My favorite packing material for large, bulky, fragile items can be found beside most garbage cans or next to any recycle bin (although most cities do not pick it up) - STYROFOAM!

Instead of tossing that wonderful packaging material when you open your next computer, television, or appliance keep it for use in packaging your eBay items.

Benefits:

• Lightweight

• Sturdy

• Provides extra support for fragile items

• Keeps items in place inside box

• Does not shift/settle as much as packing peanuts

• Reinforces the sides & edges of boxes when packed correctly

Drawbacks:

• Some styrofoam 'flakes' creating a layer of 'snow' when broken up

• If not packaged tightly can move around in box

Hints:

• Break styrofoam up to fill smaller spaces

• Use the corners to reinforce box corners

• Stuff as much in as possible to ensure items do not shift during transit

• Break up larger pieces if you want to store the styrofoam for future use