Kobayashi,
If it's [b]not[/b] a company, five days is incredibly fast, ten days is reasonable, & fifteen days is fair.
If twenty days passes, it's time to send the seller a reminder. Unless you've talked to the guy on the PHONE (You DID get a ph#, right?)and understand a legitimate holdup, after one month it's time to warn the board.
shaggy is right -- a personal check will hold everything up a week or two [i](Don't forget the seller has the same amount of money to lose as you do, & a personal check will make him a little nervous too)[/i].
If something doesn't "feel" right, send him an email or call him [i][u](You DID get a ph#, right?)[/u][/i], and ask.
The time doesn't seem unreasonable.
Not yet anyway.
[i]It'll get to you (that's worth the paper this is printed on, but it'll get there).[/i][;)]