Shipping a Flat-Panel iMac

TUAW reader Alex Hutton has just sold his flat-panel iMac but does not have the original box to ship it in and is asking if we have any advice on how to pack this uniquely-shaped iMac to minimize the chance of it being damaged during shipping.

The best advice I can give Alex is to pack it in a box significantly larger than the iMac and use styrofoam "peanuts" packed tightly into the box. The peanuts will form around the iMac and hold it in place. I would also cut pieces of egg-carton foam and line the each of the sides of the box before putting in the iMac and filling with peanuts. Cover the display with something like felt or an old pillowcase.

Another option is to visit a decent-sized professional shipping company where they'll have a "foam-in-place" system that can mold foam around any unusual-shaped object. However, this might be prohibitively expensive, given the size of the shipping box you'll need to send a flat-panel iMac.

You might also just consider selling your flat-panel iMac locally and avoid the hassle of shipping altogether. Craigslist has worked wonders for me in selling used Macs locally.

Do our readers have any other suggestions on packing and shipping a Flat-Panel iMac?