Shipping policy

ESTIMATED SHIPPING/PICK UP DATES & WINDOWS FOR LIVE BEES

While we do our absolute accommodate customer requests for their chosen shipping & pickup dates for live bee orders, delays are a possibility. Not only are bees live animals, but we also sometimes run into challenges due to weather events and other unforeseen factors. If situations arise that may result in delays, the customer will be notified as soon as possible and be given an estimated date of order fulfillment. If you are requeening a hive we recommend that you not remove or kill the existing queen (if one exists) until you’ve received confirmation that your order has shipped.

QUEENS TO BE SHIPPED

  • All queens shipped out of Texas are shipped via USPS Priority Mail and arrive within 2-3 days of being shipped. During the months of April & May, queens are shipped on Mondays & Tuesdays.
  • Live delivery, without the purchase of additional insurance, is guaranteed on all queen shipments during the months of April & May - with the following exclusions: shipments not received on time due to shipping delays from the carrier, shipments mishandled/damaged/destroyed in transit, and deliveries left in unattended places such as, but not limited to the following: mailboxes, hot sunny spots outdoors, exposure to extreme elements, and anywhere that may leave the bees at risk to predators such as, but not limited to, ants. If you know that you will not be home to accept your bees upon delivery, it is suggested that you contact your local post office to have the shipment held until you may pick it up in person.
  • Please report any shipment that doesn't arrive alive within 24 HOURS of receiving to rweaver@rweaver.com. It is important to also include photos of the dead bees, still inside their cages, as well as photos of any damaged packaging. Failure to report dead shipments within 24 hours of arrival will result in voiding any replacement guarantee.
  • All replacements will be sent out on the next available ship date via USPS priority mail. If you would like to upgrade or expedite replacement shipping for a fee, please call (936) 825-2333.

PACKAGE BEES TO BE SHIPPED

We offer package bees to be shipped to the 49 continental states. However, transit times, policies, and guarantees will vary depending on destination.

  1. All packages shipped within TEXAS will be done so via UPS Ground or USPS Ground and will have a 1-2 day transit time. These packages feature a live delivery guarantee. Please read more about the live delivery guarantee below.
  2. All packages shipped to the following states will be done so via USPS ground with a 2-7 day transit time and will feature our live delivery guarantee: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, COLORADO, GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, & TENNESSEE.
  3. All packages shipped to ANY OF THE CONTINENTAL STATES NOT LISTED ABOVE will be shipped via USPS ground and will have approximately a 4-8 day transit time. Due to extended shipping times and possibly delays, any package bees shipped to those states will NOT feature our live delivery guarantee.

Live Delivery Guarantee

R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc guarantees your bees will be alive upon delivery, but is not responsible deaths due to gross mishandling or untimely delivery that may  occur during transit or delivery, or untimely hiving by the recipient. If you cannot be present at the time of delivery, we do suggest contacting the closest UPS hub or your local Post Office to request having your bees held at their facility for you to pick up. Please note that it is normal for a few bees to perish in transit and that up to a 1.5 inch layer of dead bees at the bottom of the package is not unusual and does not indicate that your package is defective.

Replacement Policy

R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc. will make one reshipment only of any package bees that are dead on arrival through no fault of the customer, IF it is reported within 24 hours of delivery. Photographic evidence is required and should be emailed to us at rweaver@rweaver.com. Shipping and handling costs are not included on the replacement and are the responsibility of the customer. Please note that replacements are only issued for packages delivered to states that are included in our live delivery guarantee:  ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, COLORADO, GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, & TENNESSEE.

Acceptance Policy

R.Weaver Apiaries, Inc does not guarantee successful queen introduction or establishment of a full colony resulting from package bee installation.