I remember hearing about them some time ago (maybe two years ago?) but never heard what happened to them. Looks like they are getting by. I've heard of quite a few of these type of operations. Interesting concept. Initial off the cuff reaction to pricing seems about right - $995 gives a residential customer a complete hive with bees and a half a year of "mentoring" or "maintenance." Each year's maintenance is probably around the same price. If you want to discontinue the maintenance, you keep the bees. Of course, I foresee issues, as I'm sure the rest of you do: Why didn't I get more honey, my bees died (as it happens from time to time) so where's my free replacements, I got stung and I want them gone now, lots of calls and questions. But it all seems like something you can work through, if you are being paid $1,000 per customer per year. But that's about where the reasonableness seems to end. $150 per hour for straight mentoring, customize-able hives where they'll paint the boxes for $150 per box (or stain for $175 per box), seems a little sketchy at that point. At least my first take. I know I put hives on other's property for free. I actually give them honey for the right to use their land. If they wanted to paint the hives, I wouldn't care. No one's asked me yet though. Some like to watch me come by and check them, and ask questions as I'm going through them. As long as I have time to move onto the next yard, doesn't bother me any. Should I be charging $1,000 per year per yard for me to do that? Doesn't exactly seem right to me . . . > > *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html