Bees For Sale What's the going rate for a nuc or full sized colony?

[SWEET]

I'd hope a professional seller/business would also offer ongoing help and support (needs to be factored into pricing).

 

[sipa]

Do the sums, value everything at retail/ replacement costs
honey
pollen
bees
queen
frames
foundation
nuc box

Then value your time, expenses, ongoing support and profit.
That's why commercially supplied nucs or full coloines are more expensive than hobby beekeepers aiming to reduce numbers or recoup some expenses.
We arn't cheap, but sell plenty. That has to tell you something ?

 

[ericbeaumont]

ongoing help and support (needs to be factored into pricing)

Tricky: at what point would liability transfer from supplier to buyer?

If after a week a nuc was found to be riddled with EFB, fair enough, but what if the nuc died in an overheated car on the way home from the supplier, or the beekeeper killed the queen on upgrading to a hive, five minutes after delivery?

 

[SWEET]

Tricky: at what point would liability transfer from supplier to buyer?

If after a week a nuc was found to be riddled with EFB, fair enough, but what if the nuc died in an overheated car on the way home from the supplier, or the beekeeper killed the queen on upgrading to a hive, five minutes after delivery?

Simple, DASH covers you regards sending out dangerous stocks and your T&C's (and comprehensive pre-purchase advice) covers those unfortunate incidents. All part of the joy of selling to the general public and part of your business plans around a % loss due to XYZ.

The comment was more around offering customers ongoing help and support *to a point* regards the general upkeep and care. Professionals will *should* offer this over someone tossing a swarm into a box and sticking on Facebook. So this extra help etc needs to be factored into the original price.

 

[ericbeaumont]

offering customers ongoing help

Piece of string, really, though when customers have rung for advice I have given it.

Fairly sure liability ends when bees are out of the suppliers' hands. Royal Mail insurance would cover transit, the rest is for the buyer to resolve.

Ongoing support is high risk without being on the spot: verbal advice can be misunderstood all too easily, and tears at the other end of the 'phone will soon point the finger of blame.

 

[SWEET]

Depends on how much you value your customers and business. Most (if not all) of those issues can be resolved easily enough. For the small % of tricky situations you might encounter, the solution is very simple (charge more to cover it)

 

[Ian123]

Depends on how much you value your customers and business. Most (if not all) of those issues can be resolved easily enough. For the small % of tricky situations you might encounter, the solution is very simple (charge more to cover it)

I strongly suspect you couldn’t charge enough to cover some

 

[Erichalfbee]

I strongly suspect you couldn’t charge enough to cover some

Well there’s always this forum which is largely free.