What's the best way to ship a full-atx tower?


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So I've always given my little brother my previous generation hardware when I upgrade, which is annually. I recently moved up to New York City though and he's still in Miami. He doesn't know much about tech at all is the issue, so I usually set up the new stuff for him as well. Without me being there I'd like to leave the mobo, cpu, closed corsair liquid cooler, and power supply all attached inside the tower. Leaving him with simple plug and play cards, moving drives over, etc.

 

What do you guys think the best way to get this shipped to him would be? The case is one of those larger Antec 1200s. It's a good 60+ lbs. I don't want stuff to get damaged, but I don't know how well any shipper would take care that weight trying to move it around haha.

 

What do you guys recommend?

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When I assemble PCs for people I always put the assembled ones back in the box the case came in and put all leftover documentation/driver discs/manuals/... in the mainboard box.

 

If you don't have the original case box, well, don't really know...

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Get a sturdy cardboard box, 4 Styrofoam corner pieces to keep it in place and fill the rest of the gaps with bubble/air wrap and you should be ok. I've shipped full towers like that before and they arrived fine. Make sure you have an arrow on the box pointing which way is up.

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yup, i recommend fed-ex too.   UPS is fine for non-fragile stuff, but their boxes all get beat up, corners bashed, etc...  fed-ex seems to be more gentle with their stuff

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Hello,

 

I would suggest removing any fragile/breakable components and packing them separately so it can be reassembled when it arrives, but this might not be something your brother is comfortable doing.

 

Definitely do a double boxing--start with what Enron recommended, then place that inside a larger box filled with styrofoam packing peanuts.

 

Take photos thoroughly of the computer before you ship it, both the outside of the chassis and the inside.  That way, if there is an issue with damage, you will have the photos to back up the insurance claim.

 

I once shipped a PC half-way cross the company, and the shipper (USPS) was so rough with it that the outside of the shipping box was all smashed with holes, etc..  Inside, the heat sink came loose and basically was like a cannonball that smashed all the rest of the components into shred.  USPS declined to pay since they claimed there was no proof that the computer inside the box hadn't been shipped that way in the first place, despite all the damage to the box,

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

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Take it to a UPS store, have them box it and insure it, that way you are covered and it will get there in one piece ususally

 

My experiences have been the IF it actually arrives when using FedEx  there will be no guarantee it will be in one piece or work, and that is after waiting an eternity to deliver it, only company to take over a week to deliver a small box cross country

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My experiences have been the IF it actually arrives when using FedEx  there will be no guarantee it will be in one piece or work, and that is after waiting an eternity to deliver it, only company to take over a week to deliver a small box cross country

 

I never experienced that. It's just as fast as UPS. You can get insurance from them as well.

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I never experienced that. It's just as fast as UPS. You can get insurance from them as well.

 

You don't ship a lot then.

 

Fed-Ex will always take what they tell you - you pick 3 day, it takes 3 days.

UPS will get it there the fastest they have space on the routes. So if you pick 3 day and they actually have room on the trucks and planes to get it to you in 1, it will get there in 1. Time permitting of course.

 

I order tons of product every month for work. I always use UPS when I can, and I've never had an issue. FedEx always arrives later in the day, and the workers never seem to give a ****. And its always a different guy. I see the same UPS guy every day except when he's on vacation, and been on my route for 6+ years at least.

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My dad is a FedEx courier. I don't hear such things. They only deliver it early in the day if it is Ground. (I think)

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When I assemble PCs for people I always put the assembled ones back in the box the case came in and put all leftover documentation/driver discs/manuals/... in the mainboard box.

 

If you don't have the original case box, well, don't really know...

This is what I do as well.  Then I insure the hell out of it - and tell the recipient to take a bunch of pics if the box has any damage.  Then, once opened, if there is any damage whatsoever to call the courier immediately AND DO NOT THROW THE BOX AWAY.  UPS played basketball with a $1500 build I did for someone in California - inside was spaghetti after me spending an entire day getting the cabling right.  They threw away the box & UPS used that as a way to say "sorry you're screwed"

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FYI, be prepared to spend at least $100 if you want to insure it. Possibly a bit more. As an individual and not a company shipping larger items is an insane amount. It is not necessarily even the weight that is the issue, it is the size. Just wanted to give you the heads up so you are not shocked when you do go and ship is, as I sure the hell was.

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all very helpful! there's a ups store just 2 blocks from where I live, but fedex is a bit further in another neighborhood (new york city). with no car, I think i'll give ups a shot, with both recommendations of double boxing and insuring the heck out of it, photos before sending and upon arrival!

 

thanks so much everyone for the insight! my brother will be happy to know a new build will be coming his sooner or later ;)

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