Selling on Apiroi works best when your listings are honest, complete, and legal. This guide covers what belongs on the marketplace, how to present it, and where the lines are. Following it keeps your account in good standing and earns you the kind of reputation that brings repeat buyers.
What you can sell on Apiroi
- Beekeeping equipment — hives, frames, foundations, protective gear, extractors, and tools.
- Bee products — honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly.
- Live bees, queens, nucleus colonies, and packages — subject to the legal restrictions below.
- Services — bee removal, pollination contracts, mentorship, and training.
- Educational materials — books, courses, and software.
What you cannot sell on Apiroi
See our full Terms of Service, Section 6.4 for the complete legal text. In summary, you may not list:
- Live bees across state lines without a current USDA APHIS movement permit and an origin-state apiary inspection certificate.
- Africanized honey bee genetic stock — prohibited on Apiroi regardless of state law.
- Restricted-use pesticides (Apivar, Apiguard, Apistan, oxalic acid, formic acid) unless you hold a valid EPA-registered dealer license.
- Veterinary antibiotics (Tylan, Terramycin) without a valid Veterinary Feed Directive authorization.
- Counterfeit or stolen equipment — regardless of how you acquired it.
- Anything otherwise prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
Photo requirements
- Use real photos of your actual item — not stock images or pictures pulled from a manufacturer's website.
- Take multiple angles: front, back, sides, and a close-up of any defect or wear.
- Include a scale reference — a ruler, a coin, or a common object — when size matters.
- For used items, honestly document wear, scratches, and damage. Buyers appreciate honesty far more than they punish it.
- For live bees, use photos of the actual colony you're selling, taken recently.
Description requirements
- Condition — new, used, or refurbished. Be specific about what "used" means for your item.
- What's included — enumerate everything, especially for bundles or kits.
- Dimensions for equipment where relevant.
- Year and model for equipment where relevant.
- Manufacturer origin for imported items.
- Any defects — naming them upfront prevents disputes later.
Pricing conventions
- List prices in US dollars.
- Either include shipping in the price, or clearly state that shipping is separate and how it's calculated.
- For pickup-only items, state the pickup location — at least city and state — in the description.
- Don't use "OBO" (or best offer) without indicating a floor. Buyers appreciate clarity over guesswork.
Communication expectations
- Respond to buyer inquiries within 24 to 48 hours on business days. Slow replies cost you sales.
- Keep the initial conversation on-platform through Apiroi messaging. It gives both sides a documented record.
- Move to a phone or video call for larger transactions if the buyer asks. Video is especially useful for live bee sales.
- Be honest about what you don't know. "I'm not sure what year this was made" beats a confident guess that turns into a dispute.
Legal attestation
When you post a listing, you check a box confirming that you have the legal right to sell the item and that you comply with all applicable laws.
Note: This is not a formality. If you list something you don't have the right to sell, Apiroi may remove the listing and terminate your account — and any legal consequences from the buyer, the manufacturer, or the government are your responsibility.
Consequences of violations
- First violation (unintentional, minor) — a warning and listing removal. We'll explain what needs to change.
- Repeated violations — account suspension, typically 7 to 30 days.
- Serious violations (prohibited items, fraud, harassment) — a permanent ban and, where applicable, a report to the authorities.
- Fraud reports from multiple buyers — immediate suspension pending investigation.
Still have questions? Reach us at support@apiroi.com.