Why chargeback is not the safety net people assume

Asking directly, because I could not find a straight answer: Why chargeback is not the safety net people assume

A logistics question, since the answers here are usually better than anywhere else I have looked.

Parcel despatched 19 days ago, tracking last updated 4 days ago at a customs facility, no further movement. Cold pack included at despatch.

Two questions. First, at what point is this genuinely a problem rather than an ordinary delay? Second, if it does arrive, what is the actual decision process for assessing it, as opposed to the two extremes people usually offer?

Coming back to the opening post, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Recurring billing: if a supplier sets up recurring billing by default, understanding the terms for cancellation is important before the first charge.

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

Payment mechanics: most suppliers accept bank transfer, crypto, and some accept credit cards. Each has different risk and different fees. Understand before you commit to a payment method.

Fraud and scams: if a supplier demands payment upfront with no recourse if delivery fails, you are taking a risk. Reputation and history of other buyers matter.

Worth separating two things that post #4 runs together.

No payment facilitation: this site does not handle payments and does not connect buyers and sellers for the purpose of payment. We discuss logistics and documentation of the process but not the commerce itself.

Currency conversion: payment in your local currency often involves a conversion fee. Paying in the supplier's native currency sometimes saves money, sometimes costs more. Compare before committing.

Escrow services: some third-party services hold payment until the buyer confirms receipt. They add cost but reduce risk if the supplier is unknown.

Chargeback reality: if you pay by credit card and the supplier does not deliver, you can attempt a chargeback. Suppliers know this and many require non-chargeable payment (transfer, crypto) as protection against it.

Bank transfer and finality: once a bank transfer is sent, it is final. The money is gone. There is no recourse with the bank if the supplier disappears. That is why supplier reputation matters if using transfers.

Coming back to post #11, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Cryptocurrency for payment: offers less fraud protection than credit cards and is final like bank transfer. Advantage: no geographic restrictions and no intermediary can reverse it. Disadvantage: if you send to a wrong address, it is lost.

Picking up post #11: that is the part I would want checked first.

Recurring billing: if a supplier sets up recurring billing by default, understanding the terms for cancellation is important before the first charge.