christmas

[mmlsea]

my associate and I are considering importing some real christmas trees to HK this holiday season...

does anybody have any experiences (good or bad) with purchasing trees? specifically, what would make it easier/more pleasant to get a tree this season versus things that have been a hassle in the past? we have done all the homework on the import aspects- now i'm interested in the customer service end of the business.

any suggestions or stories you can share would be really appreciated!

[carang]

i've never had a problem getting a real tree.....no hassles at all...i've ordered from different places before as well.

[mmlsea]

do you pre-order in advance or do you just order one when you want it and have it delivered?
also do you typically go with ikea or a small vendor?

[carang]

usually i pre-order.

i have done ikea in the past. never a problem trees are usually ok, but not as full as i would generally like.

i have also used small vendors in the past. again, pre-ordered. i now live in sai kung and there are LOTS of nurseries around, so i could just go and get one there and have it delivered.

the supermarket in sai kung also does trees... so, really they are not hard to come by. just expensive. (although, not much more than if you were in canada, considering the shipping).

[mmlsea]

how early do you have to pre-order? do the smaller vendors make you pay a deposit? I have spent plenty of time in sai kung but not during the holidays so I'm trying to picture where they sell the trees from-

whats the usual price? and would people pay a bit more for a fluffy tree? we are trying to decide which varieties to order from our supplier in Oregon- they have a lot of options available... does everybody have their tree delivered?

sorry for all the questions- I do really appreciate your input. My dad has lived in Hong Kong for years but never bothers with a tree so I'm trying to find good info from others. Thanks so much!!

[carang]

ok....

how early do you have to pre-order?"

usually around halloween(but many people do not pre-order)

"do the smaller vendors make you pay a deposit?"

usually you pay the entire amount which includes delivery and a good quality stand

"I'm trying to picture where they sell the trees from-"

there are dozens of nurseries around sai kung... they ALL have them. as do many other places around hong kong.

"whats the usual price?"

depends on the tree and the height, of course...we usually go for a 6' tree. i've spent anywhere from $400-1200 for a tree

"we are trying to decide which varieties to order from our supplier in Oregon- they have a lot of options available"

the most popular here seem to be douglas and noble firs

"does everybody have their tree delivered?"

generally, yes, i would think so. most people don't have a car or if they have, it's not big enough, or if it is, it's a rolls royce....

[TS888]

I imagine this will make it quite a puzzle for future archeologists, trying to understand how immature trees indigenous to the Pacific NW of the US ended up in the trash tip of a city in China...

[rani]

There are lots of places selling real xmas trees in HK. I think even the local supermarkets, ParknShop/Wellcome were taking orders last year

[rani]

have a read through this article

Shopping For Christmas Decorations | Hong Kong GeoExpat

[mmlsea]

so douglas fir and noble... all 6 foot/2 meters. Any call for shorter, smaller trees?

what do you feel is the easiest way to preorder?
do you pay a deposit or just put your name in for a specific size and delivery date? cod? credit card?