Jody, I found a copy of my note to Brian Chesters:

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 From: Reg Smith <rsmith@athens.net>, on 5/20/98 5:29 PM:

Dear Mr. Chesters,

Concerning the unfortunate situation with the damaged music box,
you wrote [in MMD 980425], "If any other readers have any other
suggestions, then let's hear it."

As I have been both shipper and recipient of hundreds of music box
shipments,  and since you invite comments in this matter, and I will
go out on a limb and offer mine.

1.  You, as the sender, were responsible for both proper packing and
securing proper and effective insurance coverage for said shipment.
From your own accounts, you failed in both categories.  First of all,
it is unimaginable why any sensible person would send a music box
across the street, let alone across the globe with the heavy motor
disengaged from the bedplate, yet in the same container.  In this
regard you were very much at fault.  Had you shipped the machine with
that motor properly mounted to the bedplate, none of this could have
happened, no matter how hard the carrier had dropped the carton.

2.  In all cases, the shipper is the party who buys the insurance
coverage, and in the event of loss, is the party to whom restitution
is made by the insurer.  NOT, as you suggest, to the recipient or
addressee.

3.  Since you arranged for the insurance, the responsibility for clear
understanding of coverage and assurance of suitable coverage was yours
alone.  The failure, for whatever reason, of that coverage is your
responsibility.  To try to suggest that the receiver here in the US was
responsible for any of this is outrageously ridiculous.

4.  All things considered, _you_ are responsible in several ways for
this disaster, and by ethics should refund the man's money.  If you
expect to continue to make sales, you certainly would do well to do so
and admit your own fault in improper packing.  Otherwise, I doubt a
soul from this list will EVER consider being one of your customers
again.  This kind of thing has a way of getting around to the extent
that I would imagine it would be far less expensive in the long run for
you to pay this customer back than to lose so many future sales.

Sincerely,

Reg Smith