How should I package a computer for shipping?

[robo555]

After seeing this site, and the horrifying pics:

http://homepage.mac.com/simonster/PhotoAlbum3.html

I gotta wonder...how should I package a computer so I can minimize the chance of it getting damage?

My stomach turned when I saw those pics.

[Xayd]

In a case box, make sure the styrofoam spacers aren't broken.

If you can't find one, try your local hardware shops, they should have extras laying around.

[glc]

Take it to Mailboxes Etc. and pay them to pack and ship it. If the carrier refuses to pay a damage claim due to "inadequate packaging" MBE will pay.

[MelGrahm]

A few years back I worked for a company that built and shipped PCs to their plants around the US. We shipped UPS and got back several of these PCs. We had one that had the case bent in, the CPU out and all the pins on the CPU bent. I can remember 3 PCs off hand that were severly dammaged like that one was. To be honest, we never found a way to prevent severe damage. The way the boxes came back to us, there must have been a lot of force being shoved on these boxes! I used to pack the boxes with stryofoam, newspaper, and bubble wrap. The bubblewrap helped pad the case, but again, there was a LOT of force exerted on some of those boxes that nothing I know of is going to prevent. I think the best thing you can do when shipping (especially UPS), is to insure your package. My old company got more than a few payouts for their losses.

Mel!

[cobra]

Do yourself a favor and let Mailboxes etc. handle it, pay the extra.
After spending time and ALL my spare parts. building a pc for my sister and shipping it to her from Florida to South Carolina, when she got it, it was totally destroyed by the US post office employees(LOSERS).
The box was ripped open and had holes in it, the case was dented, bent, scratched, and everything else, neither hard drives were functional, the cpu was snapped off the motherboard (slot athlon)
I was outraged. I did insure it for a little more than what I felt would replace it. Anyway, that was in August, the post office has yet to pay for the damage. So my sister sits without a computer.
It's sad but not surprising anymore, the veryveryveryveryvery POOR service we get from the usps, with the rates for sending mail on the rise all the time.
Figure they could throw in some package handling training in there somewhere.
Down with USPS
Down with USPS
Down with USPS

[Xayd]

And UPS is actually cheaper.

I always ship UPS, never had a problem. Had to claim insurance once with them, and got it within a month.

[SARGE]

Someone I know sent his pc from Japan when moving back to States. He purposely wanted it damaged so he could file a claim and get a new pc. It was an oldie. He only wrapped a blanket around it then boxed it up. It arrived in shambles. He gleefully went to post office to file a claim and the fun began. Months later he got some kind of settlement based on the value of pc. Could have bought a 56k modem with it.

[RayH]

I've shipped computers across country to my sons via UPS with no problems. If you take it to a professional packer, they may charge you about $30 for the packing alone. All UPS requires is a strong box (I used a double wall). The computer must be surrounded by 2" of packing on all sides. Put the computer in a garbage bag first so the dust of the packing peanuts doesn't get in it! The charge for shipping ground is about $30 across the county!

[morriswindgate]

From the U.S. Postal Service, a guide to packing everything


http://www.usps.gov/moversnet/howtopacka2.html

[RayH]

If you are actually in the vicinity of a UPS facility, just bring the thing in with a box. They will pack it for a fairly nominal charge. It'll be a whole lot cheaper than what a box-shipping place will charge you. If the thing gets damaged in shipment, you can point to the fact THEY packed it!