[GE] HR stringing me along for 3 months?
I've applied to a job through LinkedIn and got an interview 2 weeks after. Went through the first phase, got the second one soon after, the third one also followed. They explained this was a 5 stage process and included final interviews with the CRO and the CFO of the company (it is a startup with around 60 employees and the management wants to personally interview every candidate before the final decision is made). All 3 interviewers were amazed and really impressed with me - they were very straightforward about it too.
The next step - call with the CRO - got postponed multiple times due to "scheduling issues". I finally got the interview after 3 weeks of waiting and multiple calls from my side to HR (no updates from them at all). The interview went well and then - complete silence. For another 2-3 weeks, nothing. Please bear in mind, I've explained the situation to the HR multiple times that I was stalling offers because of their company, that was of course my decision but still, I just asked for a bit more responsiveness from their side to just feel safe about the process.
After weeks of waiting, I've texted the HR - no response for days. Then a call to follow up - no answer, switching straight to voicemail. After few days of waiting and calling another time, she answered and told me that the CEO is on a business trip and the call will be scheduled next week. I said I'll wait, even suggested to maybe schedule the call in non-working hours just for me and the CEO to meet because of the time difference. She said she'll definitely schedule it next week, if not during the same week. In the meantime, the mutual friend of me and the company's managers have told me that they are looking forward to me joining them, even being nervous because they are afraid I might choose another company because of this timing problem. And that they don't even have another candidate other than me.
10 days gone, no response, no update, nothing. I've called again - few rings, straight to voicemail. She texts that she's on a meeting and will call me in few hours - no call. Not even on the second day. I called again, this time she answered and said she'll schedule the call next week (it was Friday already). I got furious, confronted her directly and said this was not serious and respectful, even very irresponsible behavior from their side. I said I would accept another offer before the end of the day if I didn't get the confirmation of the call with the CEO. She told me she was sorry a thousand times on behalf of herself and the company and that the CEO now wanted to meet me in person and he was still not back from the trip, that she would personally contact him and promised me that the meeting would happen NEXT WEEK again. I agreed, one final time. For context, exactly 3 months had gone by since the first interview.
The next week came, Wednesday, no update. I call, no answer, she texts she's sorry but she is still trying to schedule the call. I texted her that this is complete bullshit, that the CEO should have enough time to meet with the candidates IF there is a similar policy in their hiring process. I asked her to tell him that this is unprofessional or I would personally contact him to tell him that. Also, I asked to schedule an online call asap or I would just accept another offer and let them know so they start looking for another candidates.
What do you think, is this an HR/policy blunder or a deliberate action from their side to buy some time? Should I wait or take action?