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Best way to ship a laptop?

boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
I need to ship my laptop back to gateway for repair. I kept my origanal packaging for just this occation but as it turns out if you send it to them you won't get it back. They ship it back in their plain brown box regardless of what you send it in with. Lots and lots of bubble wrap?
 
How do you plan on shipping it? Fedex actually has a shipping box specifically designed for laptops. Since they're usually my first choice for shipping (cheapest), I'd go that route.
 
If you want to go on the cheap side I usually just ship stuff with crumbled newspaper. Just make sure it'is nice and tight but still not TOO tight so the newspaper can take the abuse. Shredded paper might work too, just pass a bunch of newspaper through a shredder. If you don't mind spending money then packing peanuts is probably the best bet. I personally don't like spending money on packing material as it's all thrown away after anyway.

If you ship UPS it does not matter how you pack it, it will get damaged anyway. 😛
 
Originally posted by: boomhower
I need to ship my laptop back to gateway for repair. I kept my origanal packaging for just this occation but as it turns out if you send it to them you won't get it back. They ship it back in their plain brown box regardless of what you send it in with. Lots and lots of bubble wrap?
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so you dont want to lose the box...but what do you do with the box anyway 😕

just send it in what you have and save a few bucks on shipping materials now. buy another box and stuff later on.
 
Find oversized box. Fill bottom with packing peanuts. Wrap laptop in plastic bag. Wrap laptop in large type bubble wrap. Put in box. Fill remainder of box with packing peanuts. Insure. Ship.
 
Originally posted by: marvdmartian
How do you plan on shipping it? Fedex actually has a shipping box specifically designed for laptops. Since they're usually my first choice for shipping (cheapest), I'd go that route.
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This.
 
depending on size of laptop of course, but for many a legal or ledger sized paper box is perfect. Wrap in bubble wrap a few times or better put in a laptop bag then fille around the laptop with about 3-4" of peanuts or foam.

should arrive nice and safe.

NEVER EVER PACK A ITEM AT THE BOX EDGE...allow at least 2" or more of space (I think UPS says 6" actually which works great for their volume shipping pricing 🙂)

 
I had planned on using fedex. I'll see if my local place has any laptop boxes but it isn't a fedex store. Its one of those shipping, prepaid cell phone crap holes. Its the only place around other than the post office. They don't want peanuts, why I have no idea.
 
Originally posted by: boomhower
I had planned on using fedex. I'll see if my local place has any laptop boxes but it isn't a fedex store. Its one of those shipping, prepaid cell phone crap holes. Its the only place around other than the post office. They don't want peanuts, why I have no idea.
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peanuts make a freaking mess, especially the ones that generate static.

foam is much much better.
 
I know someone who owns a UPS store. I asked this question also. The trick is to tell the UPS Store people you need to ship a laptop, but don't want laptop specific box (which runs like $25). Cost to ship usually runs around $12 or so.
 
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
Next time, buy a laptop from a manufacturer that provides proper shipping materials.
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I saved about $800 compared to anything else I could find at the time. I am sure whatever it costs to ship will be less than that.
 
When I had to ship my laptop back to gateway they provided me with a box and inserts that can be plucked out to accommodate the laptop. I guess they aren't doing this anymore?
 
I used several layers of bubble wrap and lots of foam peanuts in a box big enough to let the laptop have at least three inches of room between the laptop and the sides of the box.
 
Dude, I told you that my shipping agent will be in contact with you after you deposit the money order and send me the difference.
 
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