This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What can I do about a trade that went "bad"? Sometimes tape trades go bad. Some folks will report them to rec.music.phish as "bad traders"; there are even web sites that purport to list the worst offenders. One thing to keep in mind is that all things are relative. Two weeks might seem like a long time for you to wait for a couple of tapes that come back. But, particularly if you're sending blanks and postage, you could likely be dealing with someone who makes 4-9 tapes per day and has a taping queue of as many as eighty 80!) tapes, meaning a 2-6 week backlog. As long as you stay in contact with your trader/taper, and don't drive them nuts, all usually works out appropriately and fairly and in due time. Adam Kampia posted (10/7/97), "With all of the talk about bad traders lately (a common side effect of post-tour macro-trading), I thought I'd lighten the mood a bit with my little 'Ode to Bad Trader's'. I hum this one to myself as I gaze at my personal stack of empty cases from past trades gone sour. ... (Sung to the tune of "Dog Stole Things"): Never got Tapes I needed bad Now it looks Like I've been had. Weeks pass Tapes never come I mailed off six Now I feel dumb. (chorus) Those people that seem Oh so kind claim they have tapes you need to find At night you know they Chuckle soft And plan new ways to *Rip You Off!* So now I mail my favorite sets And pray the Lord That I'll still get The tapes your email Said you'd send And hope bad traders' lives will end. (repeat chorus) I hope this helps you calm your rage once in a while. I know it works for me. And here's a 5/17/98 offering by Josh Rude , to the tune of Phish's "Weigh": I'd like to take your Clifford's, so I can play them, What do you say? (One set, two sets, three sets!) I'd like to go to your house and rip off all Your Phish Tapes... And stuff them all into my deck, So I can play them, What do you say? (One set, two sets, three sets!) I'd like to take all your TAPES, Everything from the Nectar's to the NAS-SAU-SHOWS . . So I can play them, What do you say? (One set, two sets, three sets!) Why trade, there's a cheaper way! You can always steal, So why, oh why, trade? Don't be afraid ... Why, oh why, tra-yade? Why trade, why, oh why, trade? I'd like to see your tapelist, So I can short'n it, What do you say? (80 tapes, 30 tapes, 0 tapes ?? ) Why trade, there's a cheaper way! Why should you deal, B&P is gay! Don't be afraid, Go ahead and raid, hey! Why oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why Oh why oh why oh why oh why oh why, Why TRADE ? ? ? (BTW, I am NOT indorsing any bad behavior or rip-offs by posting these lyrics. This song is in PARODY ONLY! I am a VERY decent and respectable trader ... I just thought you'd all get a kick out of these parody lyrics :) ) "In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present."" -- Tao Te Ching" This page last updated January 24, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.