The spare cable is coming, allegedly

They say stock available, but haven't named a dispatch. I've sent the cable reference again and asked whether one is allocated to our order.

Good. Stock somewhere isn't your parcel.

Now they want a photo of the fitted cable. I sent one with the order ages ago. Forwarded it again rather than having that argument today.

Check the fitted cable's current reference in that photo, since commissioning sometimes changes those bits after the purchasing pictures were taken.

Yep, make sure you're chasing the right spare.

Has commissioning changed it?

That's for Reece to check, not us to assume.

Installer confirmed no change. Seller has the accepted cable reference and now says they'll send it by separate parcel. Waiting for that parcel number.

We got a number before anything was collected. Look for carrier acceptance as well, if you're using it to plan availability.

A number is progress, not arrival.

Number arrived, still label-only. I've told stores it is promised for dispatch, not in transit on confirmed scans. The distinction is getting depressingly familiar.

When it lands, check the received reference before booking it into stock; I'd rather find a wrong cable at the desk than beside a stopped machine.

Keep the seller's confirmed reference with the delivery, so a mismatch has something specific to be compared against.

Any actual movement yet?

Carrier has accepted it now. No delivery yet, but at least the spare has graduated from an email into a parcel someone says they've got.