Free...
Although I might seem callous, I really do feel for your plight, and appreciate you coming forward with your experiences with this particular vendor.
However, as I pointed out in another
thread (not the one "ordering abroad") some folks are quoting business practices that are grabbed out of thin air, of what should or should not take place, pleeeeeeeease.
If the shipment is loss, that is one thing. If the shipment was seized by CC that is a totally different thing. Under current regulations they either remove the offending "illegal" product and ship to buyer, or return the package to the vendor. Now CC is indeed slower than the post office of when these goods are actually returned. Until someone receives notification one way or another, they believe their product has made it to destination. Tracking is a good way to see what is happening to a package, but with USPS that is total bunk. I get better tracking from shipments from China than I do the US. Many times I will receive tracking info updates days after the package as been delivered, that my package is on its way.
Notwithstanding, not all customers are honest. Don't get me wrong here, the majority indeed are. That being said not all vendors are crooks either, yes some are, but not all. In my early beginning I could have screwed a vendor, he was not worried as he knew I would do the right thing, which I did. But some folks wouldn't think twice of doing the right thing. The majority of us will, but some will take advantage of a situation. In my case I would have bit off the hand that feeds me, so the thought never even crossed my mind.
Being in the bleachers, it is often easier to see things in perspective. Once again not about this particular situation but some folks simply don't understand what Prohibition is. That's the point I am trying to convey here. To date I have been extremely fortunate, no doubt some day my turn will come. The advice I offer here - for packages that can be tracked, see what is happening to said package, and their point of entry. It seems to me that certain points of entry are tighter than others. With the myriad of suppliers out there, avoid the choke points. Because too many lurkers read these boards I will not reveal choke points.
It is time folks realise that we are in
prohibition, should buy wisely, should do their research, extrapolate the necessary data and purchase from known sources and keep
quiet wrt how the product
is shipped. Last but not least,
read the friggin
TOS. Some are as shady as the overpriced scams that are going on by some companies/vendors.