Public Land Store — Attraction in Sacramento

We had an unfortunate and disappointing experience with Public Land Store, and want to share our experience so others can make well-informed decisions about whether to shop there.

Last month, we purchased a $260 Dracaena Rikki after specifically asking a staff member whether the plant was safe for cats, which was one of our key criteria for the purchase. The staff member assured us it was non-toxic. We later discovered this information was incorrect, as the plant is indeed toxic to cats. Upon learning this, we promptly returned the plant in perfect condition, expecting the store to take responsibility for the misinformation and to accept a return.

To our surprise, we were informed of a strict no-return policy when we attempted to return the plant, which we had neither seen posted nor been told about during our lengthy conversation with staff prior to our purchase. At the store's suggestion, we reached out to the owners via email to address the situation. Unfortunately, their response reiterated the no-return policy, declined any return or exchange, and cast doubt on our account of the conversation since they were not personally present, suggesting that we were lying. We also told the owners about the personal significance of the purchase--it was intended to commemorate a recent loss--and they did not even acknowledge this fact in their reply.

While we fully understand the necessity of return policies, we believe a specialty plant store, where staff recommendations play a critical role in customer decisions, should stand behind the accuracy of the information provided by their team. At the very least, staff members should (1) clarify if they are uncertain about their answers and encourage customers to verify information independently before purchasing, and (2) tell customers there is a strict no return policy, or direct customer attention to a no returns sign that is allegedly posted near the register (which we unfortunately did not see or know about).

We certainly understand that mistakes and misinformation can happen, and that alone would never affect our choice to shop somewhere. But how mistakes are dealt with matters--here, we encountered inflexibility, dismissiveness, a lack of empathy, and even had our integrity questioned. The owners suggested we were irresponsible for relying on their staff's information, even though the staff member in question presented themselves as highly knowledgeable about houseplants.

We urge shoppers to be cautious when relying on staff guidance at Public Land, particularly regarding anything important like toxicity. We are neighbors of the store and used to love visiting it, but they have lost...

I came into Public Land Store just roughly about once they hit their 2 month mark. I was greeted by one of the shop owners, Mel. She had a great/friendly personality. Then, I met the other shop owner: Austin. He too is very friendly and has an abundant amount of product knowledge. Austin & Mel have created a terrific interior as well that really compliment their products in their store. As an interior designer (soon to be), I strongly believe that this store is perfectly executed and the quality is definitely there!

In terms of experience, once you come into this particular cactus store, you're very overwhelmed. In a exciting and positive way, that is. You'll see a variety of different species of cacti that you cannot find on your own. You won't find these types just in any home depot, walmart, etc. Every single one has such strong and unique features about them. Additionally, they also have other home goods, such as: high-quality patterned blankets, a variety of pots, VERY GOOD incense, ceramic goods, and many more.

As you can tell, I am very enthusiastic about this review. I've actually never made a review on a store but you have to when you've finally found your favorite store where you're an ACTUAL REGULAR. If you're trying to get into plants, I highly suggest starting with a cactus here. It's a quality store with quality products and of course quality customer service. Which is the reason my boyfriend and I keep coming back and refuse to buy from any other cactus/plant stores other than the Public Land Store. BEWARE before entering though, you'll want to just cash out on a bunch of different cacti so pay off...

This store is great!! My friend and I were in the area and stopped on a whim. I am not much of a plant person (as in I haven’t had the best luck in keeping many alive over the years), but also would love some fresh and pretty plants in my house, so decided to make a purchase and give it another go. The owner was so nice and helpful, I loved chatting about our previous lives in Brooklyn as well, and he took his time giving me the Cliff Notes versions on which plants would best suit me, and answering all my questions about my new plant. I also bought a cute candle which smelled absolutely divine in store. I lit it the second I got home and can confirm it’s high quality and smells delicious, I can smell it the next room over. Great experience, excellent friendly customer service, and...