I had problems with packages this spring. At pick up the bees looked good
and made the 19 hour trip home in great shape. Unfortunately the packages
had a lot of queen problems; approximately 20% of the queens failed at the
get go. The seller was good supplying replacement queens, some of the
replacements failed. Many others were drone layers or non-layers. Some were
around in the hive 3 weeks later but nary an egg.

5 weeks later I am still getting reports of failed packages and requests
for replacement queens. When I ask, "Why did you wait so long to report the
problem?", the replies mostly blame weather. Granted, it has been a
miserable, wet spring in upstate NY. I doubt at this point a new queen will
correct the problem. The package bees are old, and will be hard pressed to
build up, even if they accept a new queen.

Does a date ever arrive when the buyer of packages waits too long and
forfeits replacement expectations? I have banked queens from a different
producer I could use for an immediate replacement, but again I doubt that
will solve the problem. Should I refer the buyer to the package producer
and remove myself as middleman? What is the proper way to address this
issue?

Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!

Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!

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