I have had just as bad luck recently with bot UPS and FedEx. Both have destroyed equipment in well packed boxes marked FRAGILE ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT and both have been a pain to get them to cough up the insurance money. Most stuff arrives OK but you never know. Within CA several high end dealers are using trucking compainies even for stuff that could go UPS or FedEx for just that reason.
Shipping via UPS.
I just shipped an item via UPS, COD and insured. Well, UPS did an excellent job getting the package there. They left the package at the door, collected no money, and there, BINGO, is UPS in all it's glory. My warning to fellow audiophiles is to always INSURE items, use Fed-Ex for big ticket items - say over a couple thousand $$, but don't just send UPS ground and forget about it. Last 2 weeks ago, UPS left $2,000 worth of equipment at door, even though the package had a "adult signature required" sticker on it. Can you imagine losing several thousand dollars worth of stuff and then have to cough up legal expenses while fighting UPS in court for 18 months. Not a pretty sight.