My brother's business is marine mechanics/boat restoration. Certain manufacturers only ship their engines on specially designed pallets that must be shipped back once the engine is received. The pallets are techy and you must pay for it if it's not returned. Engine warranty is null if the engine is shipped without it.

So, for masts, I would propose a similar thing. A hardened reusable shipping tube (maybe it can store more than one mast) for masts/extrusions. It remains the property of the manufacturer, you get to buy it if you don't return it. It may raise cost somewhat, but the gains in customer satisfaction and reduction in repetitive warranty claims would more than make up for it.