Anonymous
11/19/2025 17:37
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’ve had the Costco one for 8 years, still going strong. I love it.
+1
Same here! So satisfying to just plug it in and add a few ornaments.
When it kicks the bed I’m going back to live trees but small ones - empty nesters now and I love the quaintness of a small live tree
Anonymous
11/18/2025 19:37
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:We’ve had the Costco one for 8 years, still going strong. I love it.
+1
Anonymous
11/18/2025 19:20
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
I have a beautiful Balsam Hill tree, but got it unlit. I’ve read too many complaints at the lights going out on pre lit trees after just a couple years. Much better to just buy separate lights. It doesn’t take that long to put them on and off. Plus we can switch it up over time.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 09:47
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
I just got this, and love it: https://shop.nationaltree.com/products/6-ft-arcadia-pine-cashmere-tree?_pos=2&_psq=arcadia&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=43725072171226
It's SUPER full. I love it. I put on my own lights because I didn't want to deal with a pre-lit tree not lighting after a few years. I think it also comes in 7.5 feet.
It's SUPER full. I love it. I put on my own lights because I didn't want to deal with a pre-lit tree not lighting after a few years. I think it also comes in 7.5 feet.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 08:26
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
This year, because of tariffs, they will be much more expensive. If you find one you love, try to get it on sale. Interview with Balsam Hill reveals they did layoffs, preordered as much as possible before tariffs took effect. Stores ordered less than usual because of high price. There will be shortages this year, so get it early.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 07:28
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
We typically do Balsam Hill but I'm very happy with the 9ft one we bought at Costco this year. Much cheaper than if I went back to Balsam Hill.
Anonymous
11/15/2025 20:14
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
In my last house I put up 17 trees. Current house 10. So I think this qualifies me as an "expert" of some kind (haha!).
My takeaway after decades of multiple trees is that I will never, ever buy a pre-lit tree or garland again. We are fortunate to have huge closets and we store all the trees decorated. This means minimal stress on the light strings. But we still get several light strands per tree just suddenly going out. It's not a bulb issue, it has to be a wiring issue.
So on a pre-lit tree, this means when a strand (and sometimes half the strand) goes out, it's almost impossible to remove the dead strand. They zip tie each light to the branch and it takes a wire cutter to get it out. Then the challenge of finding a matching box of lights - almost impossible. If they are white, there is true "warm white", then there are many, many brands claiming to be "warm white" but they are really blinding, and then there is bright white, and on and on.
My other tip, is to never connect the strands end-to-end. This makes it really hard to remove a dead strand. I start every strand from mid back and out to its section. If it dies, much easier to find, remove and replace.
DH decided this year to move from iridescent to LED, but we like the old-fashioned warm/beige white and the muted colored lights. We found some at Target and bought out their supply of 18 boxes of truly warm white (100 count) and went online to order 20 boxes of colored (100 count). Supposedly the regular lights last several seasons before they start burning out or getting the wires messed up. The LED is supposed to last 10 or more years before failure.
We went to Hobby Lobby, Lowes and Target today. Every tree at HL was pre-lit except one. So it is harder to find unlighted, but in the end, it really is easier than the lighted trees which are great the first few years, then become a frustrating effort when the first strand goes out.
My takeaway after decades of multiple trees is that I will never, ever buy a pre-lit tree or garland again. We are fortunate to have huge closets and we store all the trees decorated. This means minimal stress on the light strings. But we still get several light strands per tree just suddenly going out. It's not a bulb issue, it has to be a wiring issue.
So on a pre-lit tree, this means when a strand (and sometimes half the strand) goes out, it's almost impossible to remove the dead strand. They zip tie each light to the branch and it takes a wire cutter to get it out. Then the challenge of finding a matching box of lights - almost impossible. If they are white, there is true "warm white", then there are many, many brands claiming to be "warm white" but they are really blinding, and then there is bright white, and on and on.
My other tip, is to never connect the strands end-to-end. This makes it really hard to remove a dead strand. I start every strand from mid back and out to its section. If it dies, much easier to find, remove and replace.
DH decided this year to move from iridescent to LED, but we like the old-fashioned warm/beige white and the muted colored lights. We found some at Target and bought out their supply of 18 boxes of truly warm white (100 count) and went online to order 20 boxes of colored (100 count). Supposedly the regular lights last several seasons before they start burning out or getting the wires messed up. The LED is supposed to last 10 or more years before failure.
We went to Hobby Lobby, Lowes and Target today. Every tree at HL was pre-lit except one. So it is harder to find unlighted, but in the end, it really is easier than the lighted trees which are great the first few years, then become a frustrating effort when the first strand goes out.
Anonymous
11/15/2025 18:50
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Thirding the costco rec.
We have this one: https://www.costco.com/p/-/75-pre-lit-radiant-micro-led-with-twinkle-artificial-christmas-tree/4000359602?langId=-1
It comes in a bigger version too if you have tall ceilings. Usually it goes on sale at some point. They have it in the warehouse if you want to see it in person.
We have this one: https://www.costco.com/p/-/75-pre-lit-radiant-micro-led-with-twinkle-artificial-christmas-tree/4000359602?langId=-1
It comes in a bigger version too if you have tall ceilings. Usually it goes on sale at some point. They have it in the warehouse if you want to see it in person.
Anonymous
11/15/2025 18:45
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous
11/15/2025 17:03
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Bot on the fritz? ^
oops. something abut this site, i often end up double posting.
:/
Smoking too much of that wacky tobakee?
Anonymous
11/15/2025 14:23
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Bot on the fritz? ^
oops. something abut this site, i often end up double posting.
:/
Anonymous
11/15/2025 14:22
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Ok you have to elaborate on that.
we had 3.5 feet of water in our house in a flood. tree was in the garage. we used that tree one year.
Anonymous
11/15/2025 14:22
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Bot on the fritz? ^
Anonymous
11/15/2025 14:21
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Anonymous
11/15/2025 14:06
Subject: Pre-Lit Artificial Tree
Anonymous wrote:i HATE putting lights on, so prelit, for me, all the way. we have had good luck with ours. i'm on my second prelit tree. the first one was lost in a flood. the second one is going on its 7th year with no light failure, and this is a 100 dollar demo tree from walmart!
Ok you have to elaborate on that.