Lake Street Landscape Supply

I’ve always had good experiences with Lake Street Supply. Last year I spent $ 944.36 with them between mulch, soil and something called «Neptune Pathway Mix».
This year, I went to Lake Street Supply in person and paid for another couple yards of Neptune Pathway Mix along with some topsoil and $ 95 for delivery. Up until recently this was my only complaint — $ 95 seems excessive for 12 miles, but I needed it. The invoice said ‘Neptune Chip — 3/​8″’ but since I told the clerk several times I needed «pathway mix» I assumed that’s how it was listed on an invoice. As I understand it, Neptune Pathway Mix is just chips of stone with some other materials, so I didn’t even give it a second thought.
When the driver arrived, the material was clearly different than I requested. I called Lake Street and spoke with someone who told me it was likely that the clerk that helped me was new and didn’t realize there was something called «Pathway Mix» — he said he would talk with management and take care of it.
About 2 weeks later I had heard nothing, so I reached out by email. Ralph was very friendly and said he would pass it along to management. A couple days later I still hadn’t heard anything so I replied and asked for an update. Ralph let me know that he has passed the info along a couple days ago but would make sure a manager got in touch with me. Instead of a call or a helpful email, I received the below email. I felt it was a little accusatory given that I was apparently both overcharged for and send the wrong materials after simply trying to duplicate the same order I made last year. The remainder of the email exchange follows for your review. Ultimately, I’m just disappointed that Lake Street didn’t bother to get back to me for a few weeks and help me out so I’d stay a loyal customer, especially since my local bulk materials supplies place closed to the public.
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From Lake Street:
Hi Brian,
Ralph passed your request on to me regarding the re-​delivery of the Neptune Pathway. The way I see it, the mistake involved in this transaction is partly the responsibility of our sales staff and partly the responsibility of the consumer. We do stock three different bulk Neptune products and your receipt clearly said ³⁄₈ chip, not pathway.
I would suggest we meet halfway on this one — we will redeliver for $ 49 = half the delivery cost.
It looks as though the pathway mix is less expensive, $ 23.30/cubic yard less, so all said and done, we can just use that difference toward your delivery cost and call it a day.
We are booked on deliveries through next Wednesday, but I will have our delivery coordinator prioritize getting this order out to you promptly — he may be able to work something out for this week.
Please confirm — feel free to give me a call or text my direct line: 312−933−7240.
Sarah Donnelly
Operations Manager | Lake Street Supply, Chicago
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To Lake Street:
Sarah,
Since I repeatedly asked for Neptune pathway mix and didn’t know ³⁄₈ chip existed, combined with the fact that I asked to match my previous order from last year I would fully disagree with «the way you see it». Call me crazy but I assumed what it said on the slip was what I asked for — why would I know that the pathway mix I asked for wasn’t described as Neptune 3/​8″ on an invoice? Wouldn’t you think I’d point out being overcharged if I knew the difference?
I’m not a landscaper, I’m a homeowner that was very specific about what I wanted to buy with the employee you handed me off to. More over I find it ridiculous that you cast blame after not returning calls or emails for over 2 weeks. I called when the delivery driver was here and I was told that you were being notified and would call me back. I think that was the 18^th of May. Since then I’ve had to email twice since the phone is seldom answered. June 8^th is your first attempt to contact me and you blame me (but only partially, thanks for that).
So, that being said, let’s just «call it a day» and you can have your delivery coordinator send me the right material. I’ll let you decide on how to deal with the financial end of things and then I’ll reflect that and your response in my online reviews once the materials have been delivered.
While I’ve always had positive experiences with Lake Street Supply, it’s clear to me from your response that serving small, retail customers isn’t your strong suit.
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From Lake Street:
Brian,
I did not blame you — I stated that it is, in part, your responsibility to place and check your order to ensure material is correct, which is not untrue.
I cannot indulge in customers who threaten businesses with online reviews. I think the solution I offered was completely within reason.
Though, instead, I will have Ralph contact you to process a full refund of the Neptune 3/​8″ from this order, as you did not receive it — we can offer no further services.
Thank you.
Sarah Donnelly
Operations Manager | Lake Street Supply, Chicago

I had a very good experience working with Lake Street Supply to purchase a significant amount of landscape materials for a local service project that required a lot of gravel, soil, compost, and mulch. They seem to have a pretty comprehensive selection so they were able to provide the majority of our hardscape materials. The were great about working with us on the total pricing based on bulk quantities and the service nature of the project. They were also patient and helpful as we finalized our order content and quantities. They delivered the materials on time with good service and combined as much material as possible to minimize delivery costs. This is the second time we’ve worked with them for this event, and we will definitely be going back to them for future projects in Chicago.

I recently tore out my old sidewalk and installed pavers. They are your one stop shop. I was able to get gravel and sand delivered along with all the pavers materials. They are the only Unilock provider in the city and we like to keep business local. Stopped in with my dimensions and they put together the supplies for me. Just returned my pallets this weekend and purchased a few more bricks. Would highly recommend their services. Tons of stone and brick for your landscaping needs. Stay away from the big box stores.

Update: Went for a second visit and they will help you put items in your trunk if you ask. Warning: they have a prohibitive return policy. Question if you really need something if not sure balk or make sure you know the return policy. While my return would be small I was steered towards something I didn’t really need.

After I wrote my negative review I called Lake Street and they quickly responded to my issue… Both the customer service rep and the owner. They take a lot of pride in their biz and expressed concern that the soil didn’t produce. They set up a delivery of their premium, organic composted soil and removal of the old soil at no extra charge. Pretty great response (and they did all if this without knowledge if my Unilocal review). Glad to see a company have a lot of integrity with their service and product. I’ll have to check in again in a month to update how well the new soil grows the seeds I plant.

Horrible horrible service. I have never experienced customer service as bad as I did today. They may have been busy, but not THAT busy and I was clearly there to buy something. However, when I tried to ask questions about the soil they had for container beds, I was brushed off to another worker who then was visibly irritated and annoyed that I had any questions about cost/​weight. Being a home gardener, I was thinking in terms of gallons since I’m using containers but the guy helping me had no clue how many gallons were in a cubic foot which is how they apparently measure soil, (nor did he care to find out) so he guessed it was 2 gallons and then came up with an estimate based on his guess. I later googled it and saw that it’s almost 7.5 gallons/​cubic foot! That’s a huge difference! Anyways, I am still in shock that they were so rude that I actually found myself telling the guy, «I’m not trying to annoy you; I just need some information about your products.» If they bothered to put this stuff on their website, then people wouldn’t have to ask them in person. I am looking hard for another option for my garden soil now since I have no desire to give these jerks my hard earned money.

This is a great place. Why go to the big box garrden stores when you can have better quality at the same or cheaper prices?

I had a great experience at Lake Street Landscape Supply. I decided to redo my patio and had no idea what I was doing. I showed up with a couple of images on my iPad and Mark was more than helpful. He provided me great advice and guided me through my purchase. They gave me really fair pricing and even followed up after my purchase. I found the customer service so good that I am writing my first Unilocal review.

I do like a lot this place, they almost all the time have all what i need and their staff is very helpful, and I think they have very good prices

Wonderful selection of stone. The guys in the yard are great. All they need is to have someone answer the phones so check out would be faster.

These guys are ALWAYS super helpful, and friendly, and while it always costs more for gravel+sand than I’d prefer, I guess their prices are good? They are definitely always really nice, and helpful. They are definitely my go-​to place for bulk things and boulders, and their delivery is great and reasonable, and quick! I try to find used paving materials instead of new, so I cannot judge their paving materials’ prices.
I agree with the review noting how commercial this place seems, though I usually see another non-​commercial person in there almost every time. And I, decidedly non-​professional, feel perfectly comfortable there, and their staff and the owners are always super nice, helpful, and pretty funny too.

Cheap prices for topsoil, much cheaper than other landscape companies. Plus they were personable and came on time! Highly recommended.

Great place to find soil, mulch, decorative rocks, even boulders! They do sell to the public and prices are extremely reasonable. They also have many varieties of stones, brick and retaining walls.
Bottomline, if you looking to do landscaping and it involves any of the above, swing by and compare prices, you’ll be surprised. I think most people don’t go in because it’s very commercial oriented, but they were quite helpful to me!