I've noticed that Mann Lake is overcharging for some of their feed products.
ProSweet:
Just browsing the prices for pro-sweet, at $70 for 5 gallons, or EIGHTY dollars for 5 gallons if one purchases 2.5 gallon buckets. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/pro-sweet-5-gallon-18-92-l-pail
I can understand, maybe for backyard beekeeper with 1 or 2 hives, how pro-sweet might be a justifiable purchase.
However, I can purchase the 25lbs of sugar from Walmart for $8-$9, and make 5 gallons of 2:1 syrup for approximately $20.
$20 versus $70. Hmmm.
Fondant:
I recently purchased 100lbs of fondant for $110. If I had lived closer to the wholesaler, I could have purchased 100lbs for $70. that's less than half the price of driving to mann lake and purchasing the same product with the Mann Lake label.
Here's what Mann Lake Charges for the same product: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/90-10-fondant-50-lb-22-68-kg
Just a PSA about not paying too much for feeding bees.
This post isn't necessarily meant to bash Mann Lake, but these prices aren't ethical. IMO. There's no chance that it costs Mann Lake anything near $80 for 50lbs of Fondant. If I, as a small time customer can find it for $35 /50lbs, Mann lake can probably find it for $20....which means they're making 300% profit on Fondant. I'm confident that the price of making Pro-sweet probably has a similar profit margin.
ProSweet:
Just browsing the prices for pro-sweet, at $70 for 5 gallons, or EIGHTY dollars for 5 gallons if one purchases 2.5 gallon buckets. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/pro-sweet-5-gallon-18-92-l-pail
I can understand, maybe for backyard beekeeper with 1 or 2 hives, how pro-sweet might be a justifiable purchase.
However, I can purchase the 25lbs of sugar from Walmart for $8-$9, and make 5 gallons of 2:1 syrup for approximately $20.
$20 versus $70. Hmmm.
Fondant:
I recently purchased 100lbs of fondant for $110. If I had lived closer to the wholesaler, I could have purchased 100lbs for $70. that's less than half the price of driving to mann lake and purchasing the same product with the Mann Lake label.
Here's what Mann Lake Charges for the same product: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/90-10-fondant-50-lb-22-68-kg
Just a PSA about not paying too much for feeding bees.
This post isn't necessarily meant to bash Mann Lake, but these prices aren't ethical. IMO. There's no chance that it costs Mann Lake anything near $80 for 50lbs of Fondant. If I, as a small time customer can find it for $35 /50lbs, Mann lake can probably find it for $20....which means they're making 300% profit on Fondant. I'm confident that the price of making Pro-sweet probably has a similar profit margin.