So this is the fourth time. My new telephoto zoom lens has yet to arrive. It well beyond the original estimate given by the vendor and the lens is not in my hands, which is disappointing. Now it would be easy to blame the vendor but in my case it has happened with 4 different vendors and it is hard to believe they are all at fault. So that points the finger at - The Royal Mail and (in one case) a private courier. They lost my first wide angle lens in transit (it was subsequently replaced) and a print for a client. While a hotshoe spirit level was very delayed. Now you might think that over the years you are bound to get a few delayed items, but this has been 4 in the past month.
I'm not going to get all political here and go on about privatisation of RM, however it does bring into focus that in this (or any) business you are at the mercy of the delivery system and even if you take all the care in the world your client will still not be happy with the non-arrival of the ordered item. Therefore it is down to you, as supplier to make things right as soon as you can. So far my suppliers have done that, I'm awaiting to see what this latest one will do.
Is that the postman at the door? No, I'm still waiting.

29/10/2012