Dont Ship UPS, Marantz tuner DOA

I own a company which distributes items all over the country since 1984. I've dropped UPS about 3 months ago for damaging items and then backing out of the insurance claim--you have to take it to a different authority since UPS is self insured. I also know of 3 other big companies, unlike mine, that have 7 figure shipping costs that have dropped them recently as well for the same reason.
Currently--and this changes from time to time and none of these guys do a good job anyway--the best selection is the post office. For heavy items, ctx is a good choice. for lighter items, airbourne is a much better choice than federal express. Federal express is good for documents, very bad for items.

In most case, I suspect the damage is caused by seller's packaging method rather than handling by UPS. If you are a buyer, ask seller to use professional packaging service. Double box with no shifting space inside is a must! You can put as much as styrofoam peanuts inside, but If they get shifted to the one side you don't get protection to the other side. that's the side where the box will hit the floor first if it get dropped. As I'm also involved in shipping business for long time, I deal with UPS, Fedex, DHL, Airbourne, US Postal service & most of trucking service everyday. I've been to most of above mentioned shipping company's facility, where they all have very same equipments such as conveyer, material handling trucks. Do you know UPS & Fedex use exactly identical trucks with different color & logos only? Just think about how manufacturer packs their product. Many are double boxed with exact fitting. You need to expect the kind of handling from all of those shipping company. Your expensive high end equipment need professional packaging before it's handed to someone who only knows to deliver to the ship to address. Remember, UPS rejects the claim if it's caused by poor packaging. If you can proof UPS's mis handling of the professional packaging, they will pay for the claim.

KRELL agrees. They demanded that I not use UPS to ship to them....too much trouble with damage.

I would never send an item like a tuner without double box system as described by Ysim. If I knew a seller intended to send me an electronic piece or speakers without this packing method, I would refuse to buy. This is not a comment on your situation in particular Joegio, just something I have learned from observation. I have built a box within a box when I did not have one available. It is very simple to do. There is no sure thing when shipping, but I gotta believe the double box method would facilitate an insurance claim!