As for batteries - for Europe they have to go via Sweden and then I think the Swedish postman walks across the continent to deliver them

so really less than three weeks is pretty good.
It is also true that you might find items that are cheaper elsewhere. The one big thing that keeps me faithful to FT is the free shipping. Buying from anywhere else (except other Chinese sources) would double or even treble my costs, depending on the country of origin. In some cases the shipping is much more than the cost of the item. Even on Amazon the free shipping above a certain order does not apply to me. There is no local Amazon so I still have to order from the UK. Then there is the other snag.. small things like Kanthal etc, not supplied directly by Amazon themselves, don't even ship to Malta. Living in a small, albeit beautiful island, comes with a price tag.
And I must say, FT have been very accommodating. I wanted the rebuildable section of the STM. They didn't carry it. I wrote to them. Within less than a week It was listed. I've just written them about providing the top and bottom caps of the Caravelas. They wrote back they would do their best. Let's see if and when they get them.
