So, I finally got the Christmas Tree all put away. Yes, you read that right, I put the tree decorations away and the tree will be on it’s way to the dump. This is not the way this story was supposed to go. Let’s go back a few months….

As some of you know, I buy items from QVC. I’ve found some good deals through them and some interesting products. They do a “Christmas in  July” every year, where they offer some of their best deals. In July of 2011, I bought a lovely, pre lit artificial Christmas tree, partially in the hopes that I’d have a new home to put in it by the holidays. When it arrived, we assembled it and made sure it worked and put it away in it’s own storage bag.

As luck would have it, Stan and I did not get a new house until this last February, but I knew that we’d be all ready when the holidays came.It had been two years since I decorated for the holidays and I was looking forward to decorating the tree and house with other things that had been in storage. In early November, I was contacted by QVC with “Important Information” regarding my tree. The central pole of the tree is where the power comes from and this item plugs into the wall with a cord with a step-on switch. QVC told me to unplug the tree (which was still in its bag in the basement at that time) and not to use it. They had several reports of the plugs over heating and causing damage including fires. They would tell me soon what to do about this issue. Christmas Tree becomes Yule Log is not a good thing.

Since we were going to have a Christmas Party, we set the base potion of the tree up in the enty, expecting that that’s where it would be eventually. QVC subsequently told me that I could have a new base unit if I sent them cord/plug assembly, and that they would send it 2nd/day air as soon as I sent it. It didn’t arrive in time for the party, but when it did we had a quiet couple of days, and so we decorated the tree. It looked really nice, with a good shape and well lit with colored LED lights, and I felt satisfied that things were good. I only took one photo of the tree on my phone, so I don’t have a photo to share.

About a week later, I got another urgent phone call from QVC to unplug the tree and not use it as the replacement bases had caused the same issues. Back to burn, baby, burn.  For my trouble QVC was sending a $100 gift check and would give me a complete refund. I’m sure that QVC is not happy with their supplier, a company that has sold millions of trees over the years. This tree must just be the lemon, but that doesn’t help them with their customers.

As Stan has pointed out, QVC has been very pro-active with their customers on this issue. I got phone calls, emails and letters from them. If I’d bought this tree from just some retail outlet, I might well have not found out until something bad happened. And they did try to make things right, but cut their losses when it seemed stupid to try again.

However, we are now going to have to get a new tree for next year. At this point, with going to California in a few days, it makes no sense to get a tree for this year. I’m a bit annoyed by Christmas Trees at the moment, too. Maybe not the best time to buy.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how burny are your branches……..