Quick tip for newbies: Take the time every single time to check the boards before making a purchase. You can be a member for years, order from a vendor for months in a row-- and at some point, I promise, your order will go wrong.
It can go wrong a million different ways, but patterns develop quickly, and people report often. Even if you've sent thousands $$ and gotten bags of stuff from someone, don't send them several hundred dollars without checking the vendor thread first, at least the last few pages/weeks of reviews.
Remember this....it will help you... This is the second time I've ordered, waited, freaked out, checked the boards, and realized that I could've checked the boards prior to sending $, and saved myself soooo much stress. Vendors don't say up front that they are struggling. I stick with the same vendor even if they have problems here and there, but let me tell you--it's much better to check the boards and plan in advance, and know that a vendor might not be their "usual self."