just insure everything you ship for 2x the cost of replacement.

The UPS driver for our neighborhood is an old family friend. Usually, if I'm getting a large package during the day, he'll deliver it to my dad's work (also on his route) so he doesn't have to leave it on my porch. It's a long-standing agreement, and it works out nice.

Y8S
+1-fuck the bastards, why not they fuck us

Never had problems with DHL (the red headed step child of carriers) but I dont use them much at all.
My friends in the packaging and shipping biz say good luck getting a claim payed from them if they lose/damage your package and they do not recomend them at all...ever.

DHL=rip off, ups is decent, normal post office=best and cheapest, fedex= backstabbers they dont charge you on duties when they deliver but 2 months later i get a bill for duties...

On the other hand, I used DHL to ship a package to the UK last week. I sent the box out on Thursday, it arrived Monday, and it only cost me $17. So call that one a big win.