Hello & welcome Gene! My personal opinion for anyone new to beekeeping would be to buy a hive already established. There is less chance of failure that way. IMHO, it's like this --- you can possibly (& I mean POSSIBLY) spend less money with your first two stated options but there is more chance of losing your money as well as your confidence than there is from buying a well established hive. Plus with an established hive you will see results quicker which will give you the confidence & impetus to go for 1 or 2 more hives. Get the picture? BUT --- You're in N.Y. & I would certainly advise you to wait until spring to obtain a hive by any method. You don't want to get them just to have to overwinter them especially with you being a newbie. Get some reading material now & make use of your winter time that way. Talk to the extension agent. Talk to commercial beekeepers too! They won't be doing much this time of year unless they transport their hives down south for winter (& a lot do).
