<p>I am trying to figure out the best way to get a 13 inch TV back home for good (my son will no longer need it at school). It was less than $100 so I hate to spend $60 to store it for the summer down there until we can get in from him next fall when we are there. My son is flying home and will be at his maximum baggage allowance. Selling it at school is really not an option, he has no car to take it anywhere besides the USPS. My concern is packing it so it will still be in one piece when we receive it. I am thinking it should be $20 or less to send it with the USPS and that is what I am hoping to do. Any thought on ‘safe’ packing (no we do not have the original box it came in) would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d donate it to Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, etc. I think it would probably cost over $20 to send it, with questionable safety. You might check to see if they do on-campus pick-ups. Also, he could try selling it on campus—someone who lives close may be interested? It’s worth a try.</p>
<p>Tell him to try Craigslist or put a notice up on campus bulletin boards. Maybe a current student or faculty member might buy it.</p>
<p>I agree to donate it if he doesn’t have a ready buyer. It can go to a worthy cause and maybe you can deduct it on your taxes. </p>
<p>Neither of my D’s have or wanted to have a TV at college but they do sometimes watch some programs on their laptops. Most networks now make some of their more popular programs available for viewing free on the internet - with fewer commercial breaks. Some students are getting laptops/PCs with tuners in them and can plug the cable into them and watch TV that way.</p>
<p>My S shipped a somewhat larger TV, worth a bit more (maybe paid $159 with the built-in DVD?). It arrived safe and sound. He just put it in a box big enough to hold it plus his comforter to cushion it and some other clothes (tee shirts, gym shorts, etc). He did not have the original box either. Just packed the airspace full (top, bottom and sides) with soft-type clothing.</p>
<p>I believe it went via collegeboxes (which I am NOT recommending) and I don’t recall what shipper they used. </p>
<p>Just letting you know that rather simple even-a-college-male-can-do-it ;)packing system worked. However, I’d say it cost about $60 - so I’m not sure it will be any less than the storage.</p>
<p>Just recalling what it cost me to pack and ship a 17" computer monitor still under warranty (close to $90) via UPS a few years back, I’d say donate it or dump it. It’s not hard to find a 13" color for less than $70 new.</p>
<p>If you have to ship it, I do Fedex. They are quite careful and reasonable.</p>