We have not sent a UPS COD since 1994, and for good reason. We shipped over 1000 packages in 1998 and only used UPS 3x's, and for good reason. The UPS problems you mention are not unusual, but are infact rather common. For COD use FED EX 1, 2, or 3 day (same price as UPS 1, 2 or 3 day). For next day air no one is better (or safer) than DHL (www.DHL-USA.com). We finally grew tired of the problems with shipment with UPS and the (over) billing problems with FED EX (23 over billings in 1998!). We now simply pay for half of the DHL next day air cost. Instead of east coast shipments (we are in Calif) taking 7-10 days, they take less than 1 day. With such a short time in transit, the chances for damage are very low. Spending hours on claims, searching for lost packages that UPS can't track, and the other problems just aren't worth the time vs the extra cost for air service. Anyway, you get what you pay for, and UPS ground is the bottom of the barrel. Goodluck. thanks, Brian@HelloHiFi.com ph805.527.9739 fax805.527.9808 www.hellohifi.com eCatalog available. New equipment demos by appointment. All quotes are good for 30 days. Customers in every state, & 26 countries (angol/ingles/englisch/beszelunk magyarul!/ hablamos en espanol/wir sprechen deutsch).