Expensive startup!

[JR4AL]

Wow! This is all such great information. I hope that this thread continues to gain input.

Just a few of my very novice thoughts... although hive boxes and supers may be priced at 12-15 bucks unassembled the cost of shipping is as much or oftentimes greater than the box itself. At very best I can find $26.00 delivered unassembled for either. That is obviously without frames. Now add the frames and shipping and you are getting to over $50.00 a box. It seems that is the accepted price of doing business and that is cool with me.

Living in a rural area as I do, does not bode well for traveling to a wholesaler/distributer because of time off work, time for travel, distance and fuel. Shipping costs are just a necessary evil.

Nonetheless, there are some purchase amounts from some suppliers that do allow for discounted or even free shipping and that may be the best option. It does require more money up front and more planning and generally takes out the build as you go option at least to some degree.

As far as the bees... I don?t necessarily feel uncomfortable hiving a swarm, I just have no experience in the same. I also anticipate that the swarms will not use the same work schedule as myself and actually being able to ?bee free? from work obligations when a swarm is available is probably not going to occur often for me. I highly doubt someone is just going to gift a new beekeeper bees so purchasing is the foreseeable option for me.

It appears that commercial packages are going for 200 or better without shipping according to pricing online. Local nucs seem like the better choice for my circumstances both in gaining time and saving money. My quote from my nuc provider is $160 for five frames and wooden nuc box with brood, queen and bees. That is actually a $10 deposit on the box which I plan to keep for my equipment surplus.

As I am learning as with any hobby: hunting, fishing, homesteading and now beekeeping, the prices seem to be not as much about how much something is worth but as much as the market will bare. And that is OK too...All of this just seems like fun to me!

Again, thank each of you for taking time to put your thoughts out for me and everyone else to consider. I am so glad I signed up on this forum!



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[BeeMaster2]

When it comes to ordering bee equipment, check out Mann Lake. On orders over $100, the shipping is free on most items. Your Best Buy on frames and foundation is to buy 100 of each. It is cheaper to buy 100 than it is to buy 55 of them. I find this at most Bee suppliers.
Jim

[Kathyp]

When it comes to ordering bee equipment, check out Mann Lake.

I'll second that.  Watch them for sales too.  They have had some good ones.  I also use their budget jacket and it holds up well.

[chux]

Wow! This is all such great information. I hope that this thread continues to gain input.

Just a few of my very novice thoughts... although hive boxes and supers may be priced at 12-15 bucks unassembled the cost of shipping is as much or oftentimes greater than the box itself. At very best I can find $26.00 delivered unassembled for either. That is obviously without frames. Now add the frames and shipping and you are getting to over $50.00 a box. It seems that is the accepted price of doing business and that is cool with me.

Living in a rural area as I do, does not bode well for traveling to a wholesaler/distributer because of time off work, time for travel, distance and fuel. Shipping costs are just a necessary evil.

Nonetheless, there are some purchase amounts from some suppliers that do allow for discounted or even free shipping and that may be the best option. It does require more money up front and more planning and generally takes out the build as you go option at least to some degree.

As far as the bees... I don?t necessarily feel uncomfortable hiving a swarm, I just have no experience in the same. I also anticipate that the swarms will not use the same work schedule as myself and actually being able to ?bee free? from work obligations when a swarm is available is probably not going to occur often for me. I highly doubt someone is just going to gift a new beekeeper bees so purchasing is the foreseeable option for me.

It appears that commercial packages are going for 200 or better without shipping according to pricing online. Local nucs seem like the better choice for my circumstances both in gaining time and saving money. My quote from my nuc provider is $160 for five frames and wooden nuc box with brood, queen and bees. That is actually a $10 deposit on the box which I plan to keep for my equipment surplus.

As I am learning as with any hobby: hunting, fishing, homesteading and now beekeeping, the prices seem to be not as much about how much something is worth but as much as the market will bare. And that is OK too...All of this just seems like fun to me!

Again, thank each of you for taking time to put your thoughts out for me and everyone else to consider. I am so glad I signed up on this forum!



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A good way to catch swarms when you are at work, is to put out multiple swarm traps. They work while you are at work. You go by and check the trap every week, or have a neighbor near the trap look for you. When bees move in, you set up an evening after dark to take the trap to your bee yard. It's really very simple. You can find excellent plans for how to build swarm traps with simple tools you already have. Google "letmbee." You'll find an example of plans there.

As for shipping, as has been suggested, order everything at once from one of the big suppliers like Mann Lake, and you will get free shipping.

[sc-bee]

I just got to figuring and man this hobby can get expensive with a quickness!
FLow Hive 2 ($750.00), 10 frame Langstroth two deep and one super ($200.00) bucket and accessories: smoker, bee brush, hive tool, queen excluder, queen Cather, etc ($75.00) bee suit ($200), hive stand ($50.00)feeder ($45.00), I will be getting two nucs for ($160x2) and I anticipate to buy another brood box for the flow at ($65.00) a feeder for flow at ($35.00), and a commercial box for ($300.00). Total bill: $2040!!! Is this normal at all! Any ideas how to reduce the costs?

I can save you $750 right out the starting gate....

[JR4AL]

I just got to figuring and man this hobby can get expensive with a quickness!
FLow Hive 2 ($750.00), 10 frame Langstroth two deep and one super ($200.00) bucket and accessories: smoker, bee brush, hive tool, queen excluder, queen Cather, etc ($75.00) bee suit ($200), hive stand ($50.00)feeder ($45.00), I will be getting two nucs for ($160x2) and I anticipate to buy another brood box for the flow at ($65.00) a feeder for flow at ($35.00), and a commercial box for ($300.00). Total bill: $2040!!! Is this normal at all! Any ideas how to reduce the costs?

I can save you $750 right out the starting gate....

I see what you did there! Well played sir! Well played!


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[Beeboy01]

If possible you should get a mentor or join a bee club just for the extra support that could be provided. If you really want to wear a bee suit the big box hardware stores sell a full reusable coverall for about ten dollars. I'm a Good Will white dress shirt with bee gloves type guy when pulling honey, for inspection it's just a tee shirt and gloves with a smoker. A frame grabber and good hive tool along with a smoker really helps, smoke is your friend in bee keeping. Cinder blocks with a pallet works great for a multiple hive stand or just use the cinder blocks and lay some 4x4's across them. For equipment it's not rocket science, the bees really don't care as long as they are kept in a dry box with a way to get in and out. Good luck with getting started and good luck with your bees.

[Beepah]

Honestly Beekeeping is about the least expensive hobby I have, and one of the most rewarding.  I would hate to even think about what I spend on boating, fishing, hunting, backpacking, kayaking, target shooting, and travel.

Just got back from the vet.  Routine physical and vaccinations for doggie.  Bees aren't that expensive.....

[BeeMaster2]

My daughter?s cat came home with the skin and fur removed from the tail. Neighbors dog grabbed it. The vet charged her $2000. To cut off the tail bone. Same cat had stomach ripped open. That cost $3000.
Bees are cheap. Actually in the long run they make money.
Jim

[CoolBees]

Cats are lucky at your house Jim. 

[JR4AL]

Good grief! That is one loved cat. I hope that cat gets well. It will take a whole lot of quart jars of honey to recoup that vet bill!


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[BeeMaster2]

Cats are lucky at your house Jim. 

My daughter has her own family. I?m not crazy enough to pay $5000 dollars for a cat. If I took the cat to a country vet it would have been less than $1000. City vets think they are working on your child. County vets know it is a pet.
Jim

[Ben Framed]

Cats are lucky at your house Jim. 

My daughter has her own family. I?m not crazy enough to pay $5000 dollars for a cat. If I took the cat to a country vet it would have been less than $1000. City vets think they are working on your child. County vets know it is a pet.
Jim

This is no longer an ordinary cat! This is now an Aristocat! 😊😁

[CoolBees]

Cats are lucky at your house Jim. 

My daughter has her own family. I?m not crazy enough to pay $5000 dollars for a cat. If I took the cat to a country vet it would have been less than $1000. City vets think they are working on your child. County vets know it is a pet.
Jim

Haha! At my house I expect the cats to be faster than the coyotes, and have lots of kittens to replace loses. Life's tough.


Alan