Fed Ex makes good

Fedex absolutely destroyed a pair of $3000 speakers (it looked as if the damage was actually intentional) and even though we bought additional insurance to cover that amount, they refused to pay the claim…that is until we threatened to create a couple websites for their benefit:  howfedexscrewedus.com and fedexdoesnotpaydamageclaims.com

Upon hearing those threats a check was promptly issued for $3000.  A second speaker experience with Fedex involved an attempt to ship $6500 worth of speakers.  Visited the local depot and was informed regardless of how much insurance we purchased, their maximum reimbursement for total destruction of the speakers would be something like $300 +/-.  I asked why would I pay for added insurance if Fedex wouldn’t honor a claim in that amount?  Clerk shrugged and said ‘good question’.  Drove the speakers 300 miles to meet the customer halfway for delivery.  

Commonsense, bust most lack this.

I’ve always removed the tubes and packaged them separately.

Yes you lucked out.I did shipping for a whole sale electric supply company, shipping clerk.I worked for the old PO and saw,stuff mishandled, and thrown around.We would unload trucks loaded with Sear,JC Penny Christmas Catalogs that was fun.I worked for UPS in the claims office and know the game.

They're not heroes for putting out a fire that they started.

I retired from UPS. Back in the day if they saw you mishandling a package you would get fired on the spot. Standards were very high. By the time I retired they could not get enough employees to staff sorts and package handling was preached but not enforced as stringently. I worry every time I ship electronics with UPS or FedEx.