Author Topic: The Latest On Golden Bee Suits (Read 17198 times)

JP · « **on:** April 05, 2008, 03:30:06 pm »

I ran into Suzie Lemoine today at the Home Depot in Kenner, Louisiana. I overheard her talking with a customer about bee suits and inquired if she was speaking of Golden Bee suits.

Suzie is the daughter of Phil & Noelie Lemoine, who invented the suit. I had heard that the old man had died but it was in fact Mrs. Lemoine who has passed.

Suzie is carrying on with the business end of production. The new phone# is 504-456-8805. For those who are unaware of their suits they are the finest around, albeit a little costly, but you get what you pay for, this is fact.

Suzie and I spoke and I was able to give her some honest feedback about the suit. She was very receptive. My only complaint really is with the gloves that come with the suit, and she said she wanted ideas as they were looking to make changes to the gloves, anyway.

Anyway, if you are interested in a full suit that is about as sting proof as any suit you could ever find, look into getting one. They are also vented by design to allow breeze into the suit, which is great on hot days.

...JP

Oh, and to John and all the mods of this site. I hope it was ok to make this post. I just thought people would like the info and update. I'm not trying to endorse anything here, even though I do own one of the suits, just thought people would like to know. Let me know if it was ok to make this post, if not I'll know for next time. Thanks.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2008, 11:53:39 pm »

Thanks for the update. They are well worth the cost. I would like to buy another one for a spare.

JP · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2008, 11:57:28 pm »

Michael, I will be seeing Suzie next week to drop mine off for some minor sowing repairs, Anything you would like me to tell her? Need any flyers?

...JP

Michael Bush · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2008, 10:09:00 am »

I'm stretched a bit thin right now, but if things go well I'll probably order another one this fall. I'm glad you got an up to date phone number. I will pass it on to the other lists.

steveouk · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2008, 11:43:01 am »

Do they have a website ??

JP · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2008, 02:24:20 pm »

Quote from: steveouk on April 06, 2008, 11:43:01 am

Do they have a website ??

No website as of yet. Mom and Pop were old school, Suzie is looking at bringing things up to par. For now, you could call her and she can send a flyer.

...JP

Michael Bush · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2008, 05:06:44 pm »

I'm glad she's going to keep it going. It is a wonderful service to the beekeeping community to have them available and she deserves to make some money for doing that.

KONASDAD · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2008, 06:00:47 pm »

I have one suggestion. I called them last year and inquired about a pollinator coat/jacket and the answer was at that time no. As a hobbiest, a full suit is overkill and expensive. If they made a pullover jacket w/ hood, I personally would be all over it. So many have "promoted" the coat, I can only assume it is very well made. I like buying things once and only once if possible.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2008, 06:12:44 pm »

I also would love a jacket.

JP · « **Reply #9 on:** April 06, 2008, 08:15:43 pm »

I will def. mention this to Suzy guys.

...JP

annette · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2008, 08:37:04 pm »

I also want a jacket!!!

JP · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2008, 08:46:45 pm »

Just got off the phone with Susie (correct spelling, my bad before) and let her know people are buzzing about their product and would also love it if a jacket was offered. She likes the idea! I will meet with her next week and we can discuss things. Will keep everyone informed. Man, I sure would like a jacket as well! Great idea Konas!

...JP

Pond Creek Farm · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2008, 09:33:14 pm »

Why just a jacket? Do the bees not sting legs too? I am new at this and have seen the jackets in the catalogs, but I have not understood why the different choices.

KONASDAD · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2008, 09:54:35 pm »

Quote from: Pond Creek Farm on April 06, 2008, 09:33:14 pm

Why just a jacket? Do the bees not sting legs too? I am new at this and have seen the jackets in the catalogs, but I have not understood why the different choices.

Personally, my jeans or dickies are enoiugh and a lot cooler. Also, as a hobbiest who will never encounter AHB and doesn't do removals, a jacket is all thats needed. It takes me longer to loite smoker, don veil than do inspections most times.

asprince · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2008, 10:01:29 pm »

Jacket? My summer uniform from April - September is short pants. A jacket alone would make for a bad day.

Steve

JP · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2008, 10:42:02 pm »

Quote from: asprince on April 06, 2008, 10:01:29 pm

Jacket? My summer uniform from April - September is short pants. A jacket alone would make for a bad day.

Steve

Well, ok Steve, I just did an installation in my underware and that was it. Maybe next time I'll go a la natural, ooh, that could hurt though!

...JP

Shawn · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2008, 11:42:29 am »

So Jp what are the prices looking like? I have a friend that wants to get into the bees but he first wants to start out by helping me. I am also trying to present bee keeping to the FFA here, hopefully some kids would be interested.

JP · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2008, 04:39:18 pm »

Quote from: Shawn on April 07, 2008, 11:42:29 am

So Jp what are the prices looking like? I have a friend that wants to get into the bees but he first wants to start out by helping me. I am also trying to present bee keeping to the FFA here, hopefully some kids would be interested.

Call Susie for pricing @ 504-456-8805. She will need your measurements.

...JP

Shawn · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2008, 09:36:27 pm »

Just a general going price, $250, $500, less than $100?

JP · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2008, 11:39:34 pm »

Quote from: Shawn on April 07, 2008, 09:36:27 pm

Just a general going price, $250, $500, less than $100?

I think I paid $229.00 for mine.

...JP

winenutguy · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2008, 12:36:52 am »

This is what I want me wife to buy me for Christmas! How can I get one? Winenutguy

JP · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2008, 12:49:20 am »

^^^^^^^ look up for the phone number a few posts up ^^^^^^

...JP

hale1c · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2010, 04:37:28 pm »

Just spoke with Suzie and she wanted the public to khow that she now does have a web site. http://www.goldenbeeproducts.com/

In addition she wanted her email address passed on
GoldenBee Products@yahoo.com
SHe is a delightful lady and full of interesting information about the construction of her golden bee suits. Her enthuaism is contagious and I ordered one from her on the spot.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2010, 01:08:54 am »

Glad to hear they are still in busniess. The web site will help a lot.

Natalie · « **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2010, 07:53:42 pm »

How do these compare to the Ultra Breeze suits. They seem similar and I know these were made first but wondering if there is any real difference.
I wanted a jacket so I went with the Ultra Breeze but if I need a suit I am wondering which way to go.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2010, 11:43:52 pm »

The Ultra Breeze are very similar in construction and quality. The newer Golden bee product suits seem to have the veil attached laying over to the side (correct me if I'm wrong as I don't have one of these). The biggest advantage of the Ultra Breeze, to me, is they are available as a jacket and I use that far more often than the suit. If I were buying one thing it would be the Ultra Breeze jacket. If I had the money, I'd buy both a jacket and a suit. Just for those days when I want to only wear shorts and stay cooler...

JP · « **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2010, 11:48:00 pm »

Both are fine suits but my next purchase will be the ultra breeze jacket.

...JP

annette · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2010, 01:33:08 am »

Quote from: JP on February 28, 2010, 11:48:00 pm

Both are fine suits but my next purchase will be the ultra breeze jacket.

...JP

They are located right in your neighborhood JP!!

JP · « **Reply #28 on:** March 01, 2010, 10:20:45 am »

Quote from: annette on March 01, 2010, 01:33:08 am

Quote from: JP on February 28, 2010, 11:48:00 pm
Both are fine suits but my next purchase will be the ultra breeze jacket.

...JP

They are located right in your neighborhood JP!!

Yes Annette, Suzie is very close by, even lives within a 1/4 mile of where I used to live as a kid.

Suzie is just terrific & I love the Golden Bee suits & have one but I have been telling her that she needs to come out with a jacket.

...JP

BULLSEYE BILL · « **Reply #29 on:** March 01, 2010, 02:06:40 pm »

I had been using two Golden Bee suits for about six years. I also have the Ultra Breeze suit and jacket.

Bills quality has improved since the first suits he produced. The English style hoods on the UB are nice for outside work although when you get direct sun on it the glare is difficult to see through. Without the glare it is easier to see eggs through the UB. During extractions I tend to get more bees inside of my UB. For normal beekeeping the UB is a fine suit, but when I do extractions especially when I need to get my head into floor or ceiling joices, or any tight spots, the Ultra isn't the right suit. The Golden hood will allow me to get into those places.

The UB jacket is a great tool to have around. One suggestion that I have been planning to tell Bill about is that the zipper is unnecessary for me. I normally use it like a Bug Baffler, and just pull it over head. Having a pullover would cut the cost of the zipper and give the bees less potential of getting in.

Last year I let an apartment manager use one of my GBS so she could watch the extraction. Unknown to me she let the maintenance guy use it to go up a ladder and caulk the bricks. Imagine my supprise to take the suit out of the washer and find that he had gotten glue all over it. :mad:

Well they paid me for the suit so I can replace it but I really don't want one of the new Goldens with the veil that hangs over the shoulder. The reason that was given to me was that the GBS people can't get the zippers to make them the way they used to, and that they want to stay consistant so they can replace hoods when needed. :'(

magnet-man · « **Reply #30 on:** May 05, 2010, 04:20:10 pm »

Quote from: BULLSEYE BILL on March 01, 2010, 02:06:40 pm

One suggestion that I have been planning to tell Bill about is that the zipper is unnecessary for me.

Bill are you talking about the zippers on the legs or are you suggesting a pull over hood?

ncsteeler · « **Reply #31 on:** May 06, 2010, 06:35:00 am »

Any one ever used a suit from beeproofsuits
http://www.beeproofsuits.com/

I think a friend has one he got form another guy. I really like it.

BULLSEYE BILL · « **Reply #32 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:43:44 am »

Sorry for the delay Bill, just saw you question. My suggestion is the same as we spoke about at the Big Bee Buzz. a pull over jacket. I don't use the zippers on the jacket, well sometimes I will flip the hood back, but in general I just pull the jacket on like a big sweatshirt or Bug Baffler. I thought you could save money and time by not having to install a zipper for people that don't use or need them.

riverrat · « **Reply #33 on:** June 06, 2010, 11:23:39 pm »

i got a golden and wouldnt use anything else I got one that the zipper is in the front and you got to let the hood hang on your shoulder i didnt care for that at first but you get used to it

BULLSEYE BILL · « **Reply #34 on:** June 17, 2010, 12:42:41 am »

Rest in peace Bill, we're going to miss you and your suits.

Bill Samples expired from a heart attack on 6-7-2010

JP · « **Reply #35 on:** June 17, 2010, 02:22:44 am »

Holy smokes no! Dang it Bill was a great guy, I have one of his full suits. He will surely be missed. So sorry to hear this.

...JP