Every few years I take the time to do a price comparison of buying a single
hive increase kit vs. buying bulk lots of 50.  A decade ago a beekeeper
could lower the per unit cost of a complete hive (2 deeps, 2 mediums,
inner/outer covers, frames, foundation, and bottom board) by around $70 by
buying components instead of a kit.  I did the analysis 4 years ago and the
savings had decreased to about $50, but the advantage was still on the side
of buying components vs. a kit.  I did the same analysis this evening and
was surprised to discover that the advantage has shifted over to the kit.
The cost of a single hive kit was $5 less than the per-hive cost of buying
individual components.  Historically I only did the comparison of one
vendor's catalog.  This evening I checked a second vendor and found the kit
also had a $5 advantage over components.  I did my best to keep the
comparison "apples to apples"; that is to say I tried to keep the
components the same as the parts of the kits.  I gave the costs of nails my
best SWAG.

So I have a few immediate questions, I'm sure more will come to mind as I
cogitate these figures.  I have been thinking that vendors are less
interested in larger buyers and are more focused on small quantity
consumers.  Perhaps my analysis supports that thought?  Where would a
larger quantity consumer go for the buying advantage that seems to have
disappeared?

Aaron Morris - thinking my dollar doesn't go as far as it used to....

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