I'm ready to get a Jet 1221vs midi lathe. I currently have a Jet mini. Yesterday, I read some horror stories about damaged shipments of these lathes. One guy had to send the first 2 back and his 3rd shipment was okay. Others only had one return. I see that this lathe weighs over 130 lbs. so I can see how some UPS drivers might have difficulty getting it off the truck and so some just drop the item off the back. Right now, Amazon seems to have the best price on this lathe at $787. Since I'm a prime member, I get free shipping. I'm thinking that other sources, such as Woodcraft, would also use either UPS or Fedex. In summary, it looks like using these delivery sources might be a crap shoot as to whether the lathe will arrive undamaged. I'm not sure how much other shipping would cost but I'm thinking at least $100. I'm not sure if I want to go through the hassle of returning heavy shipments to save $100. Does anyone know a reliable delivery company that has the capability to handle this type of shipment without damage? I realize that I would have to purchase the lathe from a source that uses that company. Thanks for any suggestions/comments.
Stan