Terms and Conditions for Bee Products

PLEASE READ THE SHIPPING CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER! Ignoring the current shipping dates will NOT expedite your order compared to others that are already in line. PLEASE RESPECT THIS POLICY! I DO NOT PRODUCE HUNDREDS OF QUEENS AT ONCE, so there may be waiting periods due to weather and matings that affect availability. Therefore, it's essential to review the order shipping calendar, including the queen bees shipping policy, and consider weather conditions before ordering and subsequently contacting me with inquiries about "WHERE IS MY QUEEN ORDER?" Such behavior will not result in faster service and may lead to a visit from law enforcement! THANK YOU.

I will aim to ship all NON-LIVE items, like honey orders and woodware, as quickly as possible after payment is received. However, please note that the timing may change based on supply availability since I custom craft all wood bee equipment in my workshop. Bad weather conditions in Forest, Ohio, may also require delayed shipping as a safety precaution. QUEEN BEES will only be shipped on MONDAYS or TUESDAYS to ensure timely delivery. Late shipments may not arrive at the client's address due to flight and trucking constraints, and Saturday delivery might not be possible for some areas. I prefer not to leave the Queen Bees at a P.O. box or warehouse over the weekend as this could result in their death upon arrival. Queens will be shipped based on AVAILABILITY, WEATHER, and the QUEEN SHIPPING SCHEDULE available on the website's front page after your order is placed and paid for. Delays may occur due to weather or other uncontrollable factors. I strive to ensure prompt service and utilize United States Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) EXPRESS MAIL ONLY for Queen Bees. Note that Priority Mail and Ground shipping will be used for other products, and unfortunately, the U.S. Postal Service does not insure queen bees under their regulations. According to postal regulations, Queen Bees and live animals are exempt from Express Mail's next-day or second-day guarantee to protect them during transit. ONLY QUEEN BEES CAN BE SHIPPED BY AIR OR PRIORITY MAIL! If you prefer a different shipping service or carrier, I’ll be happy to accommodate your request. All items will be dispatched from Forest, Ohio, USA.

ALL POSTAL ORDERS ARE SHIPPED ON MONDAYS OR TUESDAYS to help ASSURE LIVE DELIVERY! I WILL DO MY BEST TO ENSURE THE QUEEN BEES ARRIVE ALIVE! HOWEVER, I CANNOT GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION! My responsibility for the care of your QUEEN or QUEENS ends at the moment they arrive alive with their attendants. Actions such as poking a hole in the candy, opening the other corked end to release the queen, or putting a marshmallow in place of the cage cork may result in the death of the queen bee. This includes scenarios where the queen is not accepted by the colony, which are not covered by my refund policy for bee products. However, I am more than willing to advise you on the proper method to introduce a new queen to a hive. Thank you.

DEAD OR DAMAGED FREIGHT: All merchandise is shipped F.O.B. Shipping Point (Ada or Forest, Ohio for U.S. Postal service). This term means that all merchandise becomes your property as soon as we hand it over to the freight carrier, who is responsible for the complete and safe delivery of your goods. It is your responsibility to thoroughly inspect the merchandise upon delivery. If the carrier fails to deliver the items, including equipment and/or Queen Bees in good condition, you must file a damage or loss claim with them. There are NO exceptions to this rule!

PHOTOS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVE DAMAGED GOODS! If it concerns QUEEN BEES, you must provide proof from the post office postmaster! This is necessary to prevent fraud, which ultimately raises costs for everyone.

REFUND POLICY AND ORDER CANCELLATION POLICY: NO REFUNDS ON NUCS ONCE THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY US AND/OR INSTALLED INTO THE NUC BOX as it incurs costs since bees are already ordered, and we only order a limited number each year and must pay in full upfront. There is a $20.00 fee for refund requests for already processed or canceled orders that are not NUC colonies. NO EXCEPTIONS! Like all businesses using credit card processors for payment processing, fees apply. Hence, I incur charges for offering credit card payment services. I apologize for the need to implement this cancellation fee, as banks deduct fees for every transaction. They also don’t refund my transaction fees for canceled orders, which significantly impacts my small business. If you wish to receive a refund, the $20.00 cancellation fee will be deducted, WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS, and a refund request will be submitted to my credit card processor to credit your account during the next billing cycle (typically within 30 days). Almost all businesses have cancellation fees, including major companies and other bee businesses as well.

CREDIT/ORDER HOLD POLICY: If you prefer to have a credit on your account with me (to reserve a queen or products you ordered and PAID for) for the following month or up to a year, this can also be arranged! THIS WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AND REFUND FEES AS WELL AS PROVIDE YOU PRIORITY SERVICE ON QUEENS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE! However, note that the order hold will last for one year, and it is your responsibility to notify me when you would like the held order shipped! Orders not shipped after the one-year maximum hold will be forfeited! I appreciate your business and hope to serve you for many years ahead!