US Marines urgent assistance required.

This is a sorry tale of woe!

A good friend of mine into his sci-fi props ordered a mark x star trek tricorder all bells and whistles from a company called Federation Surplus in JUNE 07. He duly placed an order and paid up the substantial price of appprox 500 GBP for the prop. Various Emails ensued over the months, the up shot being that the guy selling these sent an Email saying he was having problems with the electronic suppliers and he was approx 5 months behind with orders. Fair enough he waited and waited and 3 weeks ago received an email saying the prop was ready but he hadn't had time to post it. Now we are a further 3 weeks down the line and all radio traffic is definately silent. All emails since then have been unresponded to and he's getting worried, mightly worried. All other Star Trek related forums he's used don't say anything untoward infact they praise the co.

Any one stateside know or have had any dealing recently with Federation Surplus as he's beginning to fear the worst.