Would you ask for compensation?

5547 Views 33 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Ian, May 6, 2014

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · May 5, 2014

I was asked to do a cut out friday. I did a few hours of work getting the panels off to get into the hive. When I opened the hive the fork lift operators ran away and would not stay with the machine to let me up and down. I said that I would come back today (monday) with another beekeeper who could operate the lift and help. I called and emailed Fri afternoon with that info with no response. I called them today and the guy who i've been in contact with said his boss may have hired someone else today. I did not ask for compensation up front because I thought I'd be getting a hive of bees. Now i've wasted my time and gas for possibly no bees.

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sqkcrk

· #2 · May 5, 2014

Submit a bill. You'll never get paid if you don't demand recompense. You still might not, but you might.

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 5, 2014

I'll find out tomorrow for sure.

anyone have a cut out/ work form template? think $150 is unreasonable for a few hours of work and gas? (then i'd go buy a local nuc instead of dealing with idiots)

EastSideBuzz

· #4 · May 5, 2014

Send them a bill at 200 net 30 150 your if they pay now special. Then if they complain discount it a bit. I always try and get something.

green2btree

· #5 · May 5, 2014

Eastside, I like the way you think.

JC

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 5, 2014

yea.. i didn't ask for anything up front because i was expecting bees. they also said the one i was in contact was the one to talk to.. apparently he was on vacation from fri until tomorrow so he wasn't the one to talk to about coming back.

Bees In Miami

· #7 · May 5, 2014

Jake...I learned the hard way, and now refuse to do ANY job for free when it comes to bees. You do not have a guarantee that those bees will stay with you. You can do the absolute perfect cut out, catch the queen, watch the bees march into the box, etc....and they can abscond on you the following day. You can shake the perfect swarm, cage the queen, relocate, and everyone is happy....until they wake up the next day and decide they don't like their new condo. If the bees choose to leave, it's always a bummer, but it makes it easier to take when I look at my bank deposits. That's just the way I think....so, JMO!

I agree with the others. Send them a bill. $150 is not unreasonable, but I sure wouldn't charge $150 for a complete live removal. (More like $300-350 if I need a ladder) Cut-outs are a lot of work, and your time and knowledge are worth getting paid for. My two cents!

Riskybizz

· #8 · May 5, 2014

Like any other business related activity having a clearly defined scope of work and a signed proposal goes a long way towards keeping things professional. I have done bee removals from buildings for many years and each year the price goes up a little. Most of the time I charge at least $450.00. Sometimes I have a helper that I also have to pay for his time. Doing things for free doesn't really help anyone (as you found out). Acquiring bees from cutouts allows you to save the bees and genetics, however there is no guarantee that your removal is going to be successful and that you end up with a productive colony.

sqkcrk

· #9 · May 5, 2014

JakeDatc said:
yea.. i didn't ask for anything up front because i was expecting bees. they also said the one i was in contact was the one to talk to.. apparently he was on vacation from fri until tomorrow so he wasn't the one to talk to about coming back.

If you really think bees are worth that much work I would love to sell you some bees.

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 5, 2014

sqkcrk said:
If you really think bees are worth that much work I would love to sell you some bees.

until June 1 I have more time than money. so for me it was worth the time and experience of a cut out to do it. now that I might be screwed, not so much.

I did tell them that I could be back today, so it wasn't like I was jumping ship.

Hilltop

· #11 · May 5, 2014

Next time I would bring a contract get is signed. It would spell out the terms (i.e. your price and whether or not you will restore the structure) and have verbiage to release you from liability for damage to the structure.

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 5, 2014

yea, I didn't even plan to do any cutouts. I had advertised swarm removals. I thought this would be a fairly simple one time thing. then it turned into a high 2nd floor thing.. and now who knows what. I did tell him that once i realized it was large that i might have to ask for a hand and since he went on vacation that got lost in the communication stream.

Dave1958

· #13 · May 5, 2014

JakeDatc said:
yea, I didn't even plan to do any cutouts. I had advertised swarm removals. I thought this would be a fairly simple one time thing. then it turned into a high 2nd floor thing.. and now who knows what. I did tell him that once i realized it was large that i might have to ask for a hand and since he went on vacation that got lost in the communication stream.

Ive went to look at cutouts, attempted a few things, and told people about yellow jackets. Basically while I would like bees, opening up someones wall even with their permission can cause ill will that Im not putting myself through. Ill apply a little caulk, tape some screen wire, make a exit tube. Life is not worth making it complicated. I play with bees for fun, not issues

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 5, 2014

Dave1958 said:
Ive went to look at cutouts, attempted a few things, and told people about yellow jackets. Basically while I would like bees, opening up someones wall even with their permission can cause ill will that Im not putting myself through. Ill apply a little caulk, tape some screen wire, make a exit tube. Life is not worth making it complicated. I play with bees for fun, not issues

this is a warehouse window opening.. so they just had 2 layers of plywood over it. they said don't worry about messing things up, they'd build a new cover. the main issue was the height and need for their lift to get up there. If it was at ground level I could have done things on my own.

KQ6AR

· #15 · May 5, 2014

I don't know anyone who does cutouts for free. I've seen prices from $200-$1500 depending on what equipment was rented, & the amount of time.

Ian

· #16 · May 5, 2014

Looks like you have went to the same school I have, lessons of hard knocks. Take the loss and go on with your business. You will know better next time. There are bigger issues in the world than chasing down someone for $150. Not worth the head ache!!

Ian

· #17 · May 5, 2014

KQ6AR said:
I don't know anyone who does cutouts for free. I've seen prices from $200-$1500 depending on what equipment was rented, & the amount of time.

I do, for neighbors and folks within my bee territory. Keeps up a good relationship and pays back in dividends down the line. I dont so much cut out but exterminate....

G3farms

· #18 · May 5, 2014

$150 is very unreasonable, your time and effort is worth more than that.

Snookie

· #19 · May 5, 2014

Simply a suggestion:}

Send a bill, certified mail!

If you DO NOT receive your money, see your local Justice of the Peace if you have one if not small claims court.

They should get you some satisfaction, don't ask how I know :}

If you got pictures to show the Justice of the Peace that would be great:}

Good luck

JakeDatc

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 5, 2014

my only problem so far is that i haven't done a whole lot. I opened them up and then closed them part way up to wait for another beekeeper to help me run the fork lift. I did say that I would return today, but if they had someone else come then i didn't have the opportunity. i'm afraid they'll say "well you didn't get the bees out" kinda thing. It took longer than expected to get the hive exposed since the panels were nailed shut instead of screws like i was told. luckily I have demolition experience from working with my dad and am handy with a pry bar but they sure didn't appreciate all the shaking and banging. pics of before and after are on page 1 http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?296945-Help-with-cut-out-in-warwick-RI

I didn't feel safe having them not be able to let me down in case i started getting lit up or whatever. (one guy was in shorts and tshirt, the other was in pants and long sleeves but still didn't want to get close.. they had to use a long pole to hit the lever to let me down

)

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