VT, I've been ordering only from companies that will agree to *double-box* my shipment. Most of the big retailers will, but you have to get a promise from someone on the phone; otherwise, your order may show up as a few of mine used to, with one box and even open flaps. Not a good way to start. Even with a verbal promise, I recently received an order not double-boxed--I refused acceptance and switched companies with good results.
By the way, don't hesitate concerning those M-Audios. I have a pair that I'm very very happy with, and if you search on-line, you'll find many pros and home recorders happily using the BX5s. I find the highs and mids and upper lows to be excellent, smooth and flat and non-fatiguing, although (like any monitor with a small woofer) you'll want to think about adding the SBX sub later to flesh out the deeper bass. Adding the sub produces, from what I've read and heard, one of the best sub-$1000 monitor systems now available.
I especially like--and use--the subtle EQ tuning available, which allows you to
adapt the BX5s to your own studio space without knocking down walls. Other good choices are certainly out there, but the BX5s are solid as long as you can accept the smaller bass output from a monitor with such a small footprint.
Good luck,
J.