Devious,
Just to say, re the mail service in the UK, a mate bought an X Box end of November, which was posted recorded delivery, he never got it, and on the 19th December cashed a cheque the guy sent him to refund him (inc postage costs)
He'd gone out the other day to buy a new one and his girlfriend rang him to say it had arrived (31st December - over a month later!) he didn't have to sign for it, and it was postage stamped with the date 27 December, so what had the postie's been doing with it for over a month?!
Might not make you feel any better, but just to say some things do eventually turn up!
Best of luck with getting what you're waiting for.