Until you receive the goods thay are not yours, and the merchant has your monies for goods you have not received, therefore just ask the merchant when he is going to send them, if he says he has sent them and you do not receive the merchandise within a resonable time, it has nothing to do with you, it is between the merchant and the courier service he used, ask for you monies back with a polite letter, if its not in writting it was not said.

I never deal with friends or buy off them anymore.

Mike