Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: montauk170 on March 10, 2011, 06:25:05 PM

Title: Which hive to sell
Post by: montauk170 on March 10, 2011, 06:25:05 PM
Ok, someone wants to buy a hive from me.
I have two that can be sold but not sure which one yet. I want to keep one of them for myself.
Which one would you sell and why?  ;)

Hive #1. It was a cutout done at the end of January when it reach 70F!
The hive is doing very well. Added a second medium on the bottom.
Bringing in much honey and pollen. Population growing.
http://losaltoshoneybees.wordpress.com/?s=cupertino (http://losaltoshoneybees.wordpress.com/?s=cupertino)

Hive #2. Swarm that I caught on March 7th. Only 3 days ago.
This was a good swarm. Hived in a single medium. I gave them three
frames of old comb. I see pollen and much honey being filled already in only 3 days.
The other seven frames they are already festooning(sp?)
and looks like they will fill that medium up in about 2 wks with our strong flow right now.
http://losaltoshoneybees.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/san-mateo-swarm-removal-first-swarm-of-the-season/ (http://losaltoshoneybees.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/san-mateo-swarm-removal-first-swarm-of-the-season/)

Hive 2 has more bees. Probably less brood as Hive 1 as they were just hived.
Hive 1 is probably more established but we know swarms build super-fast.
Both hives have a queen.
Both colonies are feral stock that have survived the late Fall to early Winter conditions.
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: iddee on March 10, 2011, 07:08:58 PM
I would price #1 higher than #2 and let the customer choose.
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: organicfarmer on March 10, 2011, 08:02:21 PM
i agree with the pricing scale. And unless you know which hive you want to keep, give the choice to your customer.
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: sterling on March 10, 2011, 08:06:28 PM
I would keep both of um.  :)
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: AllenF on March 10, 2011, 08:07:43 PM
Let them choose.  Then they can't say you did them wrong.  But keeping both is good also.
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: hardwood on March 10, 2011, 09:02:39 PM
Show them both then ask what they're willing to pay for each. Triple the response and you're almost guaranteed to keep both :-D

Scott
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: hardwood on March 10, 2011, 09:04:07 PM
Seriously tho...they are both quite young. You can ask a better and fair price if you let them establish fully.

Scott
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: montauk170 on March 11, 2011, 12:38:42 AM
I'm getting $250 for one of those hives. Not sure if it's good or not. I do guarantee my bees though. If they don't make it I get them another.
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: hardwood on March 11, 2011, 12:45:41 AM
If they are aware of how young these colonies are and are experienced enough to handle it I'd say you're getting a good price. If they are new to it and you are guaranteeing the bees to survive (for how long???) I'd think twice.

Scott
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: rdy-b on March 11, 2011, 01:09:49 AM
what is included for the price--RDY-B
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: Acebird on March 11, 2011, 09:56:20 AM
Quote from: rdy-b on March 11, 2011, 01:09:49 AM
what is included for the price--RDY-B

That is what I was thinking...

Question:
Do you only have two hives or are you saying these are the only choices up for sale?
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: montauk170 on March 11, 2011, 03:02:26 PM
It'll be a medium, 10 frames with honey, pollen, brood, bees. Solid bottom board. Migratory cover. These are the only two I am willing to give up.  :-D
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: rdy-b on March 11, 2011, 08:36:59 PM
 one thing to think about is that the swarm probably wont swarm on
the buyer-because it has swarmed already-the cut out will be a candidate for a swarm
but as already posted i would let the buyer pick--RDY-B
Title: Re: Which hive to sell
Post by: Michael Bush on March 12, 2011, 10:18:32 AM
Keep the one you want the most and sell the other one.