Mountain Sweet Honey Company, LLC — Attraction in Toccoa

DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS COMPANY. PLEASE READ. UPDATE I was able to speak with MSH on 4/12 around 4:30pm after trying to reach them all day, and spoke with Teresa who was completely unhelpful. I never received a call back from the supervisor that day as promised. My bees hadn’t arrived by then and Teresa kept telling me how difficult this has been for their company and that “we’ve all cried today”. I told her I am the customer and I didn’t want to talk about how hard it has been for THEM. She kept saying my package is insured and I will get money from USPS. She also told me that this same situation had happened to their first two batches of shipments (mine was in the third shipment) which tells me they knew the shipping wasn’t working but kept doing it anyway! On 4/14 I received a call from my PO at 11am that the bees arrived. SEVEN DAYS these bees had been in transit. Talked at length w two postmasters who said that in 30 yrs of combined experience they had never seen especially bees, sent ground. EVER. They suggested we refuse the package which we originally decided to do. (All is this time I’m trying to contact MSH for advice but their phones were disconnected. RUNNING FROM THIS PROBLEM IS NOT THE ANSWER!) We decided to take the bees so that the rest wouldn’t die, but I did ask them to scan the box as damaged (per Teresa) so I could get an insurance claim. They were very kind but would not do that because they said the box was not damaged and the dead bees were due to the shipping method selected by MSH, not to USPS mishandling. I agreed. Before I left the post office I happened to ask them if the package was actually insured - their answer: there is no insurance on this package. On my drive home with the bees I got a call (shocking) from Kendra at MSH. I told her the whole story above and included how very dissatisfied I am with their company and that THIS IS NOT USPS FAULT. She told me I would “eat those words” as she has letters from USPS claiming responsibility. She also said that there is insurance on the package and offered to file a claim for me “in a couple of weeks”. She was nice, but for me its much too little, much too late. at the end of the day the financial responsibility for this should fall on their company and not the USPS.

ORIGINAL REVIEW I ordered a 3lb package of Italian bees on Jan 28 to be delivered March 25-27. I received information about the winter setback due to record cold temps and was told to expect my bees April 8-10. I called the company on Thursday, April 8 and was told me bees would ship that day and arrive on Saturday, April 10. I received an email with tracking for USPS. When I tracked the package I was shocked to see estimated arrival April 13. I still do not have these bees in my possession, that have been in transit for 4 days and I don’t feel very positive that they will arrive alive. I called my post office on Saturday, April 10 and gave them the tracking number. They informed me that the package was sent parcel post (slowest way) and that live animals are required to be sent priority express. They informed me that this company spent all of $10 in shipping to send me these bees, I paid $25 in shipping when I ordered the bees in January. I waited until this morning (4/12)when the company opened to call. I was told the bees were alive when they left on Thursday (I’m sure they were) and that the only thing I can do is file an insurance claim with USPS. It is not fair for this company to expect USPS insurance to cover a claim for a live animal that was shipped incorrectly resulting in death/damage. I was offered no apology, no refund, no solution and no replacement bees were offered. When I asked to speak to a supervisor I was told someone would call me. No one has contacted me and when I try to call the company their phones are not working. I am including photos of the process so far and when I (hopefully) pick up bees tomorrow I will add photos of them at the post office in the condition...

Mountain Sweet Honey Company is an exemplary example of how a business should operate in today's world. Their dedication to providing top-notch honey bees is evident in every aspect of their operations. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to organic methods in treating their bees, ensuring not only the health of the bees but also the quality of the honey produced.

Their customer service is outstanding, thanks to a team of knowledgeable beekeepers who are always ready to offer valuable advice. This makes them an ideal resource for beekeepers of all levels of experience, from novices to experts. They understand the intricacies of beekeeping and are more than willing to share their expertise with their customers.

Moreover, the company's commitment to timely shipping is commendable. They guarantee to ship all orders placed before noon EST, a testament to their efficiency and dedication to customer satisfaction. This level of service is especially impressive considering their promise to be fully stocked with beekeeping supplies, ensuring that customers have access to everything they need without delay.

Finally, Mountain Sweet Honey Company's dedication to being eco-friendly is truly admirable. In an age where environmental consciousness is more important than ever, their efforts to reuse materials and recycle packing for boxes and computer equipment demonstrate a deep commitment to sustainability. This not only benefits the environment but also sets a positive example for other e-commerce companies to follow.

In summary, Mountain Sweet Honey Company is not just a supplier of honey bees and beekeeping equipment; they are a beacon of quality, service, and environmental responsibility. Their organic approach, expert customer service, efficient operations, and eco-friendly practices make them a standout in the industry and this is why I am...

Paid $120 for priority mail shipping of 4 packages of bees. They were shipped via parcel select which cost Mountain Sweet $61. They were shipped on 3/31 and arrived on 4/14. Three hives completely dead. The only surviving package had about 25% left alive nearly starved. I've reached out to ask why the shipping method was changed with live animals. No response. I've opened a ticket with USPS but they are not issuing refunds due to COVID. I'm out $645 and probably all the bees. Glad you got that extra $60 in your pocket.

Update: Even with syrup and pollen, the last queen died less than 24 hours after arrival. Bees hadnt even gotten her out of the cage yet. Thanks for not responding to calls and emails and killing thousands of bees.

Update 2: The business replied and stated that the extra cost in shipping was to cover their overhead expenses. So when you pay for faster shipping, they use the money for other things and ship which ever method is cheapest.

Update 3: Business has stated USPS left 2 trailers of bees in hot weather with the cooler off, resulting in extreme loss. Based on the time frame of all the 1 star reviews below, that seems possible. Mine ran out of syrup before arrival, so I can't honestly say that happened to mine. My review remains due to the shipping charge issue

Update 4: Over a month has passed. USPS isnt refunding. They're saying its the shippers fault for sending live animals parcel select. Dont buy from these people. Seems like a few people got bees but theyre dishonestly charging you.

Update 5: Its been almost 6 months and still nothing. Just awful.

Update 6: It’s been years and this company has failed miserably. Filed complaints everywhere I can and was told by the BBB that my last recourse is to try and take them to court. By the way, this company has an “F” rating...