I don’t know about others, but I love the off-topic wanderings of my friends in this Forum. That is what makes them friends. I really enjoy hearing about the kind of people that they are, and the other things they have done with their lives. Sort of broadens my perspective of who we are as beekeepers.
This train goes everywhere baby!
It is hard when topics go off topic. How do we keep it informative as well as friendly and human?
Maybe the best thing to do, is split off the posts where it becomes off-topic into the general discussion area, so the people involved in the discussion can keep posting there, and the original topic is left as it is.
Although I much prefer seeing the positive photos and talk about family and weddings than the winging and negativity of the original post 
Michael, If you were doing this commercially the cost of all those tubes and buckets would really add up. Not to mention the labour costs of opening the hive to check its all capped, putting the tubes on, opening the frames, closing the frames, packing the gear away and storage.
As for a hobby level, this does not matter as your time is free and your sanity is priceless.
Cheers
Rob.
I think there’s off topic and completely derailed. It can definitely add some perspective and context to the conversation, but if not everyone in the thread is involved in the discussion it sounds like the perfect candidate for PM/Group PM.
Most forums I frequent have an off topic section for this kind of discussion. This forum has a lounge, but only when you reach a certain level… perhaps this could be remedied?
As for the negativity, I’m not sure why this is always interpreted as a bad thing. People have varying opinions and should be able to express them. Even though I’ve purchased through flow and I’m happy with the purchase, I agree to a degree with the OP’s comments about the second round campaign. It’s not the humble little idea that needs funding anymore, it definitely feels like a cash grab. Why aren’t the flow tshirts openly available for direct purchase from the shop? and in quantity? Why run it second time through a US centric site? Why not offer those same deals to Australians from Australia? It’s all a little bit strange.
Perhaps I just put on my grumpy pants yesterday and I haven’t taken them off yet.
Cash grab? They are selling a product. I don’t understand the thinking here. If they dont continue to sell, the company will go under. Of course they still need funding! And always will. Why does it have to be a little humble idea to sell through a crowd funding campaign? Very successful campaigns commonly have secondary campaigns after being funded. They aren’t asking for donations. Cash grab… how absurd.
I don’t remember saying that they shouldn’t sell the product?
When they originally ran their campaign they didn’t have the infrastructure they didn’t have the presence and they didn’t have the good will. They have an established online presence with a web store, why not sell the new products through the online store? Instead they are attempting to generate hype with another campaign around a ‘limited time’ discount. Why can’t I just buy the hives for the same price on their webstore? Why can’t i buy the tshirts or related paraphernalia through their established web store? Why make loyal customers jump through hoops and limit their access to the product?
They can do whatever they like, my opinion remains unchanged.
It’s just another avenue to sell their product. Branding and marketing are important for any successful business. Generating hype is a good thing. I can understand that you may not agree with how they sell the product. I completely agree with you that they should do better with the web store. The whole thing is confusing and annoying. I still don’t understand why you are calling it a cash grab?
Because they are willing to ignore their loyal supporters with another US centric campaign based on hype to drive sales rather than focusing on expanding the capabilities of their existing webstore offering which would benefit everyone long past the ‘limited time’ deal.
I operate my apiary as a commercial operation. I spin about 6 ton of honey per anum by hand. I can’t see how the flow hive would enhance my operation. More than likely hinder it.
I don’t really check them that often and so far if the end has some honey in it, the frame is capped in my climate. I don’t need to pull anything out. If the booming hive in the yard is full then it’s time to harvest. No need to check them all to decide that, just check the ends to decide which frames to harvest.
I only need enough buckets that the first one is done by the time I set up the last one. The lid can be moved to other buckets. Putting them away for winter would depend on the climate, but in mine, yes, they would need to be pulled off in the fall. But they wouldn’t have to be pulled off to extract, put back on to clean up and then pulled back off in the fall which is what I do with my supers normally. That’s a lot of work. It certainly is not financially viable on a commercial scale at the current price but if the frames drop in price eventually it could be. Have you seen a “modern” maple syrup setup?
Following up on this, I think Flow should investigate a ‘group buy’ model with bee keeping clubs.
Essentially Flow provide Flow Hives to clubs and provide a discount schedule based on the quantity purchased. The benefit of this method is that the hives can all be shipped together to a single address resulting in massive shipping savings and club members then pick them up at a club meet. Less logistics overhead for Flow, and the club benefits as members get discounted product (due to bulk pricing and shipping savings) and the club gets new members involved in their local club.
I think it would be a good way to give back to the local clubs that are supporting the influx of Flow owners.
How many hives does it take you to collect 6 tonnes of Honey Jeff? I am curious.
According to Jeffs profile he has 60+ hives. But I 'spose 100 is 60+ 
So at 60 hives about 100 kg per hive. Or as cowgirl says 220 pounds in crazy imperial talk.
Crikey.
Hi Jack, it’s around 60 hives, I’m averaging 100 kilos of honey per hive. Some hives do exceptionally well & could yield a lot more while others struggle for a while & yield a lot less. However a hundred per hive seems to be the average per year.
Life must be good for bees in your area. 100kg per hive is amazing. Lucky you.
Cheers
Rob.
220 pounds (avg) per hive x 60 is 13,200 pounds.
6.6 US tons.
For perspective, a typical squeeze bear of honey is 12oz.
Jeff could fill 17,600 12oz squeeze bears .
Raw, wildflower honey squeeze bears average $8.00 US. (I’ve seen as high as $15.00 online)
Good on ya Jeff!
Thanks Bobby, I’d love to get those sort of dollars for my honey, however I’d have to devote a lot more time to marketing the honey. I sell my honey for around the wholesale price or slightly higher at the door on a byo container basis. That works out well for me. It keeps me off the old aged pension:) Plus I’m not having to deal with people at markets trying to haggle over a few cents. Not to mention the hours you need to spend with early starts setting up & packing up at the end.
Thanks Rob, it is:) They are bringing in loads of pollen right now. I’m having to destroy frames loaded with pollen in an attempt to subdue the swarming urge. Among other things.
Hopefully, as with most products, the price goes down as the market settles…less demand drives the need to sell more product at lower price…if it does, as a hobbyist, I might buy another set of 7…