At least 50% of all such deals get busted up during shipping. While most of the time it's the IDIOT SELLERS' fault, my experience has been that it's very, very difficult to prove and it's much easier to work with the seller at filing a damage claim. If, on the other hand, the shipping company fails to accept responsibility, as Tim points out, which is very possible, go after the seller and file a PayPal / eBay complaint.
ksounds: put the machine back together and have it as you received it. In my PM to you I said to keep all packing materials so make sure you do. Also, take lots of photos as PROOF. Can you post larger picts, even if you have to link them, of not only the recorder but also the PACKING used?
We may lead you to make a good case for insufficient packing [ 99.9% likely].
EVERY shipping company tosses and drops every, and any kind of package, repeatedly, from scary heights, from conveyor belts to workers trying to get things done on time.
It is an absolute art and science to pack open reel decks and heavier gear properly and to use Fedex Express or Overnight is a bonus. The better it is packed and shorter it is in transit the better.
ALWAYS GO FOR LOCAL DEALS ABOVE ALL ELSE.