We've bought our Christmas tree from Southbound Produce for the past 10 years, (as well as a 2nd tree for my parents for at least the past 5 years, plus 3 tree stands), but I doubt we'll be going back next year. Their trees are always significantly more expensive than other places, but we were always willing to pay it for the exceptional service (when John helped us) and the great smelling trees. However, twice now in the past 3 years, we've had to take our tree back to be re-cut because it was way too tall despite us telling the salesman that we have 8 ft ceilings, we use the stand they sell there, and we need space for a small star. The trees have been so tall that we cannot even stand them up inside our house. It's very frustrating to have to get the tree back off the stand, into or onto the car, and drive it back. We can't cut the trunk ourselves since they drill a hole in the bottom for the spike in the special stand they sell.
About 5 days after getting our tree, we went back to get one for my parents (since they also have the special tree stand Southbound sells), and we paid $20 less for a tree that was the perfect size (for their home and ours). So that either means pricing is completely arbitrary OR we were charged extra for the unwanted extra height on our tree.
The real kicker is how dead and dry our tree is. We put it in water right away, have kept the stand full of water, use LED lights and only have them on a couple hours a day max, and our house is only 68 degrees. The needles were falling off right from the beginning and have continued to do so in the just over 2 weeks since we bought it. We've been trying to avoid touching it at all, because when you do, all the needles fall right off--see the picture after I replaced a very light weight shatter-proof ornament that had fallen off. So disappointed and just ready to get this fire hazard out of my house. read more