FEDEX keeps destroying my New CARY 805RS Monoblocks - What can I do to prevent Nightmare?

As an engineer I have been designing product which is shipped worldwide since 1981. The case you describe is common among companies which do not follow basic shipping guidelines which are published and available for use to design packaging and product. These guidelines describe in detail, shock loads and g loads a product will encounter during shipping. It turns out shipping by Air Transportation is actually the roughest. See ATA, DOD, and trucking association shipping guidelines for more information. Apparently CAREY has chosen not to follow the packaging and product design guidelines.

I think I know what I am talking about since I designed electrical product to be air dropped from a aircraft and to survive a high speed extraction out the back of a C130 doing a touch and go on to a concrete runway which is a 3 meter drop.

You have already received good suggestions, and I especially support freight shipping for heavy/expensive items and strapping them to a pallet.  I have twice shipped a pair of Clayton M300 monos (almost 100# each) and a pair of Lamm M1.2 monos on pallets using FedEx Freight, which seemed organized and professional as already mentioned.  They also seemed logistically superior to their ground/air brethren wrt both timing and locating...I doubt the freight arm of FecEx sends stuff to the wrong city very often.

In cases where expensive electronics are shipped by commonly used shippers (i.e., UPS or FedEx) they should be boxed in the manufacturer's purpose-designed packing - dense closed cell foam specifically shaped to hold the item at least two inches away from the walls of the box is best.  You can identify the level of care taken by a company by looking at their packing.  Cardboard boxes should be double wall and even if these guidelines are followed, I recommend using a second, outer box that isolates the manufacturer's box by an additional one to two inches.  Here are packaging guidelines posted by DHL.

I just received a Hattor preamp that was packaged in its own foam-lined case that the shipper packed inside of a sacrificial outer cardboard box, and it arrived with no issues. 

It is Cary's job to deliver new, undamaged amps to you.  Rather than taking an active role, you may want to ask Cary, "what are you going to do differently to get these amps delivered to me intact?"  Good luck!

It's Cary's fault. The amp is ONLY 85 lbs.

My 4 McIntosh Products all came in specific CARDBOARD boxes, inside other specific CARDBOARD boxes. My MC2250 80 lb amp went hither and thither, originally, I got it used, then to the factory for pre-sale check, back to me, sold, off to ....

McIntosh sells model specific boxes for you to use if you don't have one.

USPS, FedEx, UPS, doesn't matter. Yes, a problem can occur, but not frequent, not repeatedly. 

Hi Mitch2 and all others who have offered excellent suggestions:

Monday morning I will do exactly as you have stated.

They have to MAKE SURE the amps arrive in perfect working condition!

I will accept nothing less. I have wanted these amps for many years - since I first heard them in the late 1990s.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Being an audiophile is supposed to bring great enjoyment in listening to beautiful music. This is all I ask for and hopefully I will be able to do this sometime this week.

Best,

Mike

FEDEX next day air would cost a small fortune and in the end would get the same trucks used for delivery, but the driver would very likely be way more experienced.

If Cary insists in using FEDEX, then you insist on using FEDEX Freight, which as previously stated are FEDEX emps not contractors. They have real skin in the game.

Also, as an aside, I'm totally shocked that FEDEX Ground would accept a package that weighs 130#s.  The UPS Limit is 70#s.  

I've had furniture delivered by FEDEX Freight that weighed hundreds of pounds, the truck had a lift-gate and the driver had a pallet jack as well.  Good luck.

Regards,
barts