We haven’t even carved a pumpkin yet, but Costco just said “yeah, we’re doing this” and rolled out a 12-foot Christmas tree that’s already selling out. If your ceilings can handle it (and your wallet is feeling brave), grab a coffee, because this one’s giving us serious holiday whiplash in the best way.
Wait, Christmas Trees? In September?
Yes, really. Warehouses across the country have already lined their aisles with towering trees, giant Santa bears, and enough twinkle lights to blind a reindeer, all while the Halloween candy is still fully stocked next door. Shoppers have mixed feelings — one Costco fan told a local news crew “it’s a little early,” while another admitted “it’s rushing the season, I’d say” — but plenty of others are just quietly loading trees into their carts before they disappear.
And disappear they have. The showstopper of the bunch is a massive 12-foot Pre-Lit Radiant Micro LED tree, built for people with the kind of vaulted ceilings that make a normal 7.5-footer look like a houseplant. We’re talking over 4,000 color-changing micro LED lights, five different lighting effects, 13 brightness levels, and a remote so you never have to touch a plug again. Costco’s own EZ Connect system lets you slide the numbered sections together and be fully lit in under 10 minutes — no crawling around the base untangling strands like it’s 2019.
Why It’s Already Flying Off Shelves
Costco’s insider playbook has always been “see it, snag it” — seasonal inventory doesn’t get restocked once it’s gone, and that’s exactly what’s happening with the big trees. One shopper’s viral TikTok warned followers that her local warehouse had already sold out weeks before Black Friday, and the comments were full of people racing to their nearest store. It’s the same energy we saw with Costco’s wildest fall decor drop a few weeks back — go big, go early, or go home empty-handed.
That instinct isn’t wrong. Retailers count on early urgency, and it’s honestly one of the same psychology tricks that quietly drain your wallet at the grocery store — scarcity makes us move fast, whether it’s a $6.99 rotisserie chicken or a $999 Christmas tree. The difference here is the tree is actually a smart buy if you were going to get one anyway, since prices only climb closer to December.
Should You Buy Christmas Decor in September?
Honestly? If you’ve got the storage space and you know you’re buying a tree eventually, yes. Costco’s return policy is famously generous, the big-ticket seasonal items sell out first, and nobody wants to be the person still hunting for a 12-footer on December 20th. Pair it with one of Costco’s other big fall splurges — like the retro $199.99 SMEG toaster everyone’s been eyeing — and you’ve basically knocked out two “treat yourself” purchases in one trip.
If you’re more of a “let me enjoy pumpkin spice season in peace” type, no judgment — the trees aren’t going anywhere in your local warehouse’s back stock just yet. But if you’ve had your eye on that giant glowing centerpiece, this is officially your sign to swing by before the shelf tag says “out of stock.”
Have you spotted the 12-foot tree at your Costco yet? Tell us in the comments, and check back for more of the season’s best (and earliest) grocery finds.
Photo credits: Costco (product image via Warehouse Runner); Shutterstock via Best Life.
