ship Christmas tree with or without decorations

[nuzmom]

I am shipping a Christmas tree in the morning for a AKV tree share. Could someone please help...
I decorated the tree and placed it in a large box. Is this how you ship it? Or do you ship the tree "folded" with separate ornaments for each family to decorate once it arrives?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have always sent it decorated.

 

[nuzmom]

We have always sent it decorated.

Thanks for your reply.
I had a hard time finding a box to fit it, but we got it. It will be in the mail tomorrow.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for your reply.
I had a hard time finding a box to fit it, but we got it. It will be in the mail tomorrow.

That is true...hard to find a box! I hope you and your group make many great memories with your tree!

Bobbi

 

[nuzmom]

Thanks. We put so much thought into the tree and made most of the ornaments ourselves. We're so excited with how it turned out. But... I gave no thought to the box! I have a feeling that I'll be looking at boxes for months to come thinking "hey, this would be a good box for the tree share".
Oh well. Lesson learned. And very excited to be sharing a tree.

 

[brelyt]

Pictures?

 

[nuzmom]

The picture's small and doesn't show much of the details, but here it is:

 

[DenLo]

The picture's small and doesn't show much of the details, but here it is:

I was able to enlarge the photo when I double clicked on it. There was a magnify glass to enlarge the picture on the photo website. It is lovely and is definitely AKV themed.

 

[brelyt]

Very nice. Hoping we get to do this next year!

 

[daisyduck123]

Love that tree!

We spent Xmas 2007 (Dec. 20-26) at AKV when DVC was brand new to AKL. There was no tree share back then, to my knowledge. We pre-ordered a tree from the DISer (oh what is her name?) who had started her own business. Her tree was absolutely beautiful, but any family will be thrilled to get this tree. You are a very special person to do this.

 

[nuzmom]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

[dcfromva]

Nuzmom,
I love your tree-- it turned out really nice!
I did the tree for the BLT tree share this year. I took all the ornaments off to ship. I didn't know that folks normally ship with the decorations deployed (whoops!). Question-- did you get a box the size of the tree or did you scrunch the tree down a little bit to make it fit into the box? When it gets to the other end does it require a bit of fluffing up?

 

[nuzmom]

Nuzmom,
I love your tree-- it turned out really nice!
I did the tree for the BLT tree share this year. I took all the ornaments off to ship. I didn't know that folks normally ship with the decorations deployed (whoops!). Question-- did you get a box the size of the tree or did you scrunch the tree down a little bit to make it fit into the box? When it gets to the other end does it require a bit of fluffing up?

I used 2 medium sized boxes from home depot and slipped one on top of the other. I folded over the very top of the tree, but other than that, there really wasn't any scrunching. Sadly, when you get above a certain size, UPS charges by the cubic inch and that's what happened in my case. It was about $50 to ship, which in my opinion is a bit "too much". The original tree box would have been less than $20.

If I do this again, I will state upfront that I will ship it undecorated and all "folded up". A pre-lit tree would make it easy and I think it would be fun for each family to put the decorations on!

 

[dcfromva]

I used 2 medium sized boxes from home depot and slipped one on top of the other. I folded over the very top of the tree, but other than that, there really wasn't any scrunching. Sadly, when you get above a certain size, UPS charges by the cubic inch and that's what happened in my case. It was about $50 to ship, which in my opinion is a bit "too much". The original tree box would have been less than $20.

If I do this again, I will state upfront that I will ship it undecorated and all "folded up". A pre-lit tree would make it easy and I think it would be fun for each family to put the decorations on!

Oh my gosh! That is good to know.

 

[Pirate Granny]

I shipped the OKW a tree undecorated. Found a new box just last year. Fits extension cord, tree skirt,bungy cords (trying to avoid all the taping after each person), and decorations along with the tree .... Sent by US postal service. They lost it for a day or two, next year I'll mail it two weeks before it needs to get there, but it was about $30 to ship.

 

[castle1]

Great job on the tree!

 

[nuzmom]

Great job on the tree!

Aw, thanks. I really appreciate that.

 

[dcfromva]

I shipped the OKW a tree undecorated. Found a new box just last year. Fits extension cord, tree skirt,bungy cords (trying to avoid all the taping after each person), and decorations along with the tree .... Sent by US postal service. They lost it for a day or two, next year I'll mail it two weeks before it needs to get there, but it was about $30 to ship.

Gosh --it seems like there are so many variables. Do you remember the box dimensions? I sent the BLT tree via UPS (from VA) and it cost $16.00. I believe the box size was 10X14X24 and weighed 10#'s. It took from Friday the 21st to Wednesday the 26th to get there, though. (It seemed like a long time).

 

[Pirate Granny]

My box is at least 36 inches long and deeper than 10 inches. The old box had a built in handle which was nice...but all the tape and undoing tape did the box in...three years of OKW, BCV and OKW. So I went with the bungy cords for while its at the resorts....I sent it a week ahead of time....and don't get me started on the first person who was SUPPOSED to have the tree... But it is save and sound now with Wilson Flyer!

I have tree #2 at Jambo...is that yours?

 

[nuzmom]

Our box size was 18x18x30, weighed 13 pounds, and shipped from PA. About the smallest box I could have used to ship it decorated would have been about 14x14x28. I shipped it early on Tuesday, Nov 25th and it arrived Monday, Dec 1st (Thanksgiving holiday in there). Well, tracking said it arrived. I haven't gotten word of that for certain.

I sort of had to just go with the boxes we had on hand - my DH said he had the "perfect" box at work but forgot to bring it home until Nov 24th, and it was even bigger.

I had only read instructions to ship it decorated (hence why I started this thread) and didn't realize the cost until I went to print the shipping label. I think shipping, undecorated, in a small box would make transporting it to the rooms easier, too. Next time

This tree is AKV tree 3 (Kidani).

Question:
I am the last person to have this tree this trip so I'm not going to ship it back. Actually, I'm considering just packing the ornaments in my luggage (nothing is breakable) and not even bringing the tree back home. I only paid $18 for it (great sale), so shipping it (even folded in the original box) doesn't make much sense. If I do this again, I would buy a pre-lit tree, so I don't really need the lights either. I'm thinking of starting a thread to see if anyone would like it (we check out on Dec 23rd). It would be a tree with lights, but no ornaments. Do you think someone would want it?