Balsam Hill Review

Friday, March 5th

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 on a holiday mission: to offer the most realistic Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands ever made. This is a higher-end retailer, and it shows.

Features:

• Approximately 450 Christmas trees to choose from
• Returns accepted within 30 days or before December 24 (whichever comes first); prepaid return shipping labels available for $25. Fees waived if exchanging your Christmas tree for an item of equal or greater value.
• 3-year warranty on all non-clearance trees (even pre-lit)
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB

One Of Our Favorites

We could tell that Balsam Hill put a lot of thought and effort into their online storefront. It's one of our favorite shopping experiences, mostly because everything is extremely visual - from depictions of the three different types of tree needles, light options, and tree shapes, to images that rotate if you hover over them with the mouse (e.g. full tree view, close-up of branches, etc.). You'll find even more detail on individual product pages - equally visually-appealing and intuitive in design.

Branch Samples Available

Most of the trees you see come in multiple heights, which you'll see in greater detail when you choose a style of Christmas tree that interests you. If you want to get a better idea of the branches, consider ordering a branch sample kit for $19. It comes with samples from 24 different Balsam Hill trees, and BH will deduct the cost of the kit from your tree purchase. We didn't find this service offered by any other Christmas tree retailer on the market - just another indicator of this retailer's desire to provide a top-notch experience for their customers.

Onsite Sales Available

During our most recent visit to the Balsam Hill online store, there was a sale offering up to 50% off and free shipping. There were more than 400 Christmas trees included in that promotion, like a traditional 6.5' unlit Classic Blue Spruce for just $199 (originally $499) and a 10' Fraser Fir with clear LED lights for $1399 (originally $1899). Be sure to take a peek at the top of the site when you shop, in case there are any sales or discounts you might like.

One Of The Most Expensive Stores...

You may want to snag one of those discounts, because Balsam Hill Christmas trees are some of the most expensive in our review. Almost half of the trees they sell are priced over $800, with their highest-priced model being the 18' California Baby Redwood for $7499 (sale price, originally priced at $9499). The most economical Christmas tree for sale is the 4.5' Classic Blue Spruce, discounted to $149 from a regular price of $299.

...but The Quality Is Top-notch

But, loyal Balsam Hill customers would say their trees are worth the extra money. One feature you'll find that is particularly popular is the "Flip Tree": BH describes it as "stored upside-down on a built-in rolling stand" that "flips into display position in seconds for unmatched ease of setup". That's right: no more painstakingly inserting each branch, or trying to fit the topper into the base with these trees. Naturally, that convenience makes for a more expensive Christmas tree, but think of the time and hassle you'll save.

3 Year Warranty

Plus, Balsam Hill warranties all of their trees for three years - and that includes repair or replacement of lights on pre-lit trees. Remember how aggravated you felt after your lights burned out after just one season? You won't have that experience again with a Balsam Hill Christmas tree (well, at least not for three years!).

Simple Return Policy

Alternately, if you need to return your tree, you'll have the standard 30 days from the date of delivery to get it back - or before Christmas Day, whichever comes first. You can pay $25 for a prepaid return label, or if you plan on exchanging your Christmas tree for something of equal or higher value, Balsam Hill will cover that cost.

A Christmas Tree You'll Love

There's so much to love about the Christmas trees at Balsam Hill, from unique set-up features to stunningly realistic branches that may even fool you into thinking they're fresh from the tree farm. You'll definitely spend more for a Balsam Hill tree, but you're going to love it for many years to come.