Dont Ship UPS, Marantz tuner DOA

UPS had to pay the one time I made a claim. They had no defense. The package never arrived at its destination.

While occasional shipping damage may happen it is their attitude and refusal to pay legitimate claims that makes UPS a poster boy for bad business practices.

My experience is that UPS damages packages more frequently than FEDEX, but handles the claims better. FEDEX routinely denies claims that UPS pays without a fight. The problem is that UPS is more likely to damage your package. A friend of mine had two amplifiers shipped to him from different locations within weeks of each other. Both were totally destroyed in shipping. Then he shipped some amp stands using UPS. The buyer refused the delivery. When he got them back, only a small portion of the box remained. It used to be, and may still be, that UPS drivers were allowed to roll heavy boxes end over end to get them in and out of there truck instead of using a dolly. I had a pair of Mirage OM-6 speakers delivered to me that way. I was horrified to see the driver rolling this box to my door. When I confronted him about it, he explained what their rules are. The box was destroyed, and one speaker was slightly damaged. I try to use FEDEX because they have never damaged anything I have shipped. But I don't trust them to make good on an insurance claim if and when the time comes. Bax Global is very good, especially with heavy items and shipping internationally.

The fact is that ALL shipping companies have rules about how something is packed. I try to overpack my stuff as much as possible and use the original cartons. Sometimes it isn't possible due to lack of space but when it is, I pack so that Godzilla couldn't break it if he stepped on it.
Think the drivers, packers and movers care about your stuff? Think again! These folks are under TIME constraints i.e get it to you as fast as possible and don't worry about damage. What was that Jim Carrey movie where he posed as the UPS guy? It was funny because it was a satire of something that actually happens, albeit not as obviously.

Protect yourself and pack carefully. Double box when you can but also put some bubble wrap between boxes. As someone said above, peanuts can shift. Use them only when space constraints restrict bubble wrap.

I just received a beautiful Marantz 2265 (NYC to Cali) shipped USPS that was just wrapped with one layer of bubble wrap and put in a old box with no ther packing material. Lots of tape on the outside of the box though. ( Like that was a big help  :) )
Anyway I was horrified when it arrived as I specifically had gone over double box packing instructions with the seller. God must be a fan of Marantz as it arrived in perfect shape with no damage. Whew!