Shipping policy

GENERAL PACKAGE SHIPPING (UPS, USPS, FEDEX):
Shipping is generally expensive and is not offered on larger items unless buyer wants to pay for freight shipping (see below). We constantly try to negotiate better shipping rates but we aren't Jeff Bezos and until we get to a specific sales volume, the rates you see here are the best we've been able to get. Running a small family-owned business is a challenge in today's world of mega-corporate conglomerations but we do the best we can do. Thank you for shopping local and helping us grow into the kind of business that can negotiate better in the marketplace. We literally examine shipping prices and vendors daily. You mean the world to us.

Additionally, we use a loyalty program that, as your order history with us grows, can significantly reduce or eliminate some shipping charges.

SHIPPING RATES:
We constantly probe the market looking for better rates and shipping apps. Currently, our provider often under-quotes shipping amounts. We cover those discrepancies but that means we incur losses. We reserve the right to change shipping carriers or modes in these events. Scenario: You pay for two-day shipping. We find out that it was under-quoted, meaning we have to eat the balance. We may then look for an alternative shipping solution that comes closer to what you paid for.

LEAD TIMES:
Some products, particularly anything we have to build (hives, moisture quilts, vivaldi boards, etc.) have longer lead times and may not be ready to ship for up to a week if we are sold out - which happens during our busy seasons. Because we are in a rural setting, most orders will not ship same day and there is often a delay of up to 72 hours before the packages get picked up, depending on the carrier. Your best bet is not to wait until the last minute to order something you need tomorrow or the next day. If it's truly critical that you get something in a short period of time, please contact us before placing the order and we can give you a firm estimate and try to find the best solution for you. Note: in most cases we do try to get things out same day or next day but there are no guarantees. We don't have conveyor belts and automated order pickers ... yet. :)

FREIGHT SHIPPING:
We are able to ship just about anything on this website with the addition of logistics partners. Right now, we can ship palleted goods via Oak Harbor Freight and we will likely be adding another option in a week or so. If you have read this far, you probably already know that freight shipping is not cheap and can cost upwards of $500 (or more) per pallet. It doesn't make sense for an item or two but if you are ordering AZ Hives, Layens hives, Apimaye hives, etc., it can be an option, particularly if you are ordering a larger quantity. We can stack pallets up to eight-feet high and adding more items to the pallet doesn't proportionally increase cost. 

If you are wanting a number of Apimaye (or other) hives, be sure to inquire before placing your order so I can get you a quote. If your order meets the minimum buys to qualify for freight shipping, I can give you 5% off the items to help soften the freight blow.

Order minimums for freight shipping (to fill one level of a pallet):
Apimaye - four units
Layens hives - two units
AZ hives - three units