The Flaming Lips Trading Post -> Taping Policies

This is a trading post where Flaming Lips fans such as yourself can TRADE material. Putting up a site like this is a problem waiting to happen, so I have devised some rules and regulations to keep things orderly and safe. If you wish to be part of this, please be fair and be repsectful.

1. Please limit your trades to the Flaming Lips. This is not to say that another group or entity cannot be traded, but at least one traded item should be from the Lips. I say this because I would like to keep the site relatively small, which means SAFER.

2. Each new person should start a new discussion area in which he/she posts all rare/live items that they presently have. In your own area, be sure to post your screen-name and email address so people can contact you.

3. YOU SHOULD BE DOING TRADES THROUGH YOUR OWN EMAIL, NOT IN THE DISCUSSION BOARDS. If you wish to trade, you will contact the other party through email from then on. The discussion boards should only be for posting live items and discussing particulars about the band.

4. Be as forthright about the rarities being traded with as much information as possible. Some traders like to have as much information as possible, such as, show date, recording type, quality, etc. Also see "Possible Trading Etiquette below."

5. HONESTY! This is a strong word here and should be thought of as a law on this discussion board. Please be honest when trading. If there are any complaints, you will be deleted from the discussion board. We are here to have fun and expand our collections. We are comrades here...we enjoy the same music and should be good to one another.

IMPORTANT #6!!!

6. DO NOT trade copies of studio recordings that can be purchased in the marketplace. The Flaming Lips do not complain about people who trade live shows but they do care if you're making illegal copies of studio recordings! They have to earn a living too! We should at least give them that. (To prove this point, how long was Wayne wearing that yellow slicker?)

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POSSIBLE TRADING ETIQUETTE

I am putting this up because there are new people coming in and sometimes not everyone knows the etiquette for trading. Generally, we will be trading CD-R's here but these guidelines can be used for any item. Again, these are only guidelines, not RULES. Be sure that both trading parties understand exactly how the transaction will go for minimal problems.

Let's say a trade is happening, a live CD-R for a live CD-R....(a one (1) for one (1) trade)

I would email the person I would like to trade with and see if there is anything from my list that he would like to acquire. Let's say, he/she does...the trade begins!
It is the responsibility of both parties to make sure that any pertinent information is discussed at this point about the show. Some things may include: Is the show a full show or partial? What generation is it? (CD-R's after many burnings, if not done right, can degrade in quality). How is the quality?
"Will cases and inserts be sent or are we just trading discs?" Believe it or not this tends to be important because we essentially want to keep costs as even between both parties for fairness...which leads to #4.
"What type of postage are you using?" Personally, I sent a couple of discs with cases and set lists out Priority Mail for $3.20 and they received it in 2 days, two weeks later...I finally received their CD's, without cases NOR requested set lists...they sent it 1st class for $.77. In all fairness, seeing that I was expeditious about it, he should have returned the favor. So I suggest that everyone should work out a standard deal each time you trade with someone. I suggest everyone just send the CD's WITHOUT cases (you can use them when you receive YOUR copies and save on weight for postage), set lists, including all information needed, and use 1st Class mail. That should be inexpensive enough and fair for everyone.

I do not wish to be a moderator here. If you have issues that you cannot resolve between yourself and your trading partner, I would reccomend legal action. State governments have attorney generals who will serve as moderator and even enforce legal fines if the accused person broke the law. For example, if you had a written agreement to trade CDs, you sent yours, and he didn't send his...he's broken contractual laws and you can sek reasonable damages 9ie the cost for postage, shipping materials, the cost of the CDs, etc)

See your local government's webpage for further details.

The owners of this website is in no way responsible for any posting herein.

Original Website Concept: Scott Bakal. Updated on August 31, 2003 by Ryan Mulberger.