Thanks for the link! I ended up buying one of those kits - this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SSUNB8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

Interesting story: I purchased the 5 piece Galaxy Burst Jazz Saturn kit on 12/23 for ~ $530. The kit arrived on 12/28. I open up the kit piece by piece and it's BEAUTIFUL!! Each piece is great until I get to the bass drum. The bass drum's inner plys of walnut are cracked! Oh no! Probably from some evil shipping and handling - http://imgur.com/MkUOClk

Super bummed. The main reason I got this set is for the smaller bass drum! I call amazon. They can't "replace" it. They offer me free return shipping with a full refund. I tell them "there's no way I can get this kit back in those boxes", and that "returning a drum kit would be a super hassle". After some discussion they end up offering me 55% off the $530 price (about $290 off). I tell them I'd like to think about it.

I put the heads on the bass drum, play it, and surprisingly it still sounds pretty good (I have no previous experience with a cracked shell despite 30 years of playing drums). I push on the bass drum from the exterior inwards to test the rigidity of the shell. The shell is definitely weaker in that area, but not so weak that the drum is going to simply collapse (unless maybe someone stands on it rock star style). But, after thinking about it, I decide to take the 55% offer amazon proposed and keep the kit!

I think amazon handled it pretty well and gave me a solid range of options.