More shipping damage again?

I also recommend a wood pallet for expensive speakers even if they are in the original boxes. My Aerial LR5's came from the West coast to NYC in great shape as they were wrapped on a wood pallet.

I was looking at a couple of pictures the buyer sent to me.
If I were to take a sledge hammer and hit the top corners this kind of dammage could happen I suppose. Unbelievable.

I have had the best and cheapest results with FedEx Ground. This doesn't mean they are infallible, however. Also, for lighter items, I have had great luck with the USPS.

I have an account at a local UPS Store and they recommend shipping anything of value or fragile via overnight and/or 2nd day rather than regular ground for the simple reason that a regular ground package is handled and loaded/unloaded, etc. much more than a overnight or 2nd day package. Reportedly, the average package on a coast to coast trip may be handled by as many as 100 workers, whereas that number reporteldy drops to about 15 workers when sent overnight/2nd day.

As to the choice of FedEx or UPS, I have never (knock on wood) had a damaged delivery with either and I've shipped a LOT of stuff over the years. However, I usually ship UPS for the simple reason that the proprietor of another local shipping store I sometimes use that services both FedEx and UPS claims that in more than 5 years he has never had FedEx pay a damage claim, whereas UPS pays claims regularly (although they may make you jump through hoops). Apparently, FedEx uses a third party claims handler whereas UPS handles claims in house. Again, I have no personal experience here so YMMV, etc.

I have had more problems with claims with UPS and once took them to small claims court, where I found businesses are always right. My FedEx claims have always been handled by someone at their telephone number, but a third party inspector came out and took my information and pictures. I average about one claim each year and perhaps make twenty shipments in that time.

I would never use a UPS store as they are flatout incompetent. They assume that a big enough box and lots of peanuts done by their minimum wage employees means "professionally packed."