Buying A Christmas Tree? Big Price Difference Between Buying In NJ Vs. NYC
SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's that time of year when many of us hit lots to buy Christmas trees.
Will it cost more this year? Where can you find the best deals? And what kind of tree holds up best? CBS 2's Christine Sloan went out Tuesday to find the answers.
Freda Brown went shopping for the perfect Christmas tree on Tuesday, saying she wanted one "not too big and not too wide." And she got the one -- a Fraser Fir about 6-feet tall at Parker Gardens in New Jersey. It cost her about $40.
LINK: Check Out CBSNewYork's Christmas Tree Farm Guide
At the same place, they also have 10-foot Fraser Firs that go for about $99.
But the same-sized Fraser Fir costs a lot more on the Upper East Side in New York City -- a whopping $250.
Customers said the price is worth the convenience, especially if you don't have a car.
"I actually live right here next door on Madison to a very lovely florist and they're a lot more expensive, so I come here," Jean McMahon said.
And the 6-foot Fraser Firs on the Upper East Side go for $125 -- almost three times more than the ones in the suburbs.
CBS 2's Sloan even found a Balsam Fir for $19.95 on Route 22 in New Jersey, but there are plenty of deals in East Harlem.
Some small trees, ideal for apartments, go for about $35.
"It would be nicer to not spend a fortune on your tree, but getting it back home would be the other issue," said Kelly King, of the Upper East Side.
A plus point to the Fraser Fir is that the needles don't come off and it's easier to hang your Christmas ornaments on the tree.
"And another pretty thing about the tree is the underside of needle is silver," said Jolene Flaagan, of Parker Gardens. "So you have this kind of shimmering bi-color look to the tree."
No matter what Christmas tree you choose, experts said the good news is prices are about the same as they were last year.
While prices have stayed the same, some sellers said trees are being snapped up much sooner this year.
What type of tree are you buying this Christmas? Let us know in the comments section below...
