Ever since having a pair of shoes damaged by being crushed between two bags on the conveyer, I always insist on my shoes being in a bin. I even stop those loaders who try to remove them from the bins. Only once have I had any kind of argument. That time, I advised them that if they wanted to sign acknowledging liability for damage to the shoes then they were welcome to remove them from the bin. He gave up and my shoes stayed in the bin.

FWIW I wear comfortable, expensive shoes (typically Gucci or Ferragamo)