Christmas tree scams - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Christmas tree scams

By: Kate Pabich
kpabich@cbs4qc.com

Beware when you're buying your Christmas tree this year. Some scammers are blaming this summer's drought for a little holiday price gouging.

Don't let yourself get fooled. Rick Wyffels is a tree farmer and says it was only the brand new trees that didn't make it this summer.

"Trees in our field are already established in the ground and have a good tap root. Even in this drought those trees did ok it's just the first year trees that struggled."

And those baby trees wouldn't be the ones to decorate this year anyway, so Wyffels doesn't know why others are raising prices.

"I'm not sure how they can justify that, the problem we have isn't going to hurt us for 4-5 years how you can add that on this year to try to make up for it isn't fair to the consumer."

Cynthia Glenski says that she didn't pay more for her tree this year but could have easily been tricked.

"I'd be really upset if I'd paid more knowing it was a scam."

Others say they wouldn't fall for it. For those of you worried that the Midwest will be left without Christmas trees in 4-5 years, don't worry. Wyffles says there are ways to get around it. This year they can plant more trees and bigger trees to make up for last year.