I have a horror story about UPS that I'm reminded of all the time. I went into my local music store one day, picked up an Alvarez Bluesmaster acoustic, and it was the acoustic of my dreams. Perfect tone, everything. I bought it, didn't take it with me, but decided to send it back to the factory to put the electronics in. The store called me a few days later and told me that UPS had damaged the guitar. The whole box end of the guitar was smashed beyond any sort of repair. They ordered another with the electronics in it, but this guitar does not have the tone the other had, even though it does sound great. I wouldn't use UPS now, even if I had anvils to ship. They would find a way to screw it up if I did. By the way, it was shipped in the same case it came to the dealer in. It had to have been dropped from a fair height to demolish it like it did......Jim