There have been reports that there was a big problem with slow arrivals of parcels shipped from China in October and November 2012.
The Chinese New Year in 2012 was January 23. In 2013 it will be February 10.
Christmas and the Western New Year are not a big deal in Asia.
The seller is probably wise to refund rather than reship. The delay would make arrival within the 45 days problematical and he would be paying postage twice. (Yes, I am a seller.)
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