Hi, I own a pre-lit Christmas tree and the second year, part of the lights on the tree stopped working also. I do love the convenience of pre-lit trees, but i think the next time i buy a tree, it will not be a pre-lit. I have had many experiences with family and friends with light segments going out on their trees, so my suggestion to you would be to buy a tree without lights. It is slightly more work to set up, but at least if a strand of lights goes out, all you have to do is buy a new strand. Also, it would allow you to change light strand colors year to year. Everyone has there own tastes, but when it comes to Christmas lights, in my opinion, there is nothing like the traditional incandescent (regular not LED). LED tend to glare while Incandescent Christmas lights give a sparkling golden glow. Also when it comes to light strand life, I have had about the same luck with LED as regular incandescent. Most light strands today are made so that if one light bulb goes out, the rest stay lit. But I still have issues with light strands because light bulbs burning out are only one of many problems with light strands. My most common problems are missing light bulbs, broken light bulbs, or having a short in the light strand. So my advice to you would be to get a regular artificial tree and put the lights on manually, then if a strand goes out, you won't feel bad because it will be easily replaced : )

I always put a real tree in my formal living room, but I wanted a new artificial one for the game room and I found one that I really liked at Lowes. It is a 9ft. slim fir style w/ a few pine cones, no lights( they did have same tree w/ lights) this tree is decorated in birds & houses. I have been puttig off this purchase because I couldn't find one that looked real, but this one sure does.It was on sale for $150.00.

Do you mean for a real tree, or are you getting a faux tree? IF getting a faux, the tree stand is usually included. Good luck!

Very lovely! I have a question, where and how do you store all of your decorations the rest of the year? Garage? Shed? Rental unit? I decorate fairly extensively inside our home for Christmas, but nothing outside really, and my storage boxes have pretty much taken over our large garage storage closet. So much so, my DH is threatening to "lose some". But, anyhoo, my major Christmas decorating starts today, so thank you for your inspirational jumpstart.