Bee pricing opinion

[Fishdude123]

I just found a listing on Craigslist for 4 frames w/ clinging bees and a queen for $100.
If these are standard frames of brood and decent queen how does it compare to a standard package. I was told that people paid $85 this year for a package. (That was picked up from where ever and delivered here.)
Obviously there are lots of unknowns but I appreciate your opinions and thoughts.

[Hambone]

Pricing is not far off. If they have what they say. Then it's not a bad deal. Sight un seen! What do you get with the 4 frames. Hive body, ect.. Ask to inspect. And if you don't know what your looking for take some pics and post them here and we will let you know.

[RayMarler]

Those sound like consumer retail prices to me. I've always priced my frames of brood at $10 each and $20 for the queen, makes $60 for the 4 frames with queen. 5 frame cardboard nucs with queen for $75, no exchange.

[BjornBee]

Buying bees after the summer, when the flow is over, time is limited to building them up, and any potential benefit (pollination, etc) is gone for the season, justifies a discount.

[tecumseh]

mr marler and I are reading from the same script.

[Sundance]

Over priced, especially for the time of year.

From my area...... Brood goes for $8 to $12 a frame
with the average being $10. You should be able to
get a 10 frame deep for that.

[IndianaHoney]

I agree, that is overpriced, especially for this time of year. I'd never buy a nuc past mid July. For 100 I'd expect an 8 frame nuc at the least.

[high rate of speed]

It all depends on how bad you need them.Dec and Jan. nucs sell for around $120.so you make the call.:)

[Fishdude123]

They are being sold for next spring. Really appreciate your input. I am guessing that since I will only be buying one or two that it will be consumer pricing.

What is the benefit to buying a 10 frame strong hive over a nuc or package? Can you get honey from the hive and not the nuc or package the first year? Obviously you get more woodware.

[Ted n Ms]

I bought 3lb. package this spring for $35

[dcross]

Is this a nuc with an accepted queen? Or are they pulling frames from a strong hive/s and tossing in a caged queen?

[Fishdude123]

Don't know, I asked him a bunch of questions but he hasn't gotten back. It is for this spring.

[BEES4U]

The 10 frame hive will far outproduce the other two and make you some surplus honey!

The nuc will come in second and depending on weather conditions it to will produce a surplus.
The package bees will come in last because it takes them about 8 weeks to build their population and they have to build a lot of foundation into drawn out comb for brood and honey storage.
The 10 frame hive and nuc have baby bees emerging 24/7.The 10 frame hive will not be all brood because it will have some frames of honey..
Myself, I would buy the hive or the nuc this spring and let the owner suffer wintering losses.
I good wet winter with above average precipitation will make a strong demand for bees.
I would suggest putting down a deposit now for your choice of bees.

Regards,
Ernie Lucas Apiaries

[RayMarler]

Another thing to consider is Almond Pollination in California. $150 to $185 with rumors of $200 per hive causes nucs and hives to go up in price the later into the fall and early winter we get. I think it's sucker pricing because the heaviest losses of beehives are in the fall and winter, but many people don't have the number of hives needed to fullfill their contracts for pollination.

[MichelinMan]

Boy you guys have it cheap. Here in Canada (Ottawa area at least) you are looking at $140.00 for 2 frames of brood/bees + 1 frame honey + 1 frame foundation. We call them 4 frame nucs but they really only contain 2 frames of brood. Packages are hard to come by.

[pcelar]

I paid my 4 frame Russian nuc with young Russian queen 75.00.

[JordanM]

i got 10 frames with brood and honey and the queen for $50 this spring.

An excelent deal and i am looking to do business with that person next year since that hive is exploding!

[Fishdude123]

I haven't seen it said on this board before so it might be bad form so I apologize if it is but that is a definitive gloat!
I would buy several at that price! :)

[JordanM]

looking to buy 10 next year, if he gives them to me again at that price, i hope it just wasnt that price because i was a newbie just getting started.

And those bees made me a super full of honey this year and already paid for themselves.

[Fishdude123]

He said "That would be 1 frame of brood 1 frame pollen 1 frame honey and 1 frame empty cells for the new queen to lay. All frames are with adhering bees. And yes that would be a young 2009 spring queen."
Doesn't sound like a bargain :)

[tecumseh]

mr marler writes:
Another thing to consider is Almond Pollination in California. $150 to $185 with rumors of $200 per hive causes nucs and hives to go up in price the later into the fall and early winter we get.

tecumseh replies: yes quite obviously it is the 'opportunity cost' of the almond pollination that is driving much of the cost for replace hives and their equivalents (packages, nucs, etc).

I suspect most first timers or small scale operation would be wise to place their order early since we may well have a repeat of the past couple of seasons. If you purchase from someone with a good reputation then quite likely you will get exactly what you pay for...