Ally, you should always get a notification and a tracking number. This is the way BE used to do things and should continue to do so, especially if shipping internationally.
I'm a tiny bit miffed with them at the moment. In the past, you were asked to pay your balance and then the bag arrived the next day or 2 days later at the latest (I'm in the UK). Now you get emailed to pay the balance, and have to wait over a week to get the bag. I know I sound picky but CS is supposed to get better, not worse. I paid my balance for the Nutmeg TMA Midi and let Aimee know that I would be away, back this Friday past so please not to ship earlier. I chased on Thursday and was told the bag was shipping Friday...but no delivery on Saturday, no email with tracking number so I'm wondering when the bag is going to arrive. I get very tetchy when there are delays - I want that bag! It must be Nutmeg Matte fever!!