Shipping heavy audio equipment and reducing the chances of damages

Most audio equipment shipping to your home requires you to be home for signature or to pick up. Now you can sign up on USPS, FedEx and UPS online and have your shipping re-directed to a local packing shop to pick up at your convenience. The main benefit with this is the fact that the shipper has to redirect the box to that location and if there is damages to the box, you can open the box and inspect and file claim before going home. I have used this method the last two audio purchases along with mailing the seller a dozen large red "fragile" & "don't drop" stickers (from ebay) to place on the box before shipping to me. I hope this method helps out others for a safer shipping for their audio purchases. Nothing worst than seeing the audio equipment you've being eyeing for months - totally destroyed!
Happy Holidays!!