Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Kathyp on May 12, 2008, 04:01:24 PM

Title: ebay bees??
Post by: Kathyp on May 12, 2008, 04:01:24 PM
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190221704020&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

anyone ever buy bees on ebay?  might be an option for some who didn't order early enough.  my bee store did a second order for may.  they have not done that before, but the weather was so bad this year......
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: bassman1977 on May 12, 2008, 04:08:30 PM
Never done it on eBay but these guys seem legit and have a good feedback.  If I were without options, I would go for it.
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: _Brenda_ on May 12, 2008, 04:21:27 PM
I bought my package on ebay, when I found that I wouldn't get my order from Rossman until the end of May.  Not from these people but another supplier. I always look at feedback before I buy, and I got a good package and a good queen.

Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: shan on May 12, 2008, 04:22:04 PM
it just could be me but that seems High for 3# package...around here (tn) they arnt that high..$65-$75 and they want $98.50 for shiping  :shock: i think not :)
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: bassman1977 on May 12, 2008, 04:27:55 PM
Supply and demand.  A lot of places are getting to be sold out.  If you want a package when the big boys are sold out, you're gonna pay a bit more.  That's the only argument I can make on the prices.  lol
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: KONASDAD on May 12, 2008, 05:13:33 PM
local nucs and hives went up a lot around here. Nucs from $65 to $100 plus, and hives from 75 to 140. Lots more demand from new buyers who are willing to pay more to get started.
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: bassman1977 on May 12, 2008, 05:18:19 PM
CCD sure has gotten a lot of people back into backyard beekeeping hasn't it.
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: Kathyp on May 12, 2008, 06:50:35 PM
i am thinking about selling nucs next year if these hives overwinter well.  make some early splits.  make sure they make a queen.  offset my expenses :-).
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: Janemma on May 12, 2008, 07:02:15 PM
Kind of off topic but I find the subject of the price of the packages interesting!  I bought two packages on Saturday up here in Alberta.  I paid $130 (Canadian although the dollars are fairly similar these days) per package (2.2lbs per package) and delivery was not an option as they were pick-up only.  It was only an hour drive for me but while we were there, there were a few people who had driven quite a bit further than us for their packages.

Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: desmondmegan on May 12, 2008, 07:33:59 PM
i was going to pick up a package out here in ca. $60 for a 3 pound package. got lucky and found my first swarm..
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: _Brenda_ on May 12, 2008, 07:44:08 PM
Quote from: shan on May 12, 2008, 04:22:04 PM
it just could be me but that seems High for 3# package...around here (tn) they arnt that high..$65-$75 and they want $98.50 for shiping  :shock: i think not :)

Those are Mn Hygenics, and the shipping is UPS next day air.
Too expensive for me, but they have sold quite a few packages.
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: Moonshae on May 12, 2008, 08:29:11 PM
Quote from: bassman1977 on May 12, 2008, 05:18:19 PM
CCD sure has gotten a lot of people back into backyard beekeeping hasn't it.

I had bees as a teen, but never forgot how much I loved the experience. Hearing about CCD got me back in. I wasn't even sure that a non-professional could buy bees, thinking there was a shortage. There really isn't much info out there for people who might be interested but don't know how to start.
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: Barbara on May 13, 2008, 04:09:42 PM
I agree, the only way I heard about it was because we drive past the fairgrounds every day and one day I saw "Beekeeping Short Course" on the marquee.  I said to Bzzzy, let's take that class and see if we like it.  And we did . . . and we did!  Now we are the proud parents of two happy hives!
Title: Re: ebay bees??
Post by: JhnR on May 13, 2008, 05:39:40 PM
I received a call today that my bees were in the mail, USPS GROUND, because they can no longer
ship by air with anything over a queen w/nurse bees......NO Nucs.....because of escaping  bees. This will take 4 to 5 days from Lula, Ga. The 5th day is Sunday. I sure hope the girls have enough honey.

John