In shipping and receiving packages, including bikes, I have only experience d one severely damaged bike, and that, of course, was something worth fighting; it was a Columbine. It was severely mucked up by UPS. After numerous telephone calls and visits with UPS, I discovered that UPS is self-insured. That would mean, I suspected, that the UPS insurance adjuster is rewarded for denying claims and "saving" UPS money. Three days after sending a certified letter to the president of UPS, I got a call from the local adjuster. He came out, took the frame and fork, sent it to Columbine, and two months later, Columbine sent it back to me completely repaired and with new paint.
After that experience, I have used, whenever possible, Fed-Ex Ground withou t ever having one problem with them. In my experience, they are faster, less expensive, and more reliable than any other service, except the US Postal service.
As Harvey say, your milage may differ.
Cheers.
Tom Hayes
Chagrin Falls, Ohio