Max, I hate it so much. I know how you feel. I have been there.
I was preparing to make room in the garage for my raspberry Platy. I decided to sell my inherited Clementine and my Betty Foy. I paid to have the bikes professionally packed and shipped via Bike Flights, with insurance. When the aqua Clementine arrived at the buyer’s home it was badly dinged up. Like, multiple places. But the box was intact! The buyer could clearly see the cause of the damage - loose metal not secured to the frame in the box. I set out to make it right and let the seller choose from two options. Once he chose (I deeply discounted the bike) I went to both the bike shop and Bike Flights. It was a long process with the bike shop, who honestly believed it was the buyer’s fault. They accused him of purposely damaging the bike, hoping for a discount. This was not at all plausible. The mechanic had not secured parts (I forget what), and the box was intact, therefore exonerating the shipper. The shop wanted to give me $100 for a powder coat paint job - and begrudgingly at that. I couldn’t even begin to explain to them how expensive a Rivendell repaint would be.
But Bike Flights was much more reasonable than my local shop and cut me a check for the damages without argument. I really was surprised since this appeared to be a packing issue. I felt guilty collecting the insurance money.
It made me sick to my stomach to see that pristine bike banged up so badly, sick over arguing with the manager at REI, sick that Bike Flights had to pay, and sick at what the buyer must now think of me.
So, yes, local if possible.