passer un sapin

to swindle

“Dans les deux cas, on a eu l’impression de se faire passer un sapin : des artistes payés le gros prix s’amènent avec des shows sans âme, livrés sur le pilote automatique” — In both cases, it felt like you were getting swindled: artists paid the big bucks come forth with soulless shows delivered on autopilot.

Literally, “to pass down a fir”, from the perceived low quality of balsam fir wood for use in construction.