless you've got a way to transport your Christmas tree from the lot to your home and a special water-holding stand to keep it from drying out, that won't be a hassle-free option either. (And that's definitely not a Christmas tree you can leave up year-round!)

Continue reading below

Christmas Tree Store FAQ

How did the tradition of putting up Christmas trees begin?

Whether you look to the ancient Romans and Egyptians for their symbolic use of evergreens or to Americans bringing over the German tradition of candlelit trees in the 1800s, it's easy to see that Christmas trees have been a treasured part of winter holiday celebrations for centuries. Modern traditions now include personalized ornaments for each new year, trees themed to recognize favorite sports teams or fandoms, and, of course, the large-scale trees featured in NYC's Rockefeller Center and other big cities around the world.

Should I buy a real tree or an artificial one?

That's definitely a question of preference. Some families love the annual tradition of trekking out to the Christmas tree farm (or parking lot store!) and selecting the perfect tree for that year. Other people prefer to have a tree that they can use for many years without sacrificing a living one. Artificial trees don't tend to shed "needles" as readily as real ones, and there's no need to keep it watered to prevent drying out and becoming a fire hazard!

What's the difference between LED lights and incandescent bulbs?

In the past, your only option for Christmas tree lights were the incandescent variety - and strings of lights might only last a season or two before burning out. LED lights are usually a little more expensive, but they last longer and use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs need - ultimately saving you money in the long run.

What happens if a bulb burns out? Will the whole tree go out too?

You're not wrong to wonder - that's how it used to be! You may still find some light strands where one faulty bulb will take out the whole bunch, but most lights on pre-lit trees use a technology that keeps the tree lit even if a bulb (or several) go out. You'll often get extra bulbs and fuses with your purchase, if your tree requires them.

Are artificial trees difficult to set up?

Some are easier than others. You may have to insert individual branches into the "trunk" , hang tree sections from a center pole, or fluff the branches after being in storage. There are some Christmas trees that come in just two sections (base and top) and can be set up in a few minutes. Keep the assembly method in mind as you shop, especially if you're buying a larger tree that might be unwieldy to put together!

Can I use my artificial Christmas tree outdoors?

Most trees, particularly the pre-lit types, are rated for indoor use only. Depending on the retailer you shop, you may be able to find models that are designed for indoor/outdoor use. You might need to check the product specifications for each tree, if the site doesn't have a category just for outdoor use Christmas trees.

Can I return my Christmas tree if I don't like it?

You won't be surprised to hear that it depends on the retailer. You may find that returns are only accepted on unused, unopened Christmas trees, that returns are accepted but you'll be charged a restocking fee, and/or you'll be on the hook to pay for the return shipping. It might be worth doing an exchange for a tree you'll like more rather than doing a return: many stores will cover your return shipping costs if you're getting another Christmas tree from their inventory.

Is it safe to buy my Christmas tree online?

Absolutely! And, for many people, it's a much better option than buying one at a brick-and-mortar retailer: would you rather have your Christmas tree delivered right to your doorstep or have to figure out how to get it home from the store? Most Christmas tree stores have been in business for many years, with a well-established track record of high-quality merchandise and attention to customer service - so go find that tree you've always wanted!

Continued from above...

Fortunately, online retailers make it possible for your Christmas tree to arrive right on your doorstep with just a few clicks of the mouse. Instead of driving all over town hoping to find the one you want in stock, you can get the world's biggest inventory at your fingertips. From traditional firs and pines - with or without lights and flocking - to novelty designs like upside-down trees and unusual colors (think hot pink, candy cane stripes or even red-white-and-blue!), you'll have no problem getting the Christmas tree of your dreams.

As you shop for your Christmas tree, how can you tell which retailer should get your business? Here are several criteria that can help you make the choice:

Selection. How many Christmas trees does the store offer? Some stores carry just a few dozen styles, while others sell more than 8000! Are they all in stock, or are there many that are sold out? Can you get live trees as well as artificial ones? There's at least one retailer that gives you both options.
Price. Does the retailer have trees in your price range? How do those prices compare with rival stores? Are there any perks like free shipping or promotional discounts that make your purchase more affordable?
Reputation. What do other shoppers have to say - about the trees themselves and the customer service experience? Has the retailer been rated by the BBB?

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best online retailers of Christmas trees. We hope this information helps you make your holidays merry and bright with the perfect tree for your home or office!

Compare Christmas Tree Stores

Select any 2 Christmas Tree Stores to compare them head to head

best-christmas-trees

Home Depot

Wayfair

Balsam Hill

Michaels

Treetopia

Christmas Central

Christmas Lights Etc.

King of Christmas

Home Depot vs Wayfair Home Depot vs Balsam Hill Home Depot vs Michaels Home Depot vs Treetopia Home Depot vs Christmas Central Home Depot vs Christmas Lights Etc. Home Depot vs King of Christmas Wayfair vs Balsam Hill Wayfair vs Michaels Wayfair vs Treetopia Wayfair vs Christmas Central Wayfair vs Christmas Lights Etc. Wayfair vs King of Christmas Balsam Hill vs Michaels Balsam Hill vs Treetopia Balsam Hill vs Christmas Central Balsam Hill vs Christmas Lights Etc. Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas Michaels vs Treetopia Michaels vs Christmas Central Michaels vs Christmas Lights Etc. Michaels vs King of Christmas Treetopia vs Christmas Central Treetopia vs Christmas Lights Etc. Treetopia vs King of Christmas Christmas Central vs Christmas Lights Etc. Christmas Central vs King of Christmas Christmas Lights Etc. vs King of Christmas

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Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas