Is it safe to buy items in SL now?

I just purchased an item 10 minutes ago and was logged out forcefully. When I returned, the dress was not in my inventory but my lindens were still missing! I know things are still screwy, but I'm guessing it's not safe to shop now? What should I do to either get the dress that I purchased or get the lindens back? THanks!

Yes, but only into my shop.

Contact the seller with an IM or notecard. It sometimes helps if you copy the information from SL's online transaction page (in the My Account section), which will list the item, amount, time, a transaction number, and other details.

I would not buy from vendors. Have heard of people's money going and nothing coming today.

There isn't too much you can do but let the seller know so it can be dealt with

You can see your transactions at http://secondlife.com/account - copy the information from that sale (esp. the transaction number), and include that with the time and place and what you bought (might be redundant, but it will make it easier for the seller to help you if you include lots of info).

To make sure the info gets there, it helps a lot to rename the notecard with "your name,delivery failure, location, item" - or as much as will fit - so that it's easier for the seller to find in inventory. - and your name again in the body of the notecard just in case. What I do is send an IM to that person saying that a notecard is on the way, then drop the notecard itself, to make it easier to find.

Sellers will be having loads of trouble getting onto the grid this weekend too, so it's reasonable to expect it will take longer than usual to get an answer.

i just bought 4 different items from vendors, had to get my shopping fix!!

All went through ok.

But alas, money is stale AGAIN now.

As others said, send an IM and a notecard. But, also, include the name of the notecard in your IM. This makes it easier to find amongst the shopkeepers daily junk mail and won't be deleted in error.

And, yes, wait patiently. Timezones suck.