I am on my second order through Ray this year with everything other than initial contact done through direct e-mail. I usually wait 7 days after sending payment to ask for an acknowledgment and each time I have had the response within 36 hours. I had a problem with being shorted 2 flex strips and he corrected it in 48 hours.
My general experience with Ray is always positive (as long as I filter out the memories of countless hours spent slicing and dicing on the first years nodes after that died flaming deaths due to water
)
I think it is just a matter of the sheer volume he is dealing with at this time of year. I can think of about 14 different Christmas lighting forums that throw his name around left and right. Combine that with the fact that Christmas lights is not his primary reason for operating and all of the commercial people he sells to, in higher volumes, and you have to think he is a little swamped right now.
While this might be frustrating for us it is actually VERY good for us as the level of business will economy of scale and competition. Potentially leading to better and better pricing.
Or at least that's my $.04 (adjusted for inflation)
Frnak