So, since it had to go into
professional equipment, for once I ordered with a real vendor, Digi-Key.
Good name, well known. Bit pricey maybe, but should go well.
Despite showing everything in Dutch, profiling a dutch website and support address, stuff had to be shipped from US, causing a €20 shipping on a €22 order.
Worldwide 3-day express is their only option. Fine. I know that before I pressed the final order button.
After the order was made, and despite receiving an email with order confirmation, my order vanished from my order history.
Even now, 8 days later, no order history, and no response to an inquiry email on that.
But more importantly: The UPS link on the one confirmation email I did get, showed the order arrived in Germany 1 day after ordering (is good) and still in Germany 8 days later (is bad).
Apparently something called "UPS brokerage" is repeatedly holding the order. I called Digi-Key and they also do not know how or why, just that "UPS brokerage" can decide to keep the package up to 10 days if they feel.
And this is not some gray China import with questionable declarations. This is all paid up from a reputable source in USA. Including VAT paid in full.
Just some 20 film capacitors and 10 power resistors, so that should not trigger any warnings.
Also, the way the Digi-Key support guy told me, this is at the moment a "big problem" in UPS Germany, many packages held.
He made it sound as if Digi-Key has a Europe wide problem with UPS Keulen/Koeln in Germany.
Anyone else affected?
Edit: and to think I was only 30km away from Koeln last week myself for business. Should have driven there.