O/T Christmas Trees

Anonymous-0 · Dec 15, 2008

Here where I live, and I'm sure in other parts of the country after Christmas I see a lot of trees that were not sold. How do the tree lots make money when they throw a lot of trees away. The only thing I can come up with is the tree farms must sell the trees very cheap. The average price here for trees, ranges around 25.00 to 60.00. Any one else raise trees besides Walt? Stan

Michael Soldan · Dec 15, 2008

I'm guessing that the tree lots pay $7 to $10 a tree, order ahead and maybe take 250 at a time. In my mind anything over $30 for a tree is pricing oneself out of the market

molinebob · Dec 15, 2008

Here in northern mn, we pay 20.00 a tree, go cut it ourselves, they provide the wheeler or snowmachine and sled, then we go back to their cabin for cookies and hot chocalate, all for $20.00. Really good family time.

rrlund · Dec 15, 2008

I'm in a big Christmas tree growing area,but I don't grow them myself. Couldn't tell you what the wholesale price is. They must do OK. I've seen entire fields that couldn't be sold in the year that they were ready where they've gone in and destroyed the whole crop because it wasn't saleable the next year.

RayP(MI) · Dec 15, 2008

Here they chop them for wood chips, or put them in the lakes for superstructure for fis to hide in.

Bob M · Dec 15, 2008

For nearly 20 years myself and my old tractors have moonlighted at a friend's "choose 'n cut" tree farm here in western NY. Despite several days of unseasonable cold, etc. the first 3 weekends this season seem to have been have been pretty good.

Most customers cut their own tree. However precut trees - most harvested in our own lot - have been selling briskly. Have had to send a crew out a couple times each afternoon to replenish the 40 - 50 precuts we keep on display. By the end of the day yesterday there were maybe 5 precuts left on display.

Also by yesterday the 60+ acre tree lot was pretty well picked clean of larger (9'+) "U cut" trees.

So from my narrow perspective the tree business seems to be doing OK here.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 15, 2008

I thought I would beat the system and buy a root ball tree.Did it in the past and it worked out well.Only this year I went bigger.Kid loaded me with a forklift.I way underestimated the weight of the root ball.I need three men and a mule just to move the thing.Its still outside on the lawn.HEAVY.

RobMD · Dec 15, 2008

37.50 is simply retarded for a tree around here. And 60 bucks? ha ha ha... I will buy a 35 dollar permanent walmart tree before i do that.

Bill in NorthCentral PA · Dec 15, 2008

I grow a few trees as a side job. The retail markup is substantial, but as you see, generally equal to the risk. The people I sell to report a 100% markup, with some variation on species, size, etc. Our farm is in a rural area, a couple of 4,000 population towns nearby, and the difference between profit and loss is in the weather. Good weather brings people out to the farm to cut their own, bad weather sends them to the tree lots.

I did the retail thing down outside of Philly one year. My prices were the best in town, with the nicest trees I could grow (comparable or better than competitors) and I lost my shirt. I didn't count on the loyalty factor. People would drive right by to another lot and pay more. Retailers need to work up an established clientele to get into the decent profit size range.

It sure seems like good money, but an awful lot goes into the retail side, including risk - December 26th makes the prices drop considerably!

Vito · Dec 15, 2008

Paid $ 42.00 for a 7 footer in CT.Me and my oldest son ( 6 yrs of age) cut it ourselves.

Vito

landlord7012 · Dec 15, 2008

Our local produce stand sells trees too. $35 to $85 depending on size and variety is simply crazy to me but I refuse to put up a plastic tree so being the patient guy I am I wait until December 24th when the people who run the stand have gone home and left an honor box with the liquor store next door. 1/2 off everything and $5 for "Charlie Brown" scrubs. Pay for the tree including a little tip, pick up some whiskey and home we go to put up the tree on Christmas Eve just like the old days.

Merry Christmas,
Bill

Anonymous-0 · Dec 15, 2008

MAN! Those prices make me VERY glad we don't waste time with a tree.....

O/T Christmas Trees

Anonymous-0

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Michael Soldan

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molinebob

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rrlund

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RayP(MI)

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Bob M

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Anonymous-0

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RobMD

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Bill in NorthCentral PA

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Vito

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landlord7012

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Anonymous-0

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