Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  18/07/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I prepaid for a nuc of bees. I attended their location to pick up the bees, which were in a sturdy transport box, secured by screws. I did not open this box (I should have??) to ensure everything that was paid for was present: 4 frames, a mated queen, some capped brood, uncapped larvae, bees, pollen and honey stores. I drove 5 hours to my hive location and moved the bees from the transport box to the permanent hive. There were many dead bees and although there were 4 frames, 1 was completely empty. I was surprised at how few bees were present. I noticed the comb was very dry, I did not see a queen, nor did I spend time inspecting as I wanted to get them settled. I added a pollen cake to the hive and ensures fresh water nearby.3 days passed and I felt they should be settled enough for an inspection. There is no queen, no pollen, no honey, no uncapped larvae. They appeared starving as they ate thru 2/3 of a pollen pack (supposed to last 2 months) in 3 days.I reached out by messenger email and phone with no response for 2 weeks. I did not request replacement, only prompt delivery of what was missing from my purchase, 1 mated queen and frames with uncapped larvae, pollen and honey. As the vendor is uncommunicative and uncooperative, I wish to be refunded for what I have not received.

  Business response

  30/07/2024

  Regarding ***************************** purchase of Live ****.
  
  BC Bee Supply is a *********-based supplier of honeybee beekeeping equipment and source of live bee colonies.
  We have been in business for over 7 years and service many beekeepers throughout ** and the adjacent areas.

  At certain times of the year, we do have live bees available for sale and we generally sell them in secured, breathable boxes that are safe for transport.
  Although we do our best to secure healthy, growing nucleus colonies to pass along to new and returning beekeepers, we do not guarantee livestock of this nature.
  Please see our live bee policy below:

  ---------------------------------------------------------

  Live Bee Policy
  **** are considered livestock and are not taxable. All Packages, Nucs and Queen **** are pre-paid in full.
     No Cancellations - No Refunds - No Transfers - No Guarantees.
     For Nucs, a refundable deposit on the container will apply.
     Pick up will be at our ******* location (except where special arrangements have been made and the following policy around the shipping of live bees is agreed to.)
  

  Shipping of Live ****
  Regarding the shipment of live ***** please note that BC Bee Supply does not provide any guarantees on any livestock product (honeybee packages, honeybee nucs, live queen ***** ***** bees). *********** and other carriers do the best job they can but cannot and will not make additional assurances. All costs and risks regarding transportation of bees are borne by the purchaser.
  

  ---------------------------------------------------------

  Nucleus colonies sold by us have a queen **** thousands of worker ***** multiple frames of brood (unborn bees), honey stores and drawn honeycomb on 4 frames.
  In this particular case, both the customer and our staff witnessed plenty of activity under the screened vents at the time of the product being picked up.
  One of the risks to these "nuc" colonies of bees is the distance in a vehicle that they have to travel. Because the bees cannot vent in a confined box, it is possible that some of the individual bees may expire during a 5 hour drive.

  Due to the nature of live bees and the transportation thereof, BC Bee Supply does not guarantee, warranty or refund any live bee purchases. Please see our live bee policy below and be reminded that our product listing and our communication with each of our nuc customers is very clear.

  This situation is a rare case where a large number of bees did not appear to survive and we find ourselves in a difficult position of not meeting customer expectations and having requested a refund, which we are not in a position to give.

  That being said, we can make some compensatory measures by offering a partial credit towards a new nuc for next season.
  

  At the present time, however, the colony is still alive and we hope that this hive improves.
  
  

  Sincerely,
  
  BC Bee Supply
  ************
  www.BCBeeSupply.ca

  
  
  

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