Lots of questions on Shaw's sinks today!
I am strongly of the opinion that this particular sink should be bought in person, and inspected before leaving the store/warehouse, not online. I paid locally $800, and the best online price I know of is $930 with "free" shipping of a 130 lb sink (note 130 lbs = $130 more than local price). When I picked up mine, it had an obvious bow in the front, so I rejected it on the spot and made them find a better one. I bought my range, faucet, lights, and knobs online -- I'm not prejudiced against online -- but this one should be seen in person.

I would have felt safer purchasing my Shaw's locally, but there are no dealers here. I assume the closest would be a three hour drive to St. Louis and I had no idea where to look once I got there. I used Home and Stone and paid $899, no tax, no shipping. Of course, they had to figure shipping into the price, can't see a way around that. Your contractor wasn't exaggerating, the sink is very heavy. Home and Stone sent an email instructing us to examine it when it came off the truck and then again later and to notify them within, I think, 48 hours of any damages or it was 'ours'. If my husband hadn't been home on delivery day, I'd have been in a world of hurt as there was no way I could have gotten the sink out of the box to examine it. Maybe we were just lucky, but everything went very well and the sink is just about as perfect as you can get. It's also gorgeous. I also bought my faucet, lights, and knobs online, with a phone call here and there. I wasn't brave enough to attempt appliances online as they were even costlier than the sink.

I purchased mine online from wsc direct. At the time, it was the best price I could find. I had a very good experience, but I did closely inspect before I let the delivery man go.

I didn't get a Rohl, but I did get a fireclay farmhouse sink (Whitehaus) online -- it came packaged in about 1000 tons of styrofoam and double boxed, and was in perfect shape. The manufacturing defects from Rohl might be one thing, but I don't think you have to worry about the safety of the shipping per se.

I didn't purchase a Rohl but a Kohler handspun Italian blue glass sink for the bathroom which was very heavy. It came double boxed and packed in huge styrofoam blocks. I inspected very closely in good lighting, ran my fingers over every inch looking for dings, cracks or any type of flaw. Did not find any. The delivery man left at my door so you might want to request a signature required and don't let him go until you inspect. Same sink at HD was $600 more and I received free shipping and no tax.