Fellow Yelpers: A bonsai retailer typically displays a photo of a tree from their past inventory…read more So the image you see on your device will not match the tree you receive. Often, you can request a photo but be nice about it. It'extra work and not always done. Also, if you want an inexpensive tree don't expect photos. And don't slam Lou for not providing the pictured tree, your preferred pot color of choice, and timing. Monday or Tuesday shipping is important to insure that the tree is not warehoused over a weekend (think of the tree). Lou has always been responsive and prompt with me in every way. Do not judge his business poorly because you, the buyer, are inexperienced in the operations of a bonsai nursery. To those considering Lou for your purchase, I hope you are able to overlook some of the low-star reviews posted here. The individuals in question are just inexperienced. As far as being slow, unfriendly, etc., perhaps he was operating differently several years ago. Still, this does not describe the Lou I've been ordering from for the past few years. Enough said !
For those with short attention spans let me be brief. Lou's Bonsai is the best place that you will be fortunate to have discovered and ordered your trees and supplies from. Quite simply he's excellent. There are very good reasons he has good ratings on his websites. I have a large bonsai gallery and Lou has been helpful in countless ways. He cares about his customers; he follows up with his customers and wants to ensure their complete satisfaction. How rare that is in today's marketplace. I've not been compensated nor promised products in exchange for this review. I just felt compelled to help my fellow bonsai enthusiasts navigate their way to his high quality inventory and service.I have been involved with the U.S marketplace for some years now and can honestly say Lou delivers a great customer experience. For instance, when I was shopping for a high quality black olive bonsai tree, of course I contacted Lou (and he really is immediately responsive). After describing the particulars I sought, he set out to see if he might have a tree that would make me happy. To quote Lou, he said "Yeah, I got some black olive trees - but I don't want to just sell you a tree just to sell you a tree." That's classic Lou speak right there. Other retailers would have shipped a package to me without any thought at all. (It's just a business to them). Lou told me to just wait a couple months and something would likely be available. I did not wait - and what a mistake that was !
Over the years I have purchased from nearly every vendor. The folks in southern California have a beautiful website but not much in the way of customer service and attention. (They're basically shippers). That's okay. They're not bad folks, and have some good trees. However, there is no personal attention, consideration or follow up.
I've ordered from a well known supplier in New York and if they have what you're after they really are nice folks who do give you very good attention. They match the caliber of service that Lou can provides, just different inventory.
Well, being obsessed with finding a black olive tree I gave a seller in Miami a try (my first and last by the way). As a public service message to the bonsai public I am compelled to strongly advise you to stay away from this seller. Period. They had a good assortment of black olive trees (displayed with young female models - flag !) and indicated that they would check their inventory to see if the one I had selected was still available. Good news - it was. They would even send a photo for me to view - so that sounded just fine. Well the photo was poorly done. The image was only sufficient to to see the silhouette of the tree as the picture was taken with intense backlighting. Still, I could determine the size, trunk, and branching. I just thought the kid taking the photo had no photography skill. Wrong. He had good photography skills and knew exactly what he was doing (a complete deception). The company offers an "Arrive Alive Guarantee" and indeed the tree was alive. But that's the best I can say about it. I have never, ever, seen such a mess. Leaves that are black, orange, and red. Little, if any green (hence the blacked-out photo). I was personally challenged to save the thing from the worst spider mite infestation I've ever seen in my life. I worked for months on the project and invested hundreds of dollars to eradicate the infestation. I rate myself pretty good at this stuff, but it was just too far gone. Probably wasted about $500 by now.
I've repeated this story to the US vendors I know. Lou was absolutely shocked and sympathetic. He is now on a personal mission to locate a good replacement tree for me. Really guys, who would go out of their way to do that for you ? Lou would. And that's one of the many reasons I put the time in here
