It would probably be more helpful to try and answer his questions than to belittle or chastise him for being new and not knowing what to do when he buys nucs or packages. This site is awesome and informative and has helped me tremendously but sometimes inexperienced beeks are made to feel stupid or ignorant and it gives them pause about posting questions. Just my opinion.
:? Are you speaking of yourself or other new beeks?
I can't say much for others, just Chris who was seeking information.
He/She ?? didn't ask where the SHB could of come from, or how he may of gotten them.
He (as a new beek you imply) automatically assumed that he got them from a nuc. And that may or may not be true. I added the rest to straight forward suggest, that he SHOULD of known if they had SHB when he picked them up. If I had ONLY answered based on his questions, then all the other constructive information probably would of not been offered, thus leaving him in no better position for the next time.
FYI....Don't buy "prepackaged" nucs from ANY nuc supplier. If they are not going to allow you to open up the nuc, inspect the frames, see the queen, look for disease (when you pick them up)....then stick with the crappy package industry. ;) Ignorance on the part of the beekeeper, only allows shady producers to exist, thus effecting all producers of a particular product within the industry. If you didn't do your job, then don't blame others.
"They came with plastic frames" or anything else, is something that should not happen. Why does one not know what is being purchased? Did you buy your car that way? "I really wanted a/C, and four wheels, but it came with no a/C and only three wheels". Then to suggest to others that one will not buy a car ever again, and that advice is passed onto others, is a bit questionable. If you didn't want plastic frames, then you should not of bought plastic frames. Or at least requested it when ordering. Same with the car, you want a/C, then order it that way.
Giving the above advice is far cry then LETTING someone crap on you by selling you problems, then complaining about it on a forum. "Buyer beware" does not get a free pass just because one is new to buying something, especially with bees. If it worked that way, everyone would be getting screwed everytime they purchased an item for the first time. But just as you seek advice from perhaps your parents on buying a new car for the first time, I think asking another beekeeper of what to look for in buying nucs, is the same approach. Did that happen? I do not know. So one is left to giving that advice after the fact. My information goes beyond crying over spilt milk, and suggests perhaps what he should of done, what he could do next time, and what mistakes he made. It's not about belittling or chastising him. Sorry for that helpful advice.... ;)
How do I buy nucs?
What should I of done different?
Good questions, except the timing is different. And answers to both are to help, not chastise.
But "I'm going to assume they came from my nucs" and asking if one should go back to the producer.....may just get all types of responses.
Two types of people will get this. One who will understand it, and one who sees it differently then it was intended. I hope Chris understands it. :-D