Tree Classics shame on Tree Classics Oak Creek, Wisconsin

I have had the worst experience imaginable with Tree Classics that I hope you can share so that others will not suffer the same shameful service. As I detail below, I received a $410+ defective tree from their company that they refused to replace or repair, even though a 30-day warranty is posted next to the tree on their website. I ne­ver asked for a refund for the original cost of the tree, but only requested that they allow me to credit the cost of the tree toward another purchase from their company. After over a month of e-mails, phone calls, and endless time on hold, they ultimately refused to take any action. Here are more details:

1. I either received a defective tree, or Tree Classics is knowingly continuing to sell an inferior product. The Fraser Flip Tree I received had an approximately 1-foot gap on each side of the tree. At additional expense, I purchased ribbon and large ornaments to attempt to mask the gap, but you can still see right through the tree. Additionally, a section of lights stopped working almost immediately, and the tree has begun to lean forward and sideways.

2. The website provides no disclaimers regarding this problem with the tree, nor did they provide specific instructions on how to fix the problem on the website or in the shipping box. I cannot imagine other customers have not experienced a similar problem. When we contacted Customer Service by e-mail and phone, they said we just needed to fluff and re-shape the tree. Nothing has helped.

3. There were also significant problems with the delivery of my tree. My purchase immediately cleared my bank account, but I did not receive it in a timely manner, nor was it shipped via FedEx as promised on the Tree Classics website. It was shipped from a company called My Seko. Although I e-mailed Tree Classics repeatedly and asked that someone call me to resolve the matter, I only received e-mails advising me to contact the shipping company directly. I finally looked their number up on that company's website, called, and learned that Tree Classics had provided them with an incorrect phone number, thus they had been unable to deliver the tree. My tree had been sitting in the MySeko warehouse for days, but Tree Classics never intervened on my behalf. Instead they blamed their own Tree Classics warehouse for giving the shipping company the wrong number. Isn't the Tree Classics warehouse part of Tree Classics by definition?

4. Tree Classics intentionally deceives potential customers by removing negative comments from their Twitter feed and Facebook page, cutting and pasting idential reviews from one tree to others on their website, and neglecting to publish negative reviews to their website. These practices haven't just happened to me, but to others as well.

This company claims that to pride itself on high-quality products and responsive customer service, but consumers have no recourse when something goes wrong. Please share this review with others so that they will not make the same mistake I made in purchasing a $410 defective tree from this company.