Double boxing?

IMHO, you should pack audio components so that they will survive a 5 foot drop onto concrete. Many items are shipped "from the factory" in well designed double-cartons, and unless you plan to die owning that piece of equipment, you should NOT discard original factory cartons in good condition. If the manufacturer did not provide double cartons, it should be a minimum standard for re-shipping, especially if using UPS (IMO). I have seen severe damage to audio gear from shipping mishaps, and the easiest way to max. the odds of an undamaged arrival is to overpack it. I have triple-boxed more audio equipment (especially large & heavy items) than I care to remember, but I haven't often had the pain of trashed equipment, rejected/delayed claims, or really unhappy buyers. Just one of these experiences is too much, and if you are serious about this hobby, you should pack it just like you would want to get it. I also recommend a (large enough) sealed bag around the inner box, or component itself, to protect against moisture, humidity and possible water damage.(No kidding) This is especially useful when you bring a really cold component inside a warm house in the winter, and allows gradual warming without condensation forming inside the gear. Last, don't cheap out on an appropriate amount of shipping insurance, which should be at least the amount of the selling price. 'Nuff said.

This is a service offered (and, of course) recommended by Mailboxes Etc. for one. I don't know about others. They make some more money, but I believe it is a valid precaution and in their best interest (damage claims) and yours (disappointment).

Work at FEDEX Ground, please be very careful with your packing if you see what the boxes go thru you would be very careful with your packing. All boxes run on conveyor belts that at times get jamed one into another at different areas of the belts. Especially watch out for very big boxes like floorstanding speakers. I would not want to ship speakers, unless you put a metal cabinet around them to protect them. I recently had a damaged Mac piece shipped to me with broken glass faceplate thru UPS. Lucky it was repairable, went to factory. There is never enough of help in this present world to carefully watch your package.

Always double box. I have had pieces where the outer box and packing foam was TOTALY destroyed.

Packaging needed should also be based on the service you are using. Shipping west coast to east coast by ground? That's a good 1.5 weeks of transit time and the better part of 3,000 miles banging across the country in trucks, trains, warehouses, conveyer belts, etc. Using ground for better than a 300 mile trip then double box/quadruple pack it. Going by air from east to west coast on a M-Th (avoiding a weekend stay over) then double boxing is usually not needed (assuming your single boxing is good, and there are always exceptions to this). Going by 1 day air east to west coast in the U.S. is a 15-20 hour trip. It's also very expensive if you don't have a special ship deal (we can do this for the price of 3 day ground, usually less). Don't rely on factory pack on ground shipments. Yeah, "that's the box it came in", so what. Mfr's ship several packages on their ship accts. They have more pull with a claim than a one time cash counter shipment. Have an acct and they want to keep you, so your odds of getting a claim honored are far better. One time cash counter shipment? There are millions to replace you. Fed Ex Ground (aka: RPS)? Fed Ex ground is no better than UPS ground with regard to handling (Fed Ex ground and Fed Ex are NOT the same thing!). BTW: We shipped well over 1,000 hifi items by DHL in 2000 and about 40 with Fed Ex (zero with UPS) and had only *1* claim (with Fed Ex), so this little speech is experience talking (11 years of it). You get what you pay for. Double box those long distance delicate hifi ground shipments; it's much easier than filing a claim.