Confused.

[Barbie bee]

As a beginner, Ive watched loads of you tube videos about bee keeping. All of differing levels of usefulness. Some really informative, others very opinionated. But I have one question that is baffling me. How can you review a product or hive you haven’t used? All you can do is talk about it’s appearance but not it’s practicality or effectivenes. My other point of bafflement is about the information in the review. It seems that if the product has been given for free it’s always an excellent review.

Is it me or is the definition of a review about something that has been, read, watched or used? This doesn’t help ,e when deciding which new kit to purchase.

Also, any good equipment suppliers recommended who I can talk to when buying kit so I know I have the right kit for me?

 

[Boston Bees]

As a beginner, Ive watched loads of you tube videos about bee keeping. All of differing levels of usefulness. Some really informative, others very opinionated. But I have one question that is baffling me. How can you review a product or hive you haven’t used? All you can do is talk about it’s appearance but not it’s practicality or effectivenes. My other point of bafflement is about the information in the review. It seems that if the product has been given for free it’s always an excellent review.

Is it me or is the definition of a review about something that has been, read, watched or used? This doesn’t help ,e when deciding which new kit to purchase.

Also, any good equipment suppliers recommended who I can talk to when buying kit so I know I have the right kit for me?

To be fair, hives aren't like cars or toasters. They have no moving parts or performance metrics. You can largely review them just by handling them and looking at their features, and combining this with your existing knowledge to spot where there might be issues.

But sure, you are right in the sense that it is only after a year or two of using a hive that you really know all its pros and cons. For example, the hive might start to fall apart after a year, which would never come out in a review.

And you are also right to take any review which has been paid for, or where a free product has been supplied, with a large pinch of salt. They aren't going to accentuate the negatives.

If you want recommendations for equipment, ask people on this forum, but be prepared for several different answers as everyone is biased in some way, usually towards the kit they happen to own!

Thornes, Abelo, Paynes and Maisemore are all high quality suppliers (as are others) - you can talk to any of them for advice.

The only cast-iron rule I would suggest for a beginner is that you stick with some form of "national" size hive (i.e. one which takes national frames). Going down any other route will make it much more difficult for mentors or local nuc-sellers to help you, because they will be likely to use national frames. I could give other advice on the equipment I use, but that just takes us down the rabbit hole of debating which hive is best!

 

[The Poot]

These are not issues confined to beekeeping, but are general to the web.
If you want independent advice ask specific questions on here - you’ll get lots of conflicting opinion, but if backed up by proper reasoning, you’ll get a good idea how to proceed.
You perhaps could get hands on experience with local beekeepers regarding equipment preferences.

 

[Murox]

You are right @Barbie bee, watching you tube videos will leave you as a beginner slightly misled and bewildered, and many of the so called reviews rely upon alternative facts. Boston Bees is spot on though, the good quality suppliers will offer you advice and help ~ if you are not sure who they might actually be ~ ask on this forum, you will get answers.

 

[BigAshW]

I agree with the above.

All kit reviews on the net will be biased if paid for and unless they give a follow up review will be based on limited use.

Also +1 to the national kit.

I don't think the national is the best hive tbh but it is the most prevalent one and if you're buying in nucs etc they will mostly come on national frames.

I use commercial kit because that's what my mentor had so it made things easier in the start. However it does make some things slightly more awkward. Not enough for me to change all my kit now though.

 

[Apple]

Yes indeed...
If you watched the dross put out about the Flows Hive system and fronted up many hard earned dollars for one plus bees etc etc... you would be disappointed when you turned the tap and zilch flowed out!
Quite a few coming up on flea buy........

Stick with tried and tested standard National hives with locally sourced bees... one you have mastered the "rules"... feel free to experiment and even break them!!

Chons da

 

[Gilberdyke John]

You are right @Barbie bee, watching you tube videos will leave you as a beginner slightly misled and bewildered, and many of the so called reviews rely upon alternative facts. Boston Bees is spot on though, the good quality suppliers will offer you advice and help ~ if you are not sure who they might actually be ~ ask on this forum, you will get answers.

Watching YouTube is pretty much guaranteed to confuse beginners. Some of the total crap posted makes me shudder.

 

[pargyle]

It's very difficult to find an unbiased view on any beekeeping equipment - be it hives or any other of the multitude of equipment we 'need' to practice our craft - indeed, even the 'needs' of some people for a specific bit of kit are often questioned by those who think it is an unnecessary addition.

The reality is that we are all different - I like 14 x 12's .. I'm big enough and still strong enough to handle them .. but a 5'2" person with short arms and not a particularly muscular physique might find them difficult to lift ... even issues such as warm way and cold way for frames in hives is very much down to personal preference.

The only objective view you will get is the one you do yourself. My advice to new beekeepers is always try and get to handle different hive formats before totally committing to a hive type. One hive, if you find it is a mistake, is not the end of the world but if you end up with 10 that you come to dislike for any reason ... that's a disaster. Very few hives are compatible once you step outside of the timber national format ... I like Paynes poly hives ... but ... they don't match many other hive formats and certainly are not at all compatible with their timber counterparts.

It's better to be committed to a single hive format for so many reasons - just be sure that it meets all your expectations and requirements before you totally commit.

It does not mean that you have to buy every hive type to try it ... there are ways (outside of the present lockdown) to get hands on experience of different bits of kit ..get alongside other beekeepers, watch out for beekeeping events such as Beetradex (I know - it's changed name and venue) visit the likes of Thornes and Paynes shops - they will be biased but they will let you play with their kit. Internet reviews may point you in the direction of what to look for ... but the only worthwhile review is the one you do after using it ... and with every will in the world - it's probably only going to be worthwhile and relevant to you.

 

[Brewer24]

I’m pretty experienced at failure
Started with Topbar hives and quickly learnt their negatives and now drifted over to nationals. Nationals allowed me to practice the theories and actually put into practice the seasonal requirements of trying to look after bee colonies.
Start with two hives from main stream suppliers and two bought colonies, bought locally to you, and then read thru the maze of opinions from UK bee keepers. At least this will reduce, but not eradicate the frustration and heart ache.
I don’t watch American you tubes anymore. Most are commercial bee keepers and more about 15 minutes of fame on film rather than working with a couple of hives in the first couple of years. I’m sure that they will have Oscars for bee keeper videos soon!
I do enjoy laughing at the Australian Bush beeman. Makes me feel good watching his capt calamity antics
As said many times before KISS. Then it will become an enjoyable hobby watching the girls and trying to understand why they are not doing what they should be doing, and throwing you a curved ball