(pure guess alert)
Sometimes online startup businesses take multiple orders (with an awesome value but a stated long turnaround) and then use that money to make a few short term deals in order to make enough profit to produce your goods.. Some are good at juggling, some aren't.. It's not the best business model (and again, I am guessing here) but it is a likely business model in this scenario..
Try sending PM's to the other folks whom you know have ordered from this vendor... See what develops?