ZF

Take lots of photos of your ZF from several angles before shipping it off to anyone. This solves any damage questions during or after shipping. I would also get everything in wrting first with an understanding that the unit will be re-assembled & returned un-fixed if the estimate & the reality differ substantially. And since a ZF weighs about 155 lbs, a heavy wooden crate is needed to ship safely. Drain the case of lube, maybe take the lower cover off but don't leave it apart for shipping. One small-time vendor had a mainshaft from a disassembled trans lost in shipment from a poorly-done crate. At the time, mainshafts alone were $2600....they're more now. He had photos and it still took a lawyer to get Railway Express to make good on the claim. FWIW, as far as I know all new parts except for seals & a few bearings come from RBT Transmission regardless of who does the work. So any savings from one place over another for a job is in labor costs, or the use of 'recycled' parts in place of brand-new.