Terms of service
Terms and Conditions
1. Governing Law and Contract Formation
All transactions conducted through this website are governed by English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
By placing an order through this website, you confirm that you are legally capable of entering into binding contracts and that you accept these Terms and Conditions in full.
We reserve the right to update or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will take effect from the date they are published on this website and will not affect orders already accepted.
2. Live Bees, Nucleus Colonies and Queens
Due to the nature of live livestock, additional and overriding terms apply to orders for live bees, nucleus colonies (“nucs”), and queens.
Live bees and queens are classed as perishable goods and livestock, and are therefore exempt from standard cancellation and return rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
3. Deposits and Payments (Live Bees)
A deposit is required to secure orders for live bees, nucleus colonies, and queens.
• All deposits for live bees, nucleus colonies, and queens are strictly non-refundable.
• Deposits secure livestock that is specifically raised, managed, and allocated to your order.
• Deposits represent a genuine pre-estimate of costs incurred and losses arising from cancellation.
For nucleus colonies, the remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 14 days prior to the agreed dispatch or collection date. Failure to settle the balance by this point may result in cancellation of the order without refund of the deposit.
4. Cancellations (Live Bees)
Cancellations are permitted only within the following timeframes:
• Queens: up to 3 days prior to dispatch
• Nucleus colonies: up to 14 days prior to dispatch or collection
After these deadlines, orders cannot be cancelled.
Where cancellation is permitted and the order has been paid in full, any refund issued will be minus the non-refundable deposit.
If we are unable to fulfil your order for any reason, all monies paid (including the deposit) will be refunded in full.
5. Returns (Live Bees)
Returns of live bees, nucleus colonies, or queens are not accepted under any circumstances.
No refunds will be issued once live bees or queens have been collected by the customer or dispatched from our care.
This does not affect your statutory rights in the unlikely event of supplier non-performance.
6. Delivery, Arrival Checks and Guarantees (Live Bees)
If you have any concerns upon receipt of a queen or nucleus colony, you must contact us on the same calendar day of delivery or collection, ideally by email and, where urgent, by telephone.
All nucleus colonies are supplied with a 5-day guarantee, as detailed in the care sheet provided with your invoice. This guarantee applies only while the colony remains in the supplied nuc box and has not been installed into another hive.
Once a queen or nucleus colony has been introduced into a hive or otherwise handled beyond the supplied container, responsibility for management, husbandry, biosecurity, and outcomes transfers fully to the customer.
We are always happy to provide advice but cannot accept responsibility beyond this point.
7. Queen-Specific Terms
If a queen arrives deceased, you must contact us on the day of delivery. We will advise you on the return procedure. A replacement will be issued once only, subject to the queen being returned in an untampered cage.
No replacement will be provided if:
• the cage has been opened or damaged
• the queen has been introduced to a hive or nucleus
If a mated queen becomes drone-laying within the same beekeeping season, we will replace her once, subject to availability. You must notify us immediately and provide clear photographic evidence. We reserve the right to request the return of the original queen. Replacements are not guaranteed beyond the same season.
8. Weather, Seasonality and Force Majeure (Live Bees)
The supply, dispatch, and delivery of live bees are entirely dependent on weather conditions, seasonal development, and colony health.
Dispatch dates are always estimates and may be brought forward or delayed to ensure the welfare of the bees.
We reserve the right to delay dispatch, reschedule delivery, or substitute an equivalent delivery window if weather, forage availability, transport conditions, disease risk, or other factors outside our reasonable control make dispatch unsafe or inappropriate.
Such delays do not constitute breach of contract and do not entitle the customer to cancellation or refund, provided the order is fulfilled within the same beekeeping season.
9. Cancellations and Returns (Non-Live Goods)
For non-live goods, you may cancel or return items within 14 days of receipt, in line with the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
You must notify us before returning any item by emailing jurassicbees@outlook.com or calling 07769 921138, quoting your order number.
Returned items must be unused, complete, and in ‘as new’ condition, with original packaging where possible. Return postage is the responsibility of the customer unless the item is faulty.
Refunds exclude original delivery charges. Where free delivery was applied, we reserve the right to deduct the delivery cost from the refund.
10. General Stock Orders (Excluding Live Bees)
Stock items are dispatched once payment has cleared. While we aim for same-day dispatch for orders placed before 12 noon, dispatch may be delayed during peak season.
Orders are shipped via FedEx or Royal Mail Tracked48. If you request parcels to be left without signature, this is done entirely at your own risk.
11. Mixed Orders
Orders containing live bees and stock items are processed and dispatched separately unless explicitly stated. To avoid additional carriage charges, we recommend placing separate orders.
If an incorrect delivery option is selected, we reserve the right to amend the order and recover any additional shipping costs.
12. Faulty Goods (Non-Live)
Faulty goods must be reported within 28 days of delivery.
This policy does not cover faults caused by misuse, accidental damage, neglect, or normal wear and tear. Consumable goods are covered for three months from delivery.
Where a fault is confirmed, we will refund the item and applicable delivery costs or provide a replacement at our discretion.
13. Personal Data and Regulatory Records
Personal data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
For livestock orders, we are legally required to retain records of customer details and livestock movements for inspection by the National Bee Unit (NBU) and other relevant authorities. This processing is carried out in accordance with UK data protection law and is necessary to meet statutory biosecurity and disease-control obligations.