I am in the group that has terrible luck with UPS. I think that it would be safe to say that some level of damage has occurred on about every type of audio product I have ever dealt with. I once shipped a transistor amp, a small one, about the size of a Sony DVD or Pioneer Laser player. When It arrived, the torrodial transformer that was attached to the steel chassis with a 3/8" bolt, was sheared completely off. The transformer was free to slide about during the shipment, and needless to say, there was hardly a part inside the chassis that was recognizable. The explanation from UPS was that on some of the shipping facilities, the parcel ramps go as high as a two story building, and netting along the side "stops" the parcels from falling off. Well, mine must have fallen to the concrete below to shear off that steel bolt and all the components inside. This is only one of about 15 instances with UPS in the past years. I now have Federal Express ship on my computer, and only unbreakable things get shipped via UPS. Actually, no one has mentioned the US Post Office. I have better luck (identical packing) with the Post Office than UPS. By the way, I agree with hellohifi on DHL. I just got two 135 Lb crates with very expensive amps inside (yesterday) and the runner rails on the bottom are not even splintered! Must have had some TLC to avoid that.
Shipping via UPS.
I just shipped an item via UPS, COD and insured. Well, UPS did an excellent job getting the package there. They left the package at the door, collected no money, and there, BINGO, is UPS in all it's glory. My warning to fellow audiophiles is to always INSURE items, use Fed-Ex for big ticket items - say over a couple thousand $$, but don't just send UPS ground and forget about it. Last 2 weeks ago, UPS left $2,000 worth of equipment at door, even though the package had a "adult signature required" sticker on it. Can you imagine losing several thousand dollars worth of stuff and then have to cough up legal expenses while fighting UPS in court for 18 months. Not a pretty sight.