Terms & Conditions, Live Bee Guarantee, Shipping, Pick Up, and Cancellation Policies

Terms & Conditions

By placing an order with R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc online, by phone, by mail, or in person you agree to all of the following policies, contract terms, conditions, limitations, and exceptions.

Pick Up & Shipping Scheduling

R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc makes every attempt to ship or have your bees ready for pick up on your chosen pick up date or shipping window. However, many factors affect the production of live bee products (queens, package bees, nucs, and established colonies) which are beyond human control - such as inclement weather - which sometimes results in production delays, which may require a schedule rearrangement. In the event that postponement is required, R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc will contact you via email, SMS, or phone call to alert you of any rescheduling needs.

    Rescheduling & Cancellation Policies

    • Should you need to reschedule shipping we require a two week notice prior to the ship date you have chosen.
    • Should you need to reschedule pickup we require a 72 hour notice prior to your chosen pick up date.
    • Cancellations made within 48 hours of reservation are eligible for a refund or store credit. Refunds are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. Store credits are for the full purchase amount and do not expire.
    • Cancellations made after 48 hours of reservation, but two weeks prior to scheduled pick up or shipping, will be eligible for a store credit in the full amount of purchase.
    • Cancellations made in less than two weeks of scheduled pick up or ship date will be eligible for a store credit for 50% of the amount of purchase.
    • Refunds for credit/debit card transactions are subject to a 10% cancellation fee to cover administrative and processing fees 

    Live & Healthy Bee Guarantee for Bees to be Picked Up

    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc guarantees that your bees will be alive and healthy when picked up from our store.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for deaths due to mishandling, improper transportation methods, untimely hiving, etc once the bees leave our premises.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee successful queen introduction for package bees, introduction to swarms, re-queening, making splits, etc.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee establishment of a full colony from any package bee or nuc installation.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for bees who may abscond from their hive after installation.

    Transportation Recommendations for Bees Picked Up

    • We recommend that queens be transported inside your air conditioned vehicle and not left in a hot vehicle, placed on the dash, in a windoe where they may receive direct sun, in the trunk of a vehicle, or bed of a truck.
    • We recommend that package bees, nucs, and established colonies transported in the bed of a truck have free flowing air and are not enclosed or covered. We also strongly advise against making any unnecessary or lengthy stops - especially any that would require your bees sit in a still vehicle in direct sun for any length of time lest they overheat and die. Package bees and nucs can be transported within the cab of an air conditioned vehicle as long as they aren't overcrowded, left in a hot parked vehicle, or sitting in direct sun. If you choose to transport package bees or nucs inside your vehicle, we suggest the use of a nuc net and wearing protective clothing. We do not recommend transporting package bees, nucs, or established colonies in a trunk. We do not recommend transporting established colonies inside your vehicle for any reason, but rather in the bed of a truck - but please refrain from lengthy stops that might leave your bees without airflow for very long and sitting in direct sunlight.

    Live Delivery Guarantee & Policies for Queens to be Shipped

    • Queens are shipped on Mondays and Tuesdays during April & May.
    • Queens shipped during June - September will be shipped on Tuesdays.
    • While we do our best to ship orders as soon as possible, they are not guaranteed to be shipped the week that you place them. Rather, they will be added to the queue.
    • Standard Shipping Out of Texas: queens shipped outside of Texas using our standard shipping option are done so using USPS PRIORITY and typically have a 3-4 day transit time. Most U.S. Post Offices and mail carriers prefer for recipients to pick up live bees from the post office, as opposed to sending them out on mail routes. Please be sure to provide us with a phone number where you can be reached so that the postal workers can call you when your bees arrive to their destination.
    • Standard Shipping IN Texas: queens shipped in Texas using our standard shipping option are done so using UPS Ground and usually have a 1-2 day transit time. Please note that unless you contact your UPS hub and request for your bees to be held for pick up, most UPS carriers will deliver to the address provided by the customer.
    • NEXT DAY AIR Shipping: queens shipped both IN and OUT of Texas using the Next Day Air option are done so via UPS NEXT DAY AIR and are typically received the day after being shipped. Please note that choosing the NEXT DAY AIR shipping option refers to the TRANSIT time of bees - it does NOT mean that your bees will ship the day after your is placed. Also note that unless you contact your UPS hub and request for your bees to be held for pick up, most UPS carriers will deliver to the address provided by the customer.
    • TRACKING YOUR SHIPMENT: You will receive an email with tracking information on the day that your order ships. Please note that USPS tracking service is often unreliable when it comes to shipping live animals, bees included, and shipments often appear to sit in one place without movement for over 48 hours. Other times is may appear as though your label was created, but the package is still sitting at the point of origin. Typically this applies to package bees more often than queens, but this does sometimes happen with queen orders as well. Oftentimes we will see tracking finally update whenever the shipment reaches the destination city - and your local post office should call you to pick up your bees once they arrive. Aside from this inconvenience, we've found that the vast majority of bees we ship through USPS are delivered safely. 
    • Live Delivery Guarantee: All queens shipped feature a live delivery guarantee with the following exceptions: queens not received on time due to shipping delays once they leave our premises, shipments mishandled/damaged/destroyed in transit, and deliveries left in unattended or unsuitable places such as, but not limited to the following: mailboxes, in full sun, somewhere they might be exposed to extreme elements, anywhere they might be at risk to predators such as, but not limited to: ants, wasps, bees, wildlife, or domestic animals. R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc will not replace queens that are not picked up from the post office within 24 hours, nor will we replace queens that are not picked up because we were not provided with the correct phone number in order for the post office to contact the recipient to alert them of their arrival.
    • If you know that you may not be at home to accept your bees upon delivery, we suggest you contact your local post office or UPS hub and request your shipment be held for you to pick up in person.
    • Please report any shipment that arrives dead within 24 HOURS of receiving to rweaver@rweaver.com and include clear photos and/or video of the dead bees still within their cages, as well as any photos of damaged packaging. Failure to report dead shipments, with photos included, within 24 hours of arrival will result in denial of claim. 
    • All replacements will be sent on the next available ship date via USPS Priority Mail. If you would like to upgrade to UPS Next Day Air for your replacement fee, please let us know.
    • R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for packages that perish due to them not being retrieved from the post office or UPS hub within 24 hours of their arrival.
    • R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for packages that perish due to incorrect contact information given by the customer. Please be sure to provide us with the best phone number in which you can be contacted!
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee successful queen introduction.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for queens who might abscond from the hive.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc recommends that queens be installed in their new hives withing 24 hours of receiving them. We are not responsible for queens who perish whilst awaiting an untimely installation.
    • If you have any questions regarding best introduction practices, feel free to contact us via email or phone - we are happy to help.

    Live Delivery Guarantee & Policies for 3# Package Bees to be Shipped

    • We offer package bees to be shipped to 48 contiguous states. However, transit times, policies, and guarantees will vary depending on destination. Please read the following information carefully to determine whether or not we extend the live delivery guarantee to your state.
    • Package bees shipped IN Texas: Packages shipped within Texas will be shipped on Mondays via UPS Ground. This is usually a 1-2 day transit time and features our live delivery guarantee. Please read more about our live delivery guarantee below.
    • Packages shipped to the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, & Tennessee will be shipped via USPS Ground on Mondays and usually arrive within 4-8 days.
    • Most U.S. Post Offices and mail carriers prefer for recipients to pick up live bees from the post office, as opposed to sending them out on mail routes. Please pick your package up within 24 hours of arrival. Please be sure to provide us with a phone number where you can be reached so that the postal workers can call when your bees arrive to their destination. Packages that perish because they are not picked up in a timely fashion due to postal employees not being able to contact the recipient as a result of the customer not providing the best contact number will not be subject to live delivery guarantee. 
    • These shipments will include our live delivery guarantee. Please read more about live delivery guarantee below.
    • Packages shipped to any of the states NOT listed above Due to extended shipping times and possible delays, package bees shipped to any state NOT listed above will NOT feature our live delivery guarantee. Most U.S. Post Offices and mail carriers prefer for recipients to pick up live bees from the post office, as opposed to sending them out on mail routes. Please be sure to provide us with a phone number where you can be reached so that the postal workers can call you when your bees arrive to their destination.
    • PLEASE NOTE THAT PACKAGE BEES CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED VIA GROUND - NEITHER UPS OR USPS WILL SHIP PACKAGE BEES VIA AIR AND THERE IS NO OPTION FOR OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ON PACKAGE BEES. 
    • TRACKING YOUR SHIPMENT: You will receive an email with tracking information on the day that your order ships. Please note that USPS tracking service is often unreliable when it comes to shipping live animals, bees included, and shipments often appear to sit in one place without movement for over 48 hours. Other times is may appear as though your label was created, but the package is still sitting at the point of origin. Typically this applies to package bees more often than queens, but this does sometimes happen with queen orders as well. Oftentimes we will see tracking finally update whenever the shipment reaches the destination city - and your local post office should call you to pick up your bees once they arrive. Aside from this inconvenience, we've found that the vast majority of bees we ship through USPS are delivered safely. 
    • Live Delivery Guarantee: R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc guarantees that packages featuring our live delivery guarantee will be alive upon delivery with the following exclusions: deaths that occur due to mishandling once they leave our premises, untimely delivery, deliveries left in unattended or unsuitable places such as, but not limited to: mailboxes full sun, somewhere they might be exposed to extreme elements, anywhere they might be at risk to predators such as, but not limited to: ants, wasps, wildlife, or domestic animals. R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc will not replace packages that are not picked up from the post office within 24 hours, nor will we replace packages that are not picked up because we were not provided with the correct phone number in order for the post office to contact the recipient to alert them of their arrival.
    • If your package is shipping via UPS and you cannot be present at the time of delivery, we recommend contacting your local UPS hub and to request your bees be held at their facility for you to pick up. It is also helpful if you supply us with that address so that we might add it to your shipping label.
    • Please note that it is completely normal for some bees to parish in transit and that up to a 1.5 inch layer of dead bees in the bottom of the package is not unusual and does not indicate your package is defective.
    • Replacement Policy: R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc will make a one time reshipment of any eligible package. Dead packages must be reported within 24 hours of delivery to rweaver@rweaver.com and must contain clear photographic evidence of the dead bees inside their package as well as an damage that the packaging itself may have sustained in shipment. Shipping and handling costs for package bees are NOT included in the replacement and are the responsibility of the customer.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for packages that perish due to untimely hive installation by the recipient.
    • R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for packages that perish due to them not being retrieved from the post office or UPS hub within 24 hours of their arrival.
    • R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for packages that perish due to incorrect contact information given by the customer. Please be sure to provide us with the best phone number in which you can be contacted!
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for losses due to incorrect hiving practices or methods. If you have any questions at all regarding proper hiving practice, please do feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to provide you with some resources.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee successful queen introduction or the establishment of a full colony resulting from package bee installation.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for bees who might abscond during or after the installation process.

    Nucs & Established Colonies/Hives

    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc guarantees your bees will be health and alive at the time of pick up
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for death or loss that may occur once the bees leave our premises as we have no control over how they are transported, installed, or handled.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee that nucs installed will result in a full colony 100% of the time.
    • R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc is not responsible for bees who may abscond from nucs or established colonies.

    LIABILITY WAIVER

    When ordering bees from R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc online, by phone, or in person you knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, of handling live bees and beekeeping activities, even if arising from negligence, and assume full responsibility for your participation and hereby release R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc, its officers, owners, employees, representatives, and participants from responsibility or liability for any risks that may come from beekeeping including, but not limited to, the following:

    • damage to personal or commercial property that may be caused by beekeeping activities
    • damage to neighboring property that may be caused by beekeeping
    • injury or death to humans, livestock, pets, or wildlife
    • litigation, complaints, or citations from neighbors, HOAs, city governments, etc.

    IN CONSIDERATION OF the risk of injury that exists while participating in BEEKEEPING CLASSES, FARM TOURS, HIVING DEMONSTRATIONS, THE PURCHASE OF BEES OR BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT (ON THE PREMISES OR ONLINE), OR ANY ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE ON THE PREMISES (hereinafter the "Activity" or "Activities"; and

    IN CONSIDERATION OF my desire to participate in said Activities and being given the right to participate in same.

    I HEREBY, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or personal representatives (hereinafter collectively, "Releasor", "I" or "me", which terms shall also include Releasor's parents or guardian if Releasor is under 18 years of age)., knowingly and voluntarily enter into this WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY and hereby waive any and all rights, claims, or causes of action of any kid arising out of my participation in the Activity; and

    I HEREBY release and forever discharge R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc, located at 16495 County Road 319, Navasota, Texas 77868, their affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively "Releasees"), from any physical or psychological injury, including death, that I may suffer as a direct result of my participation in the aforementioned Activities.

    I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITIES AND I AM PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITIES ENTIRELY AT MY OWN RISK. I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTIVITIES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: BEE STINGS, ALLERGIC REACTIONS, ANAPHYLAXIS, PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY, PAIN, SUFFERING, ILLNESS, DISFIGUREMENT, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DISABILITY (INCLUDING PARALYSIS), ECONOMIC OR EMOTIONAL LOSS, AND DEATH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE INJURIES OR OUTCOMES MAY ARISE FROM MY OWN OR OTHERS' NEGLIGENCE, CONDITIONS RELATED TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE ACTIVITY, OR FROM CONDITIONS AT THE ACTIVITY LOCATIONS(S). NONETHELESS, I ASSUME ALL RELATED RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO ME, OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THESE ACTIVITIES.

    I FURTHER AGREE to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Releasees against any and all claims, suits or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney's fees and any related costs.

    I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE that Releasees are not responsible for errors, omissions, acts or failures to act of any party or entity conducting a specific event or activity on behalf of Releasees. In the event that I should require medical care or treatment, I authorize R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc to provide all emergency medical care deemed necessary, including but not limited to, first aid, CPR, the use of AED's, administration of Epinephrine, emergency medical transport, and sharing of medical information with medical personnel. I further agree to assume all costs involved and agree to be financially responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such treatment. I am aware and understand that I should carry my own health insurance and epinephrine (if needed).

    I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE that these Activities may involve a test of a person's physical and mental limits and may carry with it the potential for death, serious injury, and property loss. I agree not to participate in these Activities unless I am medically able and properly trained, and I agree to abide by the decision of R. Weaver Apiaries, Inc official or agent, regarding my approval to participate in the Activities.

    I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS "WAIVER AND RELEASE" AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY. I EXPRESSLY AGREE TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE R.WEAVER APIARIES, INC AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES, MANAGERS, MEMBERS, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS,, HEIRS, REPRESENTATIVES, PREDECESSORS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION AND I AGREE TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP OR WAIVE ANY RIGHT THAT I OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST R.WEAVER APIARIES, INC FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

    To the extent that stature or case law does not prohibit releases for ordinary negligence, this release is also for such negligence on the part of R.WEAVER APIARIES, INC, its agents, and employees.

    I agree that this Release shall be governed for all purposes by Texas law, without regard to any conflict of law principles. This Release supersedes any and all previous oral or written promises or other agreements.

    In the event that any damage to equipment or facilities occurs as a result of my or my family's or my agent's willful actions, neglect or recklessness, I acknowledge and agree to be held liable for any and all costs associated with any such actions of neglect or recklessness.

    THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE DURATION OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THESE ACTIVITIES, DURING THIS INITIAL AND ALL SUBSEQUENT EVENTS OF PARTICIPATION.

    THIS AGREEMENT  was entered into at arm's-length, without duress or coercion, and is to be interpreted as an agreement between two parties of equal bargaining strength. Both the participant and R.WEAVER APIARIES, INC agree that this agreement is clear and unambiguous as to its terms, and that no other evidence shall be used or admitted to alter or explain the terms of this agreement, but that it will be interpreted based on the language in accordance with the purposes for which it is entered into.

    In the event that any provision contained within this Release of Liability shall be deemed to be severable or invalid, or if any term, condition, phrase or portion of this agreement shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If a court should find that any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting said provision it would become valid and enforceable, then said provision shall be deemed to be written, construed and enforced as so limited.

    If you have any questions at all regarding the information above - please feel free to contact us.