We bought three packages from Kelley's this spring, two Italian and one Russian. The Russian and one Italian did fine, the other Italian, started on drawn comb from a deadout, is struggling badly. Second queen replacement, and I think some dead brood. The Russian filled a super with honey and swamed, it built up so fast my brother couldn't keep up with it.
The failing hive is at his place as well, and we have lost three or four package over the years there, need to find out what's going on. They all end up queenless somehow.
I don't think this is related to the quality of the bees, they were very nice heavy packages with very few dead bees -- we picked them up.
I've not bought a nuc from them, as I have a local source.
Peter