Now that the summer tour 2010 has been announced, I have until march 26th (ten days !) to decide if I can go and register for tickets.
First leg is a no go because of the dates. I like the idea of traveling the whole USA from West to East in August. It should be a wild ride.

The main problem is that I have another projet that will interfere : we are looking for a house to buy. Money will be the issue.

See Phish Summer 2010 on a bigger map

PHISH 2010 SUMMER TOURDATES

06/11 - Toyota Park, Chicago, IL
06/12 - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
06/13 - Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
06/15 - nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA
06/17 - Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT
06/18 - Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT
06/19 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
06/20 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
06/22 - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
06/24 - Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ
06/25 - Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ
06/26 - Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
06/27 - Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
06/29 - CMAC Performing Arts Center, Canandaigua, NY
07/01 - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC
07/02 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
07/03 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
07/04 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
08/05 - The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
08/06 - The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
08/07 - The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
08/09 - Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO
08/10 - Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO
08/12 - Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, IN
08/13 - Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, IN
08/14 - Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
08/15 - Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
08/17 - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY
08/18 - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY

I received yesterday the 4 Miami shows in miniSD USB Slots, like the Festival 8. I ordered them from livephish.com and they arrived in 10 days, so still quicker than Dry Goods.

I still have to take pictures of my Joy Box but I'm quite busy with a baby to take care of and a new game system to play with.
Yes, I finally bought a Xbox 360 to complete my video game collection. Yes, the one I told I wouldn't buy in the first place... I'm glade I only pay 29€ for it but I bought some games too...

Despite all of that money spent, I wonder if I wouldn't go to the USA this summer to finally see Phish. If Phish doesn't come to you, come to them !

Pfff, I'm seeing the end of it !
Too bad I won't see my 6 months baby with a Phish beanie anytime soon...

Here's my contact's answer and mine bellow.

Hi Guillaume.

I’m sorry I missed your first email. It was set aside by my spam filter – presumably because of the numerous exclamation points in the subject line. I apologize for not seeing it sooner.

I’m also sorry to learn that they processed your new shipment with the shortage of those items. Totally ridiculous. I’m refunding you $31 for the cost of those items, since we are completely out of those items. That refund should occur sometime today. I already refunded your shipping last time around, so I can’t do anything further there.

I agree with you that those shipping rates are ridiculous. I’ve long complained to my bosses that we are well above reasonable rates, and have already forwarded your emails to them to remind them yet again. It’s not like I’m pocketing that money personally.

The best I can do is extend some good faith to you as a fellow Phish fan. I’m going to set up a couple of unique discount codes for you which can be redeemed for free/discounted shipping on future orders. It might take me a day or two to get these set up, but I promise to send them along when they are ready. If you choose to shop with us again and use the codes, great. If you want to give them to a friend, that’s fine too. I also understand if this has soured you so much that you never shop with us again.

I’ll be in touch with those codes when they’re ready. Again, sorry about the poor communication on these out of stock items.

Best Regards,

Hi

Thanks for your answer, I was about to send a "third try" ;-)

Indeed, I didn't calculated the currency change ($>€) between the refund I got and the actual shipping fee. So there's no problem about the missing item, except that I was informed at all. It was really a downer when I open the parcel after the joy (!) of actually received it !

I appreciate your honest answer about the shipping rates and the discount coupons.
Of course, I'd be tented to say I'll never buy from Dry Goods any more. Unfortunatly, there's no alternative for some items...
I just hope my next order won't took 5 months to come and, if it happens, that the normal customer service will answer me properly :)

Thanks again for your help with this issue. Sorry I had to send to you so many emails ;)

Guillaume

Now I can relax and finally appreciate my Joy Box, my Joy Vinyl and my Joy CD.

DOWNLOAD THE SHOW HERE

After the New Orleans Relief back in 2005, Phish release today another archival show to help Haiti.

This one looks as fantastic on paper than the previous one, I can't wait to listen to it.

Thursday, 11/19/1992
Ross Arena, St. Michael's College
Colchester, VT

Set 1: Maze, Fee -> Foam, Glide, Split Open and Melt, Mound, The Divided Sky, Esther, Axilla, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Run Like an Antelope

Set 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around the Room, It's Ice, I Walk the Line, Tweezer -> Big Black Furry Creature from Mars -> Tweezer, Big Ball Jam, Poor Heart, Fast Enough for You, Llama, Hold Your Head Up > Lengthwise > Hold Your Head Up, Cavern

Encore: Bold As Love

Notes: Divided Sky, Antelope and Weekapaug featured teases of Those Were the Days. This show featured the debuts of Axilla, FEFY, and Lengthwise and the Phish debut of I Walk The Line. The start of the second set included an Owner of a Lonely Heart tease. Mike’s Song included an Under Pressure jam. Weekapaug included a vocal jam ending and Price of Love teases. BBFCFM featured lyrics from I Walk The Line. Big Ball Jam also debuted, as Trey explained the concept and mentioned that it was written for Pete Shaw. Poor Heart, FEFY and Llama featured Gordon Stone on pedal steel guitar. Trey introduced Fish as “Eyeball Man” before Lengthwise, which was performed in more of a reggae style than other versions and featured a vacuum solo from Fishman. Bold As Love was played for the first time since April 18, 1990 (318 shows).

Version française ici : gamusik.netsan.fr

But the story isn't finished yet ! OUCH ><'

Hi,

I finally received my parcel yesterday. Goog news, the Joy Box is great.
But wait... my order is NOT COMPLETE !!!!
It's missing a T-shirt (PHCT248SXNV Drops on Navy, Short Sleeve, X-L, $16) and a baby beanie (PHCH45TBAV, Organic Baby Mockstar Beanie on Avocado, $15) !
And after checking the website, none of this item is available anymore !
GREAT !

Now I'm getting really upset.
I ordered 5 MOUNTH ago !
It cost me countless emails to your mute customer service and to you to finally receive a parcel.
You told me my order would be sent with a tracking number : I'm still waiting for it.
I received a shipping mail saying the order was shipped by DHL : in fact it was EMS, a cheaper mailing service.
I received a incomplete order, missing 2 items for a total of $21. Those items aren't available anymore and nobody tells me anything about that. I didn't get a refund for these items or a chance to have other ones in replacement.

It's official, Music Today isn't able to fullfil an order properly. You are incompetent and not professional at all.

And by the way, I'm still waiting for an explanation of your excessive international shipping fees.
Oh maybe you want another simple example ?
A $2 sticker, a plain, flat, light, small sticker. Guess hos much it cost to ship from Music Today (I'm not saying the USA because you must be on another planet, it's too ridiculus) to France ? $14.71 !!!

Next time, I'll wait for my items to be sold by a guy on eBay. It will be safer and cheaper !

More good news !

I received a shipping email saying that my order has been re-shipped by DHL. Un fortunatly, I can't find the tracking number...
I also got a refund for the shipping fees I paid 5 months ago. So things are taking a better shape thanks to the help of the merch account manager.
It should be arriving quicly with DHL so I'll update when I have news.

Mainwhile, I ordered through livephish.com the full Miami NYE Run as miniSD USB slots like the Festival 8 ones. We'll see which order comes first ;)

Nevertheless, he didn't answer me about the exensive shipping rates so I wrote this last message.

Hi,

First of all, I'd like to apologize for writing you again and thank you very mush for your help in my issue.

I received the refund for the shipping fee and the following email stating that my order has been shipping with DHL.

Unfortunatly, I can't find the tracking number for DHL...
I tried to use the number MIS20106167 in the DHL website but it don't work (as I expected, it's the Dry Goods, order number but who knows...) and this shippment doesn't appear in my Dry Goods account.

Just a quick answer about the shipping rates. I understand that the Joy box is heavy so the shipping rates are expensive, but here are other examples :
Joy Box ($99.00), standard shipping to France : $48.19
Joy CD ($9.99), standard shipping to France : $15.21 (!!!)
Stealing Time T-shirt XL ($19.00), standard shipping to France : $16.21
Festival 8 playing cards ($9.99), standard shipping to France : $28.84 (!!!)
Festival 8 miniSD ($62.00) standard shipping to France : $14.71
Live in Vegas DVD ($17.00), standard shipping to France : $15.21

I made some comparaison with Amazon.com (shipping from the USA)
Joy Box ($91.99), standard shipping to France : $12.48
Joy CD ($11.99), standard shipping to France : $6.48
Live in Vegas DVD ($22.49), standard shipping to France : $6.48

I also order last week a set of Rock Band instruments for the PS3 game from Amazon.de (Germany). It contains a guitar a drum kit and a microphone. Even if it's shipped from inside of Europe, the box is much bigger and heavier than the Jox Box. Shipping was only 8,42 euros ($12.11) !

I also found 2 old invoices from Dry Goods and you can see the difference here : http://www.bouncingaroundeuroom.eu/post/2009/12/23/It-was-the-good-time.aspx


With those easy examples, could you please explain me how those rates are calculated ? Don't you think that they are ridiculusly expensive ? Come on, $15.11 for shipping a plain $9.99 CD in an enveloppe...

Thank you again for your patience.

Good news !

Music Today's merch account manager answered me very quickly on Friday !

Thanks for your email Guillaume, and I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received your order yet. Let me correct the situation for you as best I can.

I will have a new order shipped out to you by expedited/trackable shipping method right away. I will email you once I have tracking information -- hopefully later today, but definitely no later than Monday. Can you please confirm that there aren’t any errors in your shipping address? This is the address we used on the previous package:

Guillaume
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
France

I will get back to you later today with an update on the new shipment. Please do let me know if we should make any changes to your shipping address.

Also, we will refund your shipping charges, as we’ve clearly not give you proper service in this regard. You should see that refund on your bank statement within the next 5 business days.

Best Regards,

I got another email later after I confirmed the shipping address.

I have good hopes that this issue will finally comes to an end but it's thursday and I'm still waiting the tracking number and the refund.

New year a new messages to Dry Goods...

I haven't received an answer to my 17th december email (already in holidays) so I sent 2 more this week. Still nothing.

So this morning, I emails directly Music Today's merch account manager which address as been given to my by a fellow reader. I hope it will make things moove...

Hello Mr. .......

I'm sorry to write to you directly but I have a serious issue with Phish's Dry Goods and I didn't get an answer to my emails since the 23th november 2009.

You can read the whole writing bellow but to make a long story short here is my problem :

I made an order on Dry Goods site on the 11th august 2009 (#24332894, $225.20 including $59.14 for standard international shipping as I'm in France).
This order contains, amongst other items, Phish's Joy Box which was delayed until mid-november.
I sent an email on the 17th november asking when my order will be shipped. I received the following day the shipping email and then an standard answer to my message saying that it was shipped on the 17th (strange cohincidence ?) and that international orders don't have a tracking number.
1 month later (17th december), I was still waiting for my order and ask again your custom service.
I sent again emails after the holidays but I still got no answer and still got no order (I checked my post office).

Right now, I'm rather upset that I spent $225 in august and I still didn't received my order.
Moreover, I'm really surprised that after paying $59 for shipping fees, you don't provide a tracking number.
I'm used to order items over the internet to foreign contry (USA, Europe or Asia) and Dry Goods has by far the most expensive shipping fees with the worst service (since its managed by Music Today).

You can read the following messages for furthur details and examples of overrated shipping fees (last example is $28.84 for shipping a $9.99 festival 8 playing card game, standard shipping !!).

I also post updates for this issue on my European Phish blog (http://www.bouncingaroundeuroom.eu/?tag=/music+today), that's how I got your direct email.

I hope you'll be able to help me finally get my order and understand your international shipping fees

Thanks a lot.

According to Trey (who is after all a pretty good source), they won't be Phish shows until summer 2010. Or did he meant no US shows until summer ?

That with the fact that the european rumors dates were PT home-made, so completly bull shit, I guess we won't have a European tour soon...

I don't think I'll wait any furthur to see Phish. I don't want to be like in 2004 and realize I won't see them at all. I'd rather do a full European tour than 3 or 4 dates in the US but I rather go to any Phish show rather none at all.

See you this summer ?

While waiting for Holger's full report and pictures, here is a desciption of maybe the greatest New Year's Eve gag by Phish.

Toward the end of "Party Time" the big disco ball hanging above Trey and Mike begins to lower toward the stage, Fish begins the countdown from 10-1, at midnight the balloons and confetti drop, we get the Auld Lang Syne > Down With Disease and then Fish walks toward the disco ball, opens it, and climbs inside. During this a giant cartoon-like circus canon rolls toward the front of the stage, and an enormous net drops from the rafters with a large illuminated "X" in the middle of it. Trey and Mike try to get Fish out of the disco ball, but can't, so they slide it over to the canon and load it in.

The cannon goes off and there is an explosion in the rafters. The disco ball "misses" the net and a large hole appears to the right of it, like the ball went through the roof of the building, debris hanging down. A helicopter sound them roars through the PA and a searchlight begins to shine from the "hole" all around the floor. Page, Mike and Trey have a conference at center stage, then Trey asks if anyone knows how to play the drums, assuming Fish is dead. They walk around the stage peering into the crowd, following a spotlight, and wind up at the back of the stage, Page side, pointing to a girl (an actress).

She climbs down a ladder that was set up in front of her section, and goes to come up onstage, passing through a room behind the stage that was surrounded by black curtains. Fish then comes out the other end, wearing an identical dress to the crowd girl, a black wig, and fake boobs. He climbs to the drum kit, and Trey asks her what her favorite song is. Fish pretends to talk into his mic but a real girls voice comes out of the PA, she says Fluffhead. They begin and Fish pretends to be not so good at drums during the intro, then catches up and away we went into Fluffhead. At the end of the set, the original girl and Fish trade spots behind Trey and Mike's speakers, with Fish now hiding, crouched down. The girl, Page, Trey and Mike take their bows center stage, then walk off. Fishman crawls off stage after them, in the dark. End of set.

By Jah_Votunteer via Phantasy Tour