I have had to sue UPS and FEDEX both to collect on damaged shipments. They wouldn't even talk to me until they received the small claims notices. Then, in a short period of time, a check appeared in my mail. USPS registered is the most secure way to ship (and often the cheapest). I have had one claim with USPS and it was settled fairly and relatively quickly. When I worked for a bank in Alaska, we regularly shipped bags of currency through the mail, registered.

LCSMITH