If the intake was shipped in the box as you show I doubt USPS will pay.
My first job was in the shipping department of a dept store. I used to pack up and ship 150.00 each Waterford crystal glasses. Always package as if it will be dropped from waist height.
Some bubble pack or Ridgid foam, 2 to 3 inches thick and a lot of tape to to keep the box together and it probably would have survived
