Dec 6, 2008 2:16 am US/Eastern
Bargain Hunters Find Affordable Christmas Trees
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Across the region, people are out in search of the perfect pine. Finding a Christmas tree that is a cut above, for cut-rate prices, is easier than some might think.
The troubled economy has many wishing money grew on trees.
For some happy Christmas tree vendors it really does, as they're such must-haves for the holidays that they appear to be recession-proof.
Newlyweds Scott and Lauren Kelly found the perfect tree for their holiday and after it was all wrapped up, the deal was sealed with this kiss.
"I actually even like that one first on the stand, but I wanted something fuller and it was right in the middle," Lauren said.
Scott and Lauren paid $100 for their tree, but CBS 2 found tall, full trees for a fraction of that price. At a nearby stand on Ninth Avenue at 53rd Street, every tree costs $25.
"Always haggle – I'm gonna see what the best price is, kind of do the 'Christmas Story' thing," Manhasset resident Michelle Pagano said. "I don't know if you ever saw that movie, with the guy trying to get the price down."
Massapequa resident Laura Knox had a similar strategy.
"If I'm there all night, I'm there all night," Knox said.
For most people who simply have to have a tree, often they'll splurge for the perfect trees and cut costs some other way, like spending less on the presents that go underneath it.
"You don't need an Xbox as a present or whatever, give a jumper or a sweater," British tourist Caroline Thoresen said.
"You can get inexpensive trees even if it's small," Queens resident Sabrina Hossain said. "Definitely get the tree, it's worth the money."
The owners of the fancy retail stores may be on pins and needles this holiday season, but Christmas tree vendors seem to be rolling in the green.
Because of the economy, vendors stocked up on more of the low-end, affordable trees. Even though wholesale prices for some sellers jumped five percent, that cost does not appear to be getting passed along to the consumer.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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