By Jeff French Segall
Most of the Christmas trees are gone from the stand on the corner of West 90th Street and Columbus Avenue. In the quiet solitude of a pre-Christmas evening, tree seller Henry Woodard is arranging the few remaining smaller trees and holly bushes for sale the following day. In a couple of days, the lights, the temporary hut, and all the structures so skillfully and quickly erected such a short time ago will be gone. Henry and his partner Colby, tired but happy, after four weeks of 12-hour shifts will return to their peaceful, country lives in Vermont, each tending to his maple sugar lines and construction projects. We look forward to seeing them once again next December, well supplied with the new year’s trees, ornaments, and maple syrup. Well done, gentlemen.
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The Christmas tree sellers came in this year really trying to gouge loyal customers. On the UWS, $35-$50 a foot for Fraser Firs! Outrageous. They were hoisted by their own petards as trees went unsold and prices dropped to $10 a foot last Sunday! Hopefully, next year they come in right off the mark with fair pricing. My beautiful 10-foot Fraser looks amazing especially for $100
I suggest you acquaint yourself with an accurate definition of price gouging. Unless you consider a Christmas tree to be a necessity, what you’re describing is merely a pricing valuation that you don’t agree with.
I will really miss the tree sellers this year. They brought such a festive warmth to the neighborhood that we all needed 🎄
A family member just complained about the prices as well. Why claim that these men came all the way to Manhattan to gouge their loyal customers? Was it a case of, ‘this year we’ll get those people on the UWS?’ So much for the Spirit of the Season.
https://www.newsweek.com/christmas-tree-costs-rising-2023-1846851
I envision Bill as an older gentleman who remembers much lower prices in past years. I’m 71 and I remember a nice tree going for $7 to $10 when I was young. Traveling expenses and finding a place to stay through the pre-Christmas season is probably expensive. Perhaps $35-50/ft is a lot for a Christmas tree, but it’s not these fellow’s fault that inflation is rising, and they’re hardly “gouging.” Allowing for inflation, $35/foot is probably less than when we were younger…
@Caly
Please read the whole Newsweek article that you referenced. The explanation for the rise in tree prices was stated quite clearly: “The reason for the hike in prices comes down to Christmas tree suppliers’ own cost increases. Nearly all growers surveyed by the Real Christmas Tree Board said their input costs were climbing this year compared to last year.” If the prices for most goods and services have risen, it is not unreasonable that the prices for trees have moved upward also.
It really all comes down to the price of gas….
Yes, I did read the whole article and that’s why I posted it. My comment was in response to Bill.
“Why claim that these men came all the way to Manhattan to gouge their loyal customers? “
Bah humbug to reader Bill. These men have one day a year to sell these magnificent trees. They drive all the way from Vermont and back. They have to pay for their truck and gas and they also have to cut down the trees. That takes manpower. They need a place to reside while they’re here. Not everybody is out to get everybody. They probably make 10 cents a day per tree for the year. If you don’t like their pricing then don’t buy a tree. To make a public complaint about people just trying to make a living and bring a little cheer to the city is a cheap shot.
I’m surprised that we have never heard from the usual voices who complain about cars parking on the street as “taking public space for private storage”. I guess they must want Christmas trees themselves so this use of public sidewalks for private tree businesses is ok. (I don’t mind either one at all.).