Shipping policy

Last updated: November 5, 2026

Shipping options and charges

We ship eligible online orders from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. UPS is our preferred carrier. Available services, destination eligibility and shipping charges are shown at checkout. Ordinary products do not receive storewide free shipping. Customer-paid shipping is calculated using the applicable carrier rates and the order's products, weights, packages and destination. The checkout charge is the shipping amount you pay; it may differ from the final shipping-label cost.

UPS Ground is available for eligible ordinary merchandise. Express services are available when offered at checkout. Selecting an express service changes the carrier's transit service; it does not guarantee same-day order processing.

Handling and packing: Calculated paid shipping includes a $3.50 handling and packing charge per charged shipment. Orders split into two charged cartons include $7.00 in handling. This charge does not apply to local pickup, queen shipments or qualifying free-shipping services.

Processing, transit times and multiple packages

Review the product page and selected option for any scheduled shipment, preorder or seasonal availability. Carrier transit estimates begin after the carrier receives the shipment. Some equipment and bundles ship in more than one box; packages may arrive separately. The shipping total shown at checkout covers the shipment options selected for your order.

If we cannot meet a stated shipping date, we will contact you with an updated estimate and the option to agree to the delay or cancel the unshipped merchandise for a refund, as applicable. Weather, carrier disruptions and live-bee availability can affect scheduling. Please contact us before ordering if you need an item by a particular date.

Free-shipping exceptions

Free shipping applies only to products or offers expressly identified as including it, and only within the contiguous United States (the lower 48 states). It does not extend to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories or international destinations. Express upgrades are not included unless expressly stated. In a mixed cart, a qualifying item's free-shipping offer does not make other products ship free; applicable shipping charges for the other products remain payable. Review the final checkout total before paying.

Queens: UPS Next Day Air only

Queens selected for shipment travel by UPS Next Day Air only, with calculated shipping charges shown at checkout. We ship queens Monday through Thursday only. Shipment timing depends on seasonal availability, suitable conditions and order scheduling. Local pickup is available where the selected product option offers it.

Multiple-queen orders may require a larger ventilated package and a different shipping charge. Where a queen listing promises a refund of excess shipping charged for multiple queens, we will honor that promise. Please provide an accurate address and arrange to receive live bees promptly.

Package bees and NUCs: local pickup only

Package bees and live nucleus colonies (NUCs) are not shipped. Choose the applicable pickup option and review the product's date or pickup window. Package-bee dates may change with weather. NUC pickup is by appointment; we will contact you to arrange it. Do not travel for scheduled live-bee pickup without checking your latest confirmation.

Local pickup is at 14 Center Street, Travelers Rest, SC 29690. Wait for your ready-for-pickup notice or scheduled appointment. Bring your order confirmation. An order containing both pickup-only and shipped products may require separate orders or staff assistance; contact us if checkout does not offer the needed combination.

Damage, missing items and delivery problems

Inspect your delivery promptly. Contact Support as soon as you discover breakage, leakage, an incorrect or missing item, a delivery problem, or a live-bee concern. Include the order number and photos of the shipping label, outside box, inside packaging and affected product when safe to do so. Keep the packaging and remaining contents for review or a carrier inspection. Do not mail live bees back to us.

For live queens, inspect immediately on arrival and contact us promptly about a problem. Keep the queen cage and shipping packaging and provide clear photos where possible. We will review the circumstances and the product's applicable terms; do not assume a carrier claim must be completed before contacting us.

Treatment shipping restrictions

VarroxSan: We do not ship any VarroxSan pack size to California. Adding other products to the cart does not remove this restriction.

Formic Pro: Ground shipping only; air services are not available for this product.

Addresses and restricted destinations

Check your delivery address before submitting an order. Contact us promptly about corrections; changes may not be possible once an order is prepared or dispatched. Some live-bee products, treatments and equipment have destination or carrier restrictions. Product-specific restrictions apply even when other items can ship to that address. We will contact you about an order we cannot fulfill.

See our Return and Refund Policy for cancellations, return requests and product-specific exceptions. Separate written wholesale terms apply to wholesale orders.

For help with an order, contact support@carolinabeeco.com or call 864-610-2337. Include your order number.