Ordered an item from HobbyWorld USA on May 27th, got a paypal confirmation, then nothing. Item status changed from 'in stock' to 'backordered'. Sent an email on the 30th asking for an update. Nothing.
Just tried calling their number, mailbox is full, not accepting new messages.
Are they gone? Or just really busy?

Can't say for sure with Hobby World, but I've ordered from several places over the last 3 months and while I have gotten things, it has seemed to take longer than usual.

I ordered an item off ebay which was supposed to be delivered on April 24. The latest tracking info (USPS ) has it "in transit to the next location". The ironic thing is the place where it originated is only about a 2 hour drive one way.

The seller was absolutely great about it and sent another duplicate item (we're only talking $3.50) which showed up about 5 days later. Go figure.

So be patient and it will PROBABLY show up. (But I try to avoid the USPS if I can, they've been awful!!)

But I'm with you on one thing. SHAME on a vendor which lists something as "in stock" and then tells you it's "back ordered".

Hell, if I'd know that, I'd have ordered it myself from the guy who DOES have it!

I've ordered from HobbyWorldUSA before. They will deliver, but they do not, for whatever reason, ever respond to emails. Your main problem now is that shipping from overseas is very, very slow. If it is out of stock, it may be months before it is in stock.

I was looking at ordering from Perfect Scale Modellbau (PSM) yesterday, and when I opened their home page, there is a large notice that, due to current global situations, PSM will not be shipping to a number of countries, including U.S. He wasn't even trying to say, go ahead and order and it might be delayed; he was just being honest in stating be patient. I like honesty!

I have five orderes pending, made throughout the last 3 months, from various parts of the world, and nothing's arrived yet although emails from ebay and companies say they have been sent. This is very annoying not knowing if, or when, anything will arrive! May not order again from anywhere until this whole virus business is finished!

I just ordered some things from an online Japanese retailer (not scale model kit related) and for around $10 US shipping, I'm getting the stuff in 5 days from DHL.

So not everything is slowed. I think a lot of it depends on who you are buying from, how efficient they are, and if they have things in stock or not.

Very much in business. I ordered some stuff on a Monday and got it on the following Thursday. I'm in California and he's on the Eastern Seaboard. There can, however be weird delays.
I sent some decals to a guy back east the same day he sent me some. He got his three weeks later than I got mine. Delivery service can be a real pain currently.

Got my order yesterday. Guess ebay and other online shops spoiled me with notifications of shipping and tracking numbers.

He does provide fast service, you just don't know it's happening.

You were worried that the company went out of business a mere five days after ordering, so apparently you have been.

KL

In your case it's not an issue of the seller, their efficiency, or their stock. They shipped by a dedicated courier/package delivery service that has its own aircraft, rather than using a national postal service that relies on the commercial airline fleet.

KL