Buying Used / Second Hand Beekeeping Equipment

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:49

 

Buying Used / Second Hand Beekeeping Equipment

This page aims to cover:

• Buying used / second hand beekeeping equipment
  
• Beekeeping Auctions
  
• Hints andTips for auction purchases
  
• Pro and cons of second hand equipment
  

Not everyone has the cash to purchase brand new equipment. A range of options for second hand /used equipment purchase are possible. Clearly the obvious first port of call would be your local beekeeping club. Other members, or sometimes the club itself will sell used equipment to new beekeepers - sometimes from club members who have given up, or spare equipment they no longer need. Ebay, and other sites such as Friday Ad, or your local newspaper classifieds can also be a potential source. Two members of our club were very fortunate to get an entire national hive (for free) from freecycle - although you have to be quick! Adverts appear regularly in Beecraft (scroll down for adverts) and other beekeeping magazines.

All the options above can be hit and miss, you wait for months without an advert and then several may come at once. Of course, when you are starting out and want to setup fairly fast you need something quicker - and a beekeeping equipment auction is a good solution.

Finding an auction in your area is simple enough - ask other beekeepers, or keep an eye on the BBKA Events Calendar.  

Pros and Cons of Used / Second Hand Beekeeping Equipment

•  It's cheaper*
• You take items home on the day
• You can see what you are buying
• Lots of beekeepers to assist in recommending what to buy**
• The shocking state of some of the equipment has to be seen to be believed - fit for firewood only
• Lots of poor quality / tatty equipment, which may be home-made and not to correct dimensions
• Risk of infection on equipment (E.g foulbrood / nosema spores)

* - Not always - second hand items regularly fetch higher than new prices due to "bidding fever"

** - This can be a help and a hindrance.... as much bad as god advice is often offered!

Auction Day

Standard auction advice applies - do your research as to what new prices are. Beekeeping specific advice is take a tape measure to check, better still take a beekeeper who knows what to look for. Check whether it's top, or bottom bee space. Look how many similar lots there are (which may define price).

 

Beekeepers assessing used equipment at Brinsbury Beekeeping Auction

 

 More Second Hand /used Beekeeping Equipment (Note the small metal disks with the lot numbers on)

 

 Brinsbury Auction is hosted by WSBKA

 

 Hives with woodpecker holes!

 

The auctions starts - bidding is done "live" by the lots

 

 

 

 

 The auctions starts - bidding is done "live" by the lots

 

All round good egg, celebrity Beekeeper (and Auctioneer), Roger Patterson provides an honest description of each lot.

 

 Auctioneer Roger Patterson with his Sunday best hat, auction assistant (with the board) and Daisy.

 

RBKA Members bidding for some WBC equipment

 

For purchasing new equipment click here

 

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Here is a small selection of New (Thornes), New (in the flat) and Auction Prices. New (seconds) prices will be added when I can obtain them

Item	New (assembled)	New (in the flat)	New (seconds)	Auction Price 2009
Brood	£40.56	£31.28	To be Added	Average £15
Super	£30.36	£23.07	To be Added	£15
Brood 14 x 12	£52.70	£41.00	To be Added	£38
Roof	£40.90	£ 30.35	To be Added	Average £18
Floor	£24.27	£18.46		£11
Skep	£55.79			£12
Crown Boards				£7.5
Gabled Roof	£48.70			£43
Hive Stand	£12 - £26			£20
Pine Floor				£13
Zine Q/E				£2.5
30lb Honey Bucket	£3.69			£2
3" Ekes				£8