My earlier question about who paid for the shipping costs goes to the point of "you get what you pay for". If how the item is packed is important to you, and I can't imagine why it wouldn't, then you should be very precise in your purchase offer to specify your requirements and may be even go so far as to back it up with dollars. Sure it's the seller's responsibility to adequately pack the item, but as a buyer do you only want an adequately packed item? Again, if it's important, then specify in detail and pay for it.
. . . an excellent point, and I think this approach is necessary because we've seen that few sellers bother with attention to standards such as those published on the site. I've purchased from sellers with extensive + feedback who shipped items with entirely inadequate packaging. It was left to me to wait for settlement of claims.
Regarding UPS packaging - I've received several shipments packed by ups stores and NONE of them were packaged adequately to withstand UPS's normal handling. They used bubble wrap for a 70 lb Rel subwoofer for cryin out loud! There are only 2 shipments that were packaged by a UPS store that didn't sustain some damage. 2 others were total losses. In one case (Rega Speakers) I asked the seller to ensure the packaging was "bullet-proof". He had the UPS store "add some extra padding" to the original mfg shippping cartons. UPS tossed in some peanuts and bubble wrap (literally tossed, and it was not enough to fill the box even half way). Those speakers arived damaged because the mfg carton was pretty worn down and had too much give.
you cannot use bubble wrap or peanuts for amplifiers and speakers!! This is how heatsinks and face plates get bent. You also can't ship in single wall boxes - which apparently is all the UPS stores stock.
One thing I do to assess what kind of attention a seller will give to packaging is to read the feedback comments. If there are are comments like "great packaging" from most buyers, I'm usually comfortable. If not, I spend a good deal of time specifying the kind of packaging I expect.
