Thanks Matt and thanks @synthaside for the advise.
I'm quite surprised at the retailer to be honest. Now if it had got lost in transit it would be different, these things happen but explaining to the chap on the phone that it has been signed for by me didn't seem to concern him too much. Now I'd say its been nicked by a dodgy driver (I've known a few in my time). Yes I know it's all too easy to jump to conclusions, but it's dosn't sound promising at the moment that I'll ever see this bass.