Best method to ship a monitor?

[pointdablame]

NOTE: This isn't really monitor troubleshooting, so I put it in Main, mods please move if you think it should be somewhere else.

It looks like I'll have to ship a 25" arcade monitor from NJ to Kentucky in a few days.  What would be the best way to go about it?  I'll need to find a box and packing materials, as well as a carrier.  I'm hoping the UPS store near me will have or can make me a big enough box, but what to use for packing material? just bubble wrap and packing peanuts? Do I need a reinforced box, and if so where can I get one?

Also, does anyone know the approximate weigh of one of these things? Can I ship them UPS/FedEx ground or will I need another carrier? I'm sure someone here has shipped/had shipped a monitor, so any help would be appreciated.

Any other precautions I should take would be great too?  Insurance is obvious, but what should I insure it for? I'm trading this so I don't have a monetary amount.  help me out guys

[paigeoliver]

A big part of shipping a monitor is not telling UPS there is a monitor in the box. They refuse to ship monitors that are not in their original box, unless packed by the people at the UPS store.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Stucture helps.

If you can build a substructure to protect the neck, tube, etc... your chances increase dramatically for the monitor arriving intact.

[paigeoliver]

Oh, and there should definitely be wood attached to the frame, going out past the neckboard.

[mp2526]

Never shipped a monitor, but I have shipped a few heavy things in my day.

1.  UPS or FedEx Ground should be able to ship a monitor.
2.  Don't rely on peanuts to provide protection.  They can shift and the next thing you know the tube is up against the side of the box ready to be smashed.
3.  I would try a to get styrofoam (sp?) blocks that you could carve into a form that would better protect the monitor, not much unlike they would come from the factory.  I shipped a 400 disc CD changer this way, once.
4.  The UPS store near me actually builds crates and packs for a fee, you might get their input on how to pack.

[paigeoliver]

Also, try calling/going by your local distributor and seeing if you can buy/borrow/steal the original box/packing material for a 25" monior.

[pointdablame]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm thinking I'll give my local UPS store a call and pick their brain, and perhaps ask how much it would be for them to pack it properly... although I'm betting it will be quite a bit.

I'll have to look around and see if I can find anyone who may have an original box.  Anybody know of any places that might have a box in central/northern NJ?

I know I asked in the first post, but does anyone know what a 25" monitor weighs roughly?  That'll help me get at least an idea of how I can ship it and what it will cost.

Thanks again.

[paigeoliver]

New Jersey is the arcade capital of the world.

Just go online to happs or something and check the weight of the monitor there.

[SirPeale]

Check out http://groups.google.com in RGVAC for posts made by a guy named Art Mallet.  He's shipped hundreds of monitors.  Somewhere in his posts he's detailed how he does them.  He says he's never lost one.  Ever.

[pointdablame]

Thanks peale, I found what you were talking about. It was very very helpful.  Hopefully I can find someone with a real monitor box and inserts tomorrow, but if not, I'll be using Art's method.  Thanks again.