Posted by Joe S. on May 18, 2001 at 21:36:41:
In Reply to: Re: UPS vs. FedEx Ground vs. USPS posted by Someone who knows on May 18, 2001 at 10:49:01:
Brass instruments in cases (in my experience) end up with bell smashes sometimes from slamming into the end of the case after some field goal attempt (or whatever). U.P.S. refuses to settle up on these 100% of the time, because the outside box still looks OK (the same sort of logic that would state that a man, inside a heavy bank safe which is tied to a raft going over Niagra Falls, would survive).
I now often ship the cases separately (or in a box strapped directly to the other box). I put SO MUCH bubble wrap around the instrument that I could probably safely drop it on the floor...THEN I put it in a box o' peanuts.
Greyhound and Amtrak are certainly the safest - and occasionally work out to be bargains, but hardly ever are they the most convenient.