I notice that the Honey Flow Hive is currently listed at USD $699.
I presume the hives are made and shipped from Australia, so is there an AUD price, as the exchange rate makes it almost double at the moment?
Thanks
Susannah
I notice that the Honey Flow Hive is currently listed at USD $699.
I presume the hives are made and shipped from Australia, so is there an AUD price, as the exchange rate makes it almost double at the moment?
Thanks
Susannah
Hi Susannah, I can only speak from what I’ve observed. Apparently they don’t have an Aussie price. I agree, with our $ currently buying 70 US cents, it works out to be an expensive exercise.
Yes this troubles me somewhat also. Import taxes, export taxes… It’s my understanding, and correct me if I’m wrong, the frames are being manufactured in both Aus and USA but the boxes are produced in the US. If we got mates rates here in Aus I’d imagine there’d be more sales here and I’d gladly pay Aus dollars at the US figure unfortunately business dictates differently. I s’pose I’ll have to support local business for my second hive. I’d rather support the flow team as I’m a proud Aussie and am proud that another innovative product has been sporned here however economically it doesn’t make sense.
I guess it’s a good thing though that bee keeping has been advertised as it has with this product so ultimately that’s the main thing…
I think that makes sense…
This topic has popped up several times. And again, what difference would it make what dollar they use as their base dollar? If they picked the Australian dollar then the price would be $990.00, and people in the US would pay $699. I’m sure the people at Flow are smart enough to figure out the math on what they want their prices to be. If they wanted the price to be $699Aus then they would have set the price at $490 US. The price is the price no matter what country you live in.
in UK That is £459.98 + Delivery £111.87 + Vat £28 + £38 ( box and Frames)
Rounded up = £836
Hi Greg, a lady showed me 3 beautiful supers full of good frames (no wire or foundation), a queen excluder, good lid & bottom board she got for $150.00 AU. I advised her to scorch the lot seeing as it was second hand, which she did. All she needs is wire, foundation & a colony of bees.
Hi @Susannah Yes I know it is a bit for Australian customers especially as our dollar has dropped. We are working on offering $AU… hopefully soon
I just tried to buy the Flow hive $726 US with shipping. MY I phone converted this to $915 Aus.
Went to pay with PayPal & the cost was $1025! Aus so I cancelled the order.
If its over $1000 Aus we get stung with extra paper work & taxes ??
Any one got any ideas apart from waiting for the Aus dollar to come up??
unfortunately the Quality Assurance of the wooden hives made in the USA is very slack, thus the price in US dollars inflates this innovative and promising product greatly to Australian customers. Mine cost $800, and now it’s over $1000 far too expensive to get another Full Flow. My next box I will make myself and by the flow inserts if the current price of Full Flow is maintained. This currency conversion and higher price just gives less chance for lower incomes to enjoy beekeeping with Flow Hive.
My hive is only coated in tung oil, two coats, The mixture of woods is sure to be commented on by friends who maybe interested in their own Flow- hive. As well as the five out of six chipped handles and the chipped roof.
Trying to be constructive here, your product is exciting with awesome potential, the price in USD is just out of hand with the quality I received. I know your working on QA. Perhaps produce the boxes locally in many countries to bring the price down relative to their currency and maintain one price on the flow inserts.
Almost all woods have a variety of color gradients depending if it is heart wood or sap wood. in regards to Western red cedar this is what I came up with:
Color/Appearance: Heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red/brown areas. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish white, and isn’t always sharply demarcated from the heartwood.
That pretty much exactly sums up the colors of wood you got. It’s not a quality issue it’s simply the natural appearance of the wood. I guess they could have offered an additional upgrade to hand select boxes of matching color, but that would have slowed down production to a crawl for all the orders they are trying to get out on the road. If you have ever worked with wood you know that it can take hours to sift through all the lumber to get the best matches for a project.
@adagna hit the nail on the head. Only Western Red Cedar is used in the manufacturing of the hives, and all parts of the tree are being used, and the trees may even come from multiple locations, thus exacerbating the color differences.
@adagna - I think you will find the image is of where there is a substantial chip/splinter in the edge - Few of mine were the same
@Valli It sounds like a number of you roof shingles were chipped/splintered as well? Or were other parts? I think we’ve identified the cause, but we’re just trying to ensure all quality and shipping damage issues are dealt with.
@beethinking
If I photograph my problems can I get replacement without incurring further VAT?
There should never be VAT on replacement parts. Absolutely send photos through the Flow support so we can ensure you get any issues resolved!
I was more responding to this comment about having a mixture of woods. The dings and splinters and such should be addressed and it sounds like it is. But natural variations in color of a wood with heart wood is a normal thing and not a quality issue. You can get redwood 2x4 lumber from sapwood that looks nearly identical to pine, it’s just how the wood is.
I quite like the natural wood variants - it has character
Valli. …you’re a hoot.
There’s rounding up and rounding up…£636 not £836…lol
@givitago Thanks Richard my Typo
Thank you for explaining the different wood colours. I can live with that.
The main reason for posting was the inflated USD doesn’t justify chipped parts in assembly.
Poor quality workmanship is poor quality, 5 chipped handles and a chipped roof,
How many early orders were received like this, I am guessing over 50%.
The hives need to be made locally in each country or region to reduce costs and transport damage. There are plenty of hive makers about.
Will be taking my hive to a local aussie who makes hives to see how much he charges to build the same.