How To Safely Ship Cartridges For Retip

I have shipped items via FedEx (it might have been UPS, can’t remember) with high valuations ($5k).  I had to go to a specific depot to do that, which locks the packages up.  Getting paid on a loss is another story, but as long as you have receipts you stand a chance of recovering.  

I have shipped and received thousands of uninsured packages over the years (international shipping) and never lost any of them! 

Stop your paranoia and ship your worn cartridges with any available shipping method. Your chances for “lost in transit” is near zero. 

Use original packaging to secure cartridge - double box with plenty of poly puffer, styrofoam popcorn etc. Pick FedEx or UPS if you can't stomach USPS.  Insure for whatever amount you can support with documentation. Say Hail Mary three times and drop package off. VAS and others will usually send back via USPS unless you specify - at your cost - make sure you specify insurance amount.  USPS only offers insurance up to $5k for priority  mail.

A lot depends on your risk tolerance. I only insure for a couple of hundred dollars - just to let them know there's something valuable in there. There is always a possibility that the package may get lost, but the probability is low.  It has happened to the unfortunate few.

You could fly them to be repaired, and drop them off yourself. The way you're talking, it may cost less.

I think if you overnight the package and write fragile, glass, handle with care. You might be surprised. You won't have to worry for more than one or two days too.

I went through the same thing with Soundsmith. Everything worked out perfect. Mine were hand made carts from the 70s. They fixed them right up and sent them back USPS. Carts and Tubes, it seems they all prefer USPS, 9 out of 10 times.

300 + deliveries to my house last year before Christmas alone. Other than a late arrival or two, not a single package was lost.. NOT ONE... Amazon, Target, EBay, and 2 or 3 more. I even ordered underwear and had a pair tombstones delivered.

Regards

Bonded courier. With handcuffed Halliburton. Private jet.
Kidding.
I shipped various things back and forth with Steve L at VAS (I’m in Texas now) without a problem. Ditto Peter L at Soundsmith. Probably used Fedex or Priority.
But, I’m a little wary of USPS these days- have gotten a couple of records that were trashed in transit (I buy a lot of records, used, from all over)- and short of using DHL Express or equivalent for overseas (a vintage rectifier from India took only 7 or 8 days), I’m not sure what the best option is. I think UPS really gets you on the insurance charge last time I used them.
When I was shipping stuff back and forth with Franc Kuzma in Slovenia, he used TNT (I think they got bought by Deutsche Post?). He’d ship and I’d get it next day in NY metro. Crazy.
I know some folks that were shipping cartridges to UK for work-- they’d choose super speedy over high dollar insurance- it is a calculated risk. The less time the object is in the system, the less opportunity there is for bashing, smashing and crashing.
For what it’s worth, I did try to find someone to ship a safety deposit box of jewelry from NY to Tx. Impossible. There were/are companies that handle stuff for the diamond trade but nobody wants to take the risk for high value stuff short of a dedicated truck which in my case was unnecessary.
On the other hand, I had a friend in NY who would have vintage cars palletized and air freighted abroad-- I think back in the oughts, it was 5 grand one way. Which is actually pretty reasonable when you are dealing with something of extremely high value.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be fine. You definitely want signature and tracking, as well as expedition. Insurance too, if it isn’t crazy money.