We are only buying one kit and an extra suite and we are building all of are other hives after studying are one from the kit.
Is it really cheaper to build your own? Or do you have access to wholesale lumber, etc.? I wouldn't know how to do the dovetails, but the rest wouldn't be hard, provided I had a source of cheap, untreated lumber.
The biggest cost seems to be shipping. Lucky for me, there's a Dadant store about 40 miles away. Unfortunately, they're only open weekdays (you know, when people like me work!).