Very helpful, very professional and people driven staff, much time was taken to answer all my questions.

I totally endorse Hudson Valley Bee Supply as a terrific place for beekeepers to do business with. Megan and her very capable team not only provide wonderful nucs and other supplies but more importantly, they are always available to answer your questions and give you assistance. They are very knowledgeable. I travel about 90 miles at least once a year to see them and it's well worth the effort. These are great people. read more

These people are incredibly helpful and courteous; for three years now they have always been available to answer any questions and assist on my bee journey:) Additionally, I've purchased two nucs from them and they have been thriving. Super healthy, and great producers. We're lucky to have them in the area. read more

Hudson Valley Bee Supply has been my go-to supplier for all bee supplies. I've been dealing with them for a few years, I have ALWAYS had a pleasant experience when dealing with them. They are a 2 hour drive for me and worth every minute of it. Whether I speak to Meghan, Charlie or Yorik it doesn't matter; they are all knowledgeable, friendly and easy to work with. I've been to the shop pre covid and during covid and they've got it under control. read more

giving them one star is me being generous. they deserve none. I didn't have a good experience at all going to their store. when their product is defective, they don't want to help you out read more

I called ahead of time to ask if this place carried a very specific brand and product. They said they would check in the back and returned to say, yes, they did indeed carry it and had it on hand. I repeated that they were sure it was this specific brand and product and they said yes. I wanted to be very sure it was the right brand and product I was looking for and was pleased to see they had the good taste in carrying it. So I raced the 3 hours to the store to pick it up before they closed. I got there and.... It was not at all the same brand or product I had specifically asked three times for which they said they did have. Very disappointed by that, but I was desperate to have a product in time and it had to make due, plus I didn't want the three hour drive to be all for nothing, so I made the purchase anyway. I would have ordered the product I actually wanted online and saved myself the 6 hour round way trip if I had only been told- "no, we don't carry that specific product"... As upsetting as this was, the sales folks were super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable answering all my questions about the other stuff I purchased, so a few stars for them... If you're looking for a specific product and they say they have it- ask them to read the product label to you before you commit to making a long drive to this store. read more

Megan is by far the rudest business owner I've ever encounter. As I have been out of work for over a month now due to COVID, I was asking if there was anyway they could resell my nucleus, as I was not in a position to be able to keep the colony alive (Mind you the delivery date was a week away). I had a bear destroy my package I got a week earlier. Megan got rude very fast telling me they had no time to help me re-list on THEIR site. AGAIN, the one nucleus that hasn't be delivered to me yet. She then jumped to saying I would be banned from the store and never allowed to shop at her business if I asked my credit card company to step in. I'm not asking for a refund on an already delivered bees, I was asking for you to give another beekeeper a chance to buy a nuc. Seeing how the nucs are all sold out on Megan's site, I'm sure within a weeks time there is going to be someone interested in buying a nuc of bees. Not to mention countless calls I'm sure they are getting everyday asking if there is still a package/nuc left this season. I am a small business owner that has had to shut down my business since March 20th with no income. Be thankful you are still able to operate your business. And Megan, thanks for your email after our conversation, where you went completely hostile, reminding me of your return policy. Real class act as a business owner. Here's to hoping Megan shows some compassion to her future customers in a hard spot and looking out for the bee's best interests. If Megan really cared about the bees, this would be a non-issue, but guess it just boils down to the $$$. read more

HVBS has been an invaluable resource, and provider of all my beekeeping needs, since I began beekeeping 3 years ago. They have spent hours on the phone with me answering questions, and have provided consistently excellent wooden-ware and beekeeping supplies, as needed. Their bees (both packages and Nucs) have been excellent, and it's clear they're both passionate about, and experts in beekeeping. What a privilege to have them only 40 minutes away. Could not be more pleased with my experience over the past three years with them. Yorik and Meaghan are gems. Charlie is terrific. Ryan is awesome. read more

Just got off the phone with HVBS with answers to my questions about taking honey from a strong hive to give to a hive that will need more honey for the winter. I don't remember who I spoke to but he answered my questions and reinforced all info. And he was pleasant. So nice to have someone to troubleshoot your problems when you are in the middle of doing something you are not really sure of or comfortable with. Thanks, you saved us from doing the wrong thing. read more

I'm brand new to beekeeping. In this store there are a few nice displays, and the hive (in a glass casing) is really cool since you can see the bees flying in and out (and them working). The owner whom we had seen for about a minute (and was actively beekeeping) seemed nice and genuine for the moment we saw her. Other than that, I have to say that coming here was a mistake. HVBS is over an hour drive from my house and one of the only beekeeper depots in the area, but after my experience I'm upset I didn't just "blindly" order my supplies online or drive twice as far to another store. The beekeeping community is famously known for its friendly, genuine, helpful community. I did not experience this at HVBS as much as I tried to force a "friendly" atmosphere. The clerk - Yorgi (or something to this effect)- was ingenuine at best. I have to say, my girlfriend and I tried, really hard, to like this guy but left the store feeling taken advantage of and really downtrodden. I continuously told the clerk I was a complete newbie, and would like all the extra information on what I was purchasing that I could get. As hard as Yorgi "tried" to be cool and helpful about beekeeping, he came off as arrogant and impatient. Mind you, i'm spending $500 at your establishment, not purchasing a hotdog and soda -- a little bit of helpfulness and respect is the least I could ask for! FIrst of all, I purchased all the "first time" beekeeping equipment such as 2 deep structures, 2 medium's, the frames, wax, hat, base, and smoker. Getting any additional information from Yorgi was like pulling teeth, and the only snippets of useful information I DID get was only because I had read up on all this beforehand and knew enough to ask a couple questions about the project I was getting myself into. When I asked if Yorgi could help show me how to assemble one frame (FOR EXTRA $) so I would know when I got home (I'm assembling 40!) he explained to me how they were too buy to do this and I should have called ahead. The store was nowhere near busy, and he somehow had enough time to flirt with a lady for more than 15 minutes who was buying one jar of honey while we waited off to the side in the middle of our transaction.... too busy? I don't think so. Instead he opted to impatiently and rudely show me an already assembled frame and use jargon no new beekeeper would be able to understand about small wooden pieces that affix parts of the wax I have never seen before. So, here's the kicker. Although later I saw "beginner" kits that include almost everything I purchased for $250, Yorgi failed to mention these starter kits exist. Instead, I ended up spending over $460 on my equipment. Discounting the additional medium boxes I purchased, my equipment should have cost at least $100 less. In Summary, we left, at best, disappointed. I felt taken advantage of as a naive beekeeper in what should have been an environment nurturing newcomers to this eccentric and exciting hobby. I was more confused about the whole process than when I first arrived. Although the owner did step in for a couple minutes while we were purchasing our equipment (and she did seem very nice and genuine) the rest of the staff were not customer friendly at all. (But boy did they TRY to come off as genuine!) I don't recommend this depot to anybody. You're better off buying your supplies online from one of the larger retailers and watching youtube videos than going out of your way to be swindled and disappointed by this establishment. read more

I've been a customer of Hudson Valley Bee supply for a few years now. I came as a complete newcomer and the staff gas always been extraordinarily helpful, finding time for me even when they were busy, or asking me to wait a bit until they could get back to me, but I've never found them to be anything but courteous and helpful. They offer classes for the beginner which have also been really useful. For anyone to think that you could learn all the nuances of beekeeping in one visit to any store is naïve at best. In any case I'd recommend them highly to anyone with an interest in beekeeping whether you are a newbie or experienced . read more

This crew is the best! They got me started five years ago and have been supportive and informative throughout my experience. They are knowledgeable and friendly and involved in the local beekeeping community. Can't say enough good things about them and how lucky we are to have such a resource here in the Hudson Valley! read more

These people are amazing. We bought our bees from them last year and they've been so helpful and supportive. A few nights ago a bear got into our bees and I called them after hours hoping they could help. They got back to me first thing in the morning and sent an angel over who put the whole system back together. They asked nothing in return. Just went out of their way to be us back in order. So generous!! read more

We just ordered supplies to expand our beekeeping as we start our second year. Last February we hounded Yorik and Meagan with questions. They spent time with us and answered all our question patiently. They recommended classes and we took them. We felt too clumsy to assemble the new hive ourselves and for a small fee they assembled and stained our new hive. They gently walked us through the bumps of our first year of beekeeping. We feel like pros now because of them. Better than that, we feel like pros that beekeep SUSTAINABLY and with care and thought for the bees and the environment. So grateful to have them as a resource. I would direct anyone to them with confidence. read more

I am a new beekeeper and went to Hudson Vally Bee Supply to get started. I was helped by Yorik who could not have been more helpful. He spent almost 2 hours with me answering all my questions. He did not try to sell me any extras that I did not need. At the end of my purchase the other staff members helped me load my car. I pick up my bees at the end of April and I am so excited to begin. If you are new to beekeeping this is the place to go. read more

I am a brand spanky new beekeeper and I bought my very first package of bees (which they were actually sold out of so thanks forbhooking me up hvbs). The gentleman behind the counter walked me through everystep of installing the package a few times over. I still panicked when it was time to really do it but that is hardly hvbs fault. Anyway they have been super helpful with any question I have had since and nice people too. read more

The proprietors of this shop are so nice it's ridiculous. When I started beekeeping a few years ago there was no local source for supplies, so this place has been a big help. I find them very agreeable, enthusiastic and always willing to answer questions. I am writing this review partly in response to the prior poor review, which really surprised me. This place is a great resource ! read more

HVB has been at our sides since diving into this beekeeping. After two years we still continue to feel like novices and are very thankful we have a support team always available to address our often clueless questions and concerns. The learning curve is steep but exciting. We continue to experience ups and downs with our colonies but are always learning from our mistakes thanks to the information and encouragement of the HVB team. read more

A great selection of beekeeping equipment coupled with super friendly staff who have a wealth of knowledge. The merchandise is clean and fresh looking and on my two visits I have bought items that were certainly not on my list but I have been delighted with. If you are a beekeeper, or perhaps thinking of becoming one, get off that internet site and stop in here, you won't be disappointed. read more

My wife and I are also "first timers" and drove from Warwick NY to HVB supply. Our experience is a total 180 from the other reviewer. We spent exactly what we needed in order to get started - 2 complete setups and 2 packages of bees. All of the equipment is first rate. The bees were happy and healthy. Though the shop was full of customers - somewhat like a a bee hive - Megan, Jorik and Joe did spend a major amount of time with us. As in any small business, an occasional aside to another customer or two who needed just minimal hand holding diverted their attention but each customer was given precise information. Since January, we have been back up to HVB and purchased additional items and bent their ear for additional info. Our hives are rapidly expanding, the bees are super busy. Based on how productive our hives are becoming, we know we will be expanding and will not hesitate to drive back up to HVB for more equipment and support. read more

Recently, I drove from East Hampton, Ct to attend weekend queen- rearing class. Yorik and Meagan were great hosts and were eager to share their vast knowledge. It was well worth the drive. read more