A nuc in July is worth a ....?

tjc1 · June 23, 2016, 05:43:08 PM

I ordered a locally raised nuc from a guy back in January. He still has not delivered on it (and doesn't respond to phone calls or emails...), and I am wondering when it's too late to really be worth installing a nuc. Should I just ask for a refund at this point (assuming I can find him...)?

SlickMick · June 23, 2016, 07:23:55 PM

He does.not seem to want your business

Mick

Colobee · June 23, 2016, 07:40:41 PM

A nuc in July is worth a .... Try?

IIRC, Michael Palmer makes up nucs for overwintering in Vermont, in July. You should still have time to feed them up to wintering strength this year but time is running short.

Psparr · June 23, 2016, 08:26:37 PM

Frankly I would ask for a refund regardless, and find your bees somewhere else.

okiefarmer · June 23, 2016, 08:35:41 PM

I've been seeing a few bees for sale on Craigslist here in Oklahoma and wondered if tit would be an alright time to buy some. Usually they are a single deep and occasionally nucs, but there was one guy selling a deep or a shallow super or even a cardboard box of bees.

tjc1 · June 23, 2016, 08:48:34 PM

Quote from: SlickMick on June 23, 2016, 07:23:55 PM
He does.not seem to want your business

Mick

Unfortunately, he did in January when he took my $175!

SlickMick · June 23, 2016, 09:23:59 PM

Ouch!

Hope you get it back..fingers crossed

Mick

Oblio13 · June 24, 2016, 08:58:37 AM

I'm just a bit north of you in New Hampshire, and I figure that as long as my nucs have sealed brood by August they're "on schedule" and viable.

Acebird · June 24, 2016, 09:14:04 AM

Quote from: tjc1 on June 23, 2016, 05:43:08 PM
Should I just ask for a refund at this point (assuming I can find him...)?

You said he was local so finding him shouldn't be that hard. Lots of beekeepers don't answer the phone or emails. What ever you decide I would not pay full price at this point in time. You can make his life more difficult in small claims court if you don't come to an agreement.

tjc1 · June 24, 2016, 10:10:06 AM

Well, local as in a two hour drive... I've thought of going up and trying to find him, but if I don't it's the better part of a day for nothing... Frustrating! I did think that possibly something bad has befallen him, but no way to find out.

tjc1 · June 24, 2016, 10:10:57 AM

Quote from: Oblio13 on June 24, 2016, 08:58:37 AM
I'm just a bit north of you in New Hampshire, and I figure that as long as my nucs have sealed brood by August they're "on schedule" and viable.

Thanks, Oblio - that's helpful. I was thinking if I get them just in time for a dearth it wouldn't be so good.

CrazyTalk · June 24, 2016, 11:46:42 AM

I'd definitely be looking for my money back (or atleast a huge price adjustment).

A package hived at the beginning of the season is much bigger than a fresh nuc now.

BeeMaster2 · June 24, 2016, 12:56:22 PM

Just tell him if he does not want to give you back your money to give you a hive with at minimum a full deep or 2. That is what it would be it he provided it to you on time.
My first hive had a queen that could not fly. 6 weeks later came out and inspected it and he replaced it with a double deep hive. It made lots of honey that year. It was one of the best hives that I have ever had.
Jim

Oblio13 · June 24, 2016, 02:28:03 PM

Quote from: tjc1 on June 24, 2016, 10:10:57 AM
Quote from: Oblio13 on June 24, 2016, 08:58:37 AM
I'm just a bit north of you in New Hampshire, and I figure that as long as my nucs have sealed brood by August they're "on schedule" and viable.

Thanks, Oblio - that's helpful. I was thinking if I get them just in time for a dearth it wouldn't be so good.

You'd probably have to feed them, but then nucs usually need to be fed even when there's a flow on anyway.

Jim134 · June 24, 2016, 02:35:05 PM

At this point of the transaction I would ask my money back. Or he could give me a 2 Story hive fully active.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

KeyLargoBees · June 25, 2016, 07:34:11 AM

sounds like you paid him in full ...up front....which is always a bad idea ;-(

tjc1 · June 25, 2016, 02:25:20 PM

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on June 25, 2016, 07:34:11 AM
sounds like you paid him in full ...up front....which is always a bad idea ;-(

I don't know about other places, but up here you have to pay for nucs and packages up front when you order them in January. Is that not common practice elsewhere?

Acebird · June 25, 2016, 08:20:52 PM

I would say it is common everywhere. People tend to change their minds about bees and it is not like the beekeeper can just put the hive on the shelf and wait for the next customer. But I don't think the beekeeper has a right to wait until the end of the season to deliver. If you are buying a spring nuc then it should come in spring otherwise it is a summer nuc. And a fall nuc is useless up here.

little john · June 26, 2016, 07:32:58 AM

I think it IS common practice, and it's a method of doing business I'll take no part in. Sure - purchasers can change their minds - but it's also possible for the supplier not to be able to produce the required number of nucs on time - expecially in this neck of the woods ...

Maybe a small deposit is the answer - non-refundable providing that the nucs are available on the agreed date. Otherwise refundable. If there's a fairer way of doing business, I'd be happy to hear of it.
LJ

Acebird · June 26, 2016, 08:55:50 AM

Quote from: little john on June 26, 2016, 07:32:58 AM
providing that the nucs are available on the agreed date.

Knowing what you know about beekeeping do you think any beekeeper could predict a date? Within a range seems reasonable to me. Deposits require book keeping... only going to add costs to the nuc. I don't have a problem paying up front. I have a problem of not refunding your money if you can't deliver the promise.