UShip?

I've used Uship and you can choose carriers based on feedback just like in ebay. The best experience though is when I simply use cargo airlines.

"Has anyone used UShip for fragile audio gear? Experience, god or bad?"

"Experience God"? That's a pretty high standard. I would be satisfied if nothing is broken and it gets there on time.

Not Uship.

I have used UPS Drop and Ship service successfully a few times.

Sellers who would not ship. I pre-arranged, all they have to do is drop the unpackaged item(s) off at UPS in my/your name, UPS boxes it, ships. They are responsible for any damage.

One advantage, I paid for the shipping, so any claim would be by me, not thru seller on my behalf.

I am sure you could use it to send something.

Get size, weight, call them with destination address. They give you an estimate. When dropped off, they give you an exact price.

Not all UPS do Drop and Ship, look online

I just shipped a large and heavy pair of speakers (175 lbs each) from Virginia to Connecticut with UShip. It works great as long as you aren’t in a hurry.

BTW, @elliottbnewcombjr I used the UPS Store to do what you describe years ago. I dropped a pair of floor standing speakers (80 lbs each) off for them to package and ship. They literally put them in a single outer box with the only packing material being foam peanuts. They arrived at their destination completely destroyed. The insurance claim was honored, so there's that I guess.

ozzy62

It’s disheartening when something gets destroyed by poor packaging and/or handling, especially something rare or personally important.

All 3 of my UPS Pack and Ship arrived very well protected.

I haven’t shipped, but I used UPS to pack and ship to me two pairs of AR-2ax (different orders, 1st pair, when perked up sounded so great I found a 2nd pair).

One of a kind, important to me and mine: I had a child’s size croquet set shipped to me. I visited my mother’s family home, and there, in the basement, was the wooden box I had seen in photos. Unbelievable, she is 101 years old. That left-behind croquet set had been there for 83 years, They were happy to give it to me, I made all the arrangements, they just dropped it off.

...................................

My worst destructo experience: I received a vintage JVC Plinth, TT, Tonearm so poorly packaged it was ridiculously destroyed. That turned out to be a problem because UPS Canada said: 1. not double boxed. 2. item described by shipper as antique TT, we do not insure antiques (even though they sold the insurance) 3. claim had to be made by the person who arranged the shipping (even though I paid for the insurance in the deal). Destroyed item had to be inspected by UPS USA here, agreed destroyed, then shipped back to UPS Canada who denied the claim.

This is why I say: fund your PayPal with your best Credit Card. They held the charge, I would not have to pay, they started a countdown, giving PayPal a chance to solve it. They would make a Fraud claim to PayPal who would freeze/close the seller’s PayPal account. I informed seller, he gave me all my money back.

I found Vlad in Canada, bought same plinth, TT, different Arm. He assured me he will properly pack, which he did, arrived protected within two very strong boxes. My friend bought something similar from Vlad, same solid packaging.

Now I try to be home to inspect the outer box, next I take photos, layer by layer while unpacking, just in case.

Oh yeah, tell seller not to use antique on item description.