the only other advice i can offer is find a loading dock you can borrow, and pool your orders with others and get truck shipments of pallets (or better yet, get enough bees to justify a pallet for yourself). i can't remember what truck shipment of a small pallet of woodenware from humble abodes cost in shipping (i think it was $150 to massachusetts for 100 deep boxes, 1000 frames, plus some 100 custom cut shims), but well worth it. we always buy their budget grade.
deknow
Thanks for the advice. I'm just a small timer so my order will only consist of : 200 frames, three 8 frame inner covers, six 8 frame medium supers, and 10 mouse guards as of now. Might buy some Mite-Away 2 but have to check to see what we have on hand.
ETA: I'm the PROUD owner of a new Porter-Cable compressor that will be used exclusively for making and/or assembling new bee equipment. Got a killer DEAL on it from Home Desperate.