Joeysafe delivered
I finally managed to get one delivered, and it only took 2 1/2 weeks to arrive, but it wasn't exactly stress-free.
After leaving voicemail messages and sending emails, and getting nothing back, I finally got in touch by looking up the domain owner. This sounds more complicated than it is, but joeysafe.com is run by a guy called Randy. Randy also owns a web hosting business called IslandBreeze.com, which hosts the joeysafe site. I managed to speak to Randy after speaking to a friend/ex-colleague of his, who finally said "OK I just spoke to him on his cell phone, try him now" (I had already been trying his cell phone for days, and getting only voicemail). That was on 3rd Feb, so almost 2 weeks of effort on my part.
When I spoke to Randy, he said that the delays other people in HK had were because of the previous person dealing with it, and that his assistant must not have passed on my emails to him. He said that the order would be shipped the next day, that I would get a tracking #, and that it should arrive in 5-6 days.
I placed the order immediately, and got an email confirmation straight away. However I didn't get a tracking number, and after a week it hadn't arrived. I went through the same process of calling, sending emails, by this point to multiple addresses (
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]) with no reply. I finally called the friend again, and through an indirect MSN Messenger conversation, was given a tracking number, which USPS had no record of. After emailing & faxing that, if it hadn't arrived by the weekend, I would cancel the order and my credit card authorisation, I still heard nothing, but then it arrived yesterday (21st), with a postal stamp dated 17th Feb (after I'd been given the tracking #). The tracking # was also different from the one I had been given.
The conclusion is that I'm glad I ordered one, we're really happy to have it, and it is a great product for a toddler in HK. However you might have some delays, and probably threatening to cancel the order was the only thing that got it shipped when it was (thanks ACP for that tip). From my various conversations, it is pretty much a one-man operation, Randy has moved from California to Idaho, the warehouse holding the joeysafes is in California, and he relies on his father to send them out.
None of that excuses that he just doesn't answer emails, but ultimately its been worth the effort.
For people who want an easier life, another alternative is trying something like a Tote N Go car seat. Babyuniverse.com quoted me to ship to HK and were very efficient in getting back to me - that would have been my next step if I had cancelled the order.
