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The links above should help you in your search for assistance (as either a buyer or seller), but before you take that step, be sure you have...
Remember to check with your
Local Post Office / Customs to see if
your order is being held there
Contacted the Seller?: If it is a simple case of something delayed via the Postal Service, the seller will be your first port of call (Remember, once an item is posted, it can take time to arrive depending on distance and the postal service selected. Sometimes a delay may occur due to the service provider misplacing the order (Yes, we know of one EXPRESS POST order that took close to 3 weeks from NSW to SA because Australia Post waylaid it, thankfully for all concerned, both Buyer and Seller worked together and everything worked out for both parties once Australia Post tracked it down. It should have only taken a day or two at most)) and they will be able to assist you with any relevant information you may need such as the location of the Post Office used, method of post and of course, any confirmation details they may have.
Contacted the Site?: If the seller gives you the run-around, fails to respond to your messages (Taking into account that there may be a delay of a day or two in responses because very few people are available 24/7) and/or is outright rude to you and is otherwise unhelpful, then you should follow any dispute process that is offered by the site (If in doubt how to do this, contact the site for further details)
How did you pay?: Depending on your method of payment, you may be entitled to additional protection (Contrary to various claims though, no payment method is exempt from risk and you should check with which ever service provider you choose to use for clarrification of their policies on this front before you finalise payment) and may be able to recover your money. However, pay close attention to their small print.
Delay due to a Third-Party (eg Postal Service / Customs)?: HAVE YOU CHECKED WITH YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE or CUSTOMS? (In some cases, the postal service may attempt delivery when no one is home and instead of leaving your order on the front step, will leave it at the local post office. They are supposed to leave a note as well to let you know, but this does not always occur).
In addition to this, buyers should pay attention to delivery times, particulary for International mail order (Customs may delay delivery and not tell you unless they require payment of outstanding duties) All duties payable to customs are typically the responsibility of the customer and may vary depending on item and country (Avoid a surprise, contact your local customs department now if buying from overseas) Air Mail may take 2-3 weeks and Sea Mail can take as long as 3 months ... with the added possability of additional delays beyond this.
For sellers, if you have a problem buyer, don't simply assume the worst. Talk to your buyer and if need be help them out if they need a little assistance (and for the buyer, this means that if you encounter a problem, talk to your seller as this should help avoid any potential problems) Communication is key to a successful transaction for both sides of the equation.
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