Buyer's Checklist
Comparing Christmas Light Stores? Start Here
Most Christmas lights look identical in a photo. The differences show up in year three — on the roof, in the cold, when a lens cracks or a string goes dark. Here are the questions worth asking any store before you buy, and our straight answers to each one.
Seven Questions to Ask Any Christmas Light Store
| Ask Them | Why It Matters | Our Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What are the lenses made of? | Polystyrene lenses break, degrade outdoors, and fade. Polycarbonate doesn't. |
Every ProCore® C7 and C9 bulb uses a nearly indestructible polycarbonate lens. |
| Copper wire or copper alloy? | Alloy conductors are cheaper and less consistent. Wire gauge alone (often 22 AWG either way) tells you nothing. |
Copper wire with quality PVC insulation on our professional-grade strings. |
| One-piece or two-piece bulbs? | Two-piece sockets give water more places to get in. |
Single-molded, one-piece construction on our LED string lights. |
| What kind of LED chip? | Low-output diodes look dim and drift in color across a run. |
High-output SMD chips for brighter, more consistent color. |
| How long is the warranty, and who services it? | Many seasonal lights carry no meaningful coverage past the return window. |
The Reindeer Proof™ Warranty — 3 seasons on LED bulbs and LED 5mm, M5, C6 & G12 strings, serviced by us. Periods for every product line are on the warranty page. |
| When does my order ship? | Decorating weekend doesn't move. |
Most orders ship within 24 hours, Monday–Friday, and most placed before 12pm Central ship the same day — including peak season. |
| What if the price drops after I buy? | Nobody likes buying on Tuesday and seeing a lower price on Friday. |
7-Day Price Protection: if an item you bought goes on sale within 7 days, email us and we issue store credit for the difference plus 10% of the difference. |
Construction details describe our professional-grade LED lights; see each product page for that item's specifications and warranty period.
Only Here
Lights You Can't Comparison-Shop
A big part of our catalog is our own, so no other store carries it: ProCore® C7 and C9 bulbs for rooflines and outlines, DreamSpark® random slow-fade strings, SuperSpark® and QuadSpark® strobe effects, Dazzle™ cool-white sparkle, Socket Stuffer® accessories, and ColorCraft® — unique multi-color palettes you won't find in any big-box aisle.
If you want a display that doesn't look like every other house on the street, this is where it starts.
What Comes With Every Order
- Backed Up
The Reindeer Proof™ Warranty
Read the WarrantyWarranty periods are published for every product line and listed on every product page. Claims go through our returns and warranty portal or a plain email to a real person.
- Rewarded
Cash Back Rewards
See Cash Back RewardsFree store credit on qualifying orders, plus referral rewards when friends order. No points math.
- Real Decorators
Help From Experienced Professional Decorators
Contact UsOur team decorates rooflines, trees, homes, businesses, and some of the largest Christmas displays in the world, so the advice is based on decades of experience and practical application. Email help@thechristmaslightemporium.com or call +1 888-444-XMAS with your plan.
Common Questions When Comparing Stores
Are professional-grade Christmas lights really different from big-box sets?
Yes — but not in the way most people assume. Wire gauge is usually the same. The real differences are PVC insulation quality, copper versus copper-alloy conductors, single-molded versus two-piece bulbs, polycarbonate versus polystyrene lenses, high-output SMD chips versus low-output diodes, and warranty length.
Can I return lights if they aren't what I expected?
Yes. Returns for a refund can be requested within 30 days of purchase; exchanges and store credit have a 60-day window. Full details are in our return policy.
Will my lights arrive in time for the holidays?
Most orders ship within 24 hours, Monday–Friday, even in peak season, and most placed before 12pm Central ship the same day. Overnight and 2-day air are available on most items and ship the same day when placed before 10am Central. Delivery dates are the carrier's estimate, so give yourself a cushion before decorating weekend. Full details in our shipping policy.
How do I figure out how many strings my tree needs?
Use our Christmas Tree Light String Calculator. It turns tree size and bulb spacing into a string count before you spend a dollar.
Build a Display That Lasts
Professional-grade lights, backed by our Reindeer Proof™ Warranty, shipped fast from Texas.