I don't agree. I have had road cases for decades that didn't get abused like that and shipped cross country without a shipping box. This case was in a shipping box.
I don't agree either.
First off, it's a new item, so it should simply be in new condition when I receive it. I wouldn't want any of my guitar cases not only
arriving scratched up, but I also strive to keep them from
getting messed up. A guitar case's purpose in life is to protect the guitar inside, but I'd wager that the vast majority here cringe every time a new case gets a scratch.
Second, as cases do end up over time getting wear and tear,
you (or whomever helps out with moving your gear) should be the one responsible for the dings/dents/scratches they will receive over their lifetime, not the initial shipper.
Third, every scar
any item receives takes its value down, which comes into play during resale. Again, if
I'm the one putting the wear and tear on something, that's fine that said wear-and-tear reduces its value to me, because all along I'm getting use from it, and/or it's generating me income (like a work truck, e.g.) But when someone else just took a chunk off its value, it's a form of reaching into my wallet and taking some of my money.
But hey, that'll buff right right out!
I also don't agree that UPS is the worst. The US Post Office has em all beat! (Although I've had that same, I'm-on-the-way-to-the-local-center-to-pick-up-the-package-I-missed, just-as-the-tag-is-being-stuck-to-my-front-door, debacle happen to me with Fed Ex as well!)
But all is not lost, because last week it was announced that UPS and Fed Ex are merging...
They're calling it, FED UP. (Surprised no one posted (haha, another one!)
that old joke yet.)