If the paper route was taken, a form has been printed out, filled-in and mailed with a check or money order at the local post office. Now all you have to do is wait for your desired goods to arrive.

In a near-perfect world, a smiling postman or FedEx delivery guy comes to your home or office with your purchase. As the box is opened, you discover everything is as it should be. True, there is a great deal of masking tape with the symbol of the Japanese post office wrapped around the package. An indication that it was searched by customs for drugs, pornography or Viagra. But, after all, it isn't a perfect world, is it?

If you open a box of something you ordered from overseas to horror instead of delight, or if you never get the opportunity to open anything, here are some tips that may help you get what you wanted or get your money back.

If nothing arrives: Shipping times for items transported by air and sea are pretty static these days, especially across the Pacific. Items shipped by sea mail from the United States or Canada to Japan take anywhere from four to eight weeks, the average year round being six. From Europe, it can take as much as ten. The autumn is the best time to have things shipped to you because of the increased sea traffic bringing retail goods to stores for the Christmas shopping season.

In spite of the images of rat infested ships and thieving longshoreman pilfering goods, transport by sea between developed countries is about as sophisticated and reliable as transport by air. The only difference is that it is slower and much cheaper. Relatively few packages get lost or stolen. If something was sent to you by sea from North America and it doesn't arrive within eight weeks time, contact the company and ask for the shipping details (date, originating post office, etc.) And notify your yubinkyoku of the problem. Insured packages are rather easy to trace.

If something is shipped to you by airmail, FedEx, or some similar service, delivery should take about seven days to reach you, and almost never more than ten. The advantage of delivery by air or courier is the very precise tracking methods in use. Virtually nothing gets lost these days. If it doesn't reach you within the expected time, contact the company and request all shipping details, especially the international airway bill number or similar tracking data. Call the shipping company's Japan office and they should tell you within minutes the location of your package.

If the company you have done business with does not provide you with the shipping details of an order that has not arrived, giving you answers like "We don't give out such information," "We don't keep that information on file," or "What's an airway bill number?" you are most likely being lied to or conned. More on this later.

If merchandise arrives that isn't what you expected: Before screaming bloody murder, go back, check the website, and re-read what you thought you were buying. Very oft en people don't read the descriptions; they just look at the pretty pictures and fall in love.

If you were in fact misled, received damaged goods, or were otherwise unsatisfied with your e-commerce order, notify the company and tell them what the problem is and that you are not happy. Do not formally ask for a refund! Let them offer to put things right and explain how they propose to do so. By asking for something, you give them the opportunity of saying "no" and getting into a fight over the transaction. If they come back to you, saying too bad, or don't reply at all, it is time to start using paper.

Returning the merchandise makes it much less difficult to get your money back. This can easily be done if it was shipped to you via FedEx or a similar service (recommended for a company you are dealing with for the first time or for high-priced items).

Take note of the company's account number on the airway bill that came with your package, pack things back up, and send it to them collect. Be sure to include in the package a copy of a formal, business-like letter stating in simple terms what the problem is and that you require a refund. The original should be sent to "The General Manager" of the company via registered mail. If a credit card was used, a courtesy copy (CC) should be noted at the bottom of the letter and sent to your credit card company. If you had to pay for return shipment, include a copy of the receipt for the exact amount. Everything added correctly, neat and organized.

More often than not, these methods will result in the desired effect. Companies are in business to make money and know that the best way to do that is to keep customers happy. If the people on the other side of the Web page you've given your money to don't come across this way, time to take stronger measures.

Next month: Helpful e-commerce associations and how to deal with fraud