Now that you’ve sold your iMac, the next step is to get it shipped off to your buyer. Preparing an iMac for shipping follows the same basic steps as shipping any other item, however, you will need to take a bit of extra care during the packing process to ensure the iMac arrives safely and without any damage. Continue reading to find out what is the best way to ship an iMac.
How to package an iMac for shipping
The most important factor when it comes to shipping an iMac is to make sure it is packaged securely. Because an iMac is on the heavier side, and because it has a large display, you will want to take extra care in making sure it is packed well. Preparing to ship an iMac starts with the basics — making sure you have a sturdy shipping box, proper packing materials, and some packing tape to seal the box.
- Shipping box: If you do not have the original box for your iMac, make sure to get a sturdy shipping box that will handle the weight of the iMac. Shipping boxes can be purchased at retail pack and ship stores, and also from shipping providers such as UPS and FedEx.
- Packing material: A mix of bubble wrap and foam inserts is recommended to properly protect an iMac for shipping. The foam inserts help to keep the box from getting crushed, and the iMac should be completely wrapped in bubble wrap. Any included accessories should also be individually wrapped with bubble wrap. In addition, any empty space in the box should be stuffed with bubble wrap to make sure the iMac doesn’t shift around during shipping.
- Packing tape: You want to make sure the top and bottom of the box are fully sealed with packing tape to avoid any possibility of the box accidentally opening during shipping. If you are purchasing a box or packing material, we also recommend purchasing the roll of packing tape at the same time.
Gathering the proper packing materials on your own will certainly allow you to ship your iMac safely. However, due to the size and weight, not to mention the glass display, this may be a good time to spend a little extra and either have a professional do the packing, or to purchase materials specific to shipping electronics. For example, FedEx offers a larger “heavy-duty double-walled box” that will fit a computer, and they currently charge $19.49 for the box with “fragile packing.” Similarly, The UPS Store offers “retention” packing boxes that are designed to let you safely ship a computer.
How much does it cost to ship an iMac?
Shipping rates depend on several factors, such as the distance the item needs to travel, how quickly you want it to be delivered, and the shipping provider you use. Other factors include the size and weight of the box. We’ve already determined the iMac is heavier, so this will add to the cost of shipping. And, given an iMac is fragile, you’ll also want to add insurance (which is required by Swappa) just in case it is damaged during shipping.
The specific measurements and weight will vary slightly based on which iMac you have, however, the current iMac models are as follows:
21.5-inch iMac
- Height: 17.7 inches
- Width: 20.8 inches
- Stand Depth: 6.9 inches
- Weight: 12 pounds
27-inch iMac
- Height: 20.3 inches
- Width: 25.6 inches
- Stand Depth: 8 inches
- Weight: 19.7 pounds
24-inch (M1) iMac
- Height: 18.1 inches
- Width: 21.5 inches
- Stand Depth: 5.8 inches
- Weight: 9.88 pounds
Ship your iMac with USPS
USPS is the preferred shipping provider on Swappa with nearly 90% of sellers choosing to ship with USPS. If you have the necessary shipping materials, such as a sturdy box, packing materials, and packing tape, you should check the current rates with USPS, which can be done by tapping the white button below.
However, with larger (fragile) items such as an iMac, you may want to consider using a service that will handle the packing for you, as a way to ensure the item is being packed as secure as possible.
Ship your iMac with UPS
UPS is a good option to consider if you are shipping an iMac. You are able to use your own packaging, and you can also get the item packed at your local UPS Store retail location. Going through The UPS Store, and having them do the packing will add some cost, but it should also give you some peace of mind in knowing the iMac is secure and less likely to be damaged during shipping. You can tap the white button below to check current UPS shipping rates if you already have everything packed up and ready to go. Otherwise, we encourage you to reach out to your local UPS Store to check the current rates to have them pack and ship.
Ship your iMac with USPS or UPS through PayPal
Swappa uses PayPal to process all payments on Swappa, which means all sellers are required to have a PayPal account in order to get paid. We use PayPal due to the extensive protections they offer for buyers and sellers, however, there is another perk for sellers — discounted shipping rates. In addition to discounted shipping rates for USPS and UPS, other benefits of purchasing your shipping label through PayPal are as follows:
- PayPal pre-populates your buyer’s shipping address, which helps to reduce errors.
- PayPal also saves the shipping label as part of the payment transaction, which means the tracking number will be noted as required for your PayPal seller protections.
You can learn more about purchasing and printing a USPS or UPS shipping label through PayPal by tapping the white button below.
Ship your iMac with FedEx
FedEx isn’t used as often by Swappa users. But when it comes to shipping an iMac — FedEx should be an option you consider because they offer boxes and packing services specifically for computers. As we noted earlier in this post, you can get a heavy-duty double-walled shipping box with fragile packing for $18.99. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that this price is for the box, materials, and packing — and you will need to pay more to actually ship the item. We encourage you to reach out to your local FedEx retail location if you want to have them handle the packaging. And otherwise, if you have everything packed up and ready to go, you can tap the white button below to see current FedEx rates based on the dimensions and weight of the package.
Make sure to ship with tracking and insurance
Here at Swappa, we require all sellers to ship with tracking and insurance. The tracking means the item can be confirmed as delivered, and it means your buyer can monitor the progress and know when to expect delivery. The insurance helps to protect you, the seller, just in case the iMac is damaged during the shipping process.
While tracking and insurance are required, some sellers also opt to require a signature upon delivery. Using a signature confirmation will add a small additional charge (rates vary based on the shipping provider you use), but this will give you some peace of mind in knowing the item was delivered to the intended recipient, and not left sitting outside their front door.
Sell your used iMac on Swappa
Swappa has only recently allowed iMac sales in the marketplace. Although being able to sell an iMac is new, Swappa has long been considered to be a safe, trusted, and easy-to-use marketplace. Our support team is available 24/7/365 if you ever have any questions, and Swappa also has an Excellent rating on Trustpilot, which is based on over 11,500 independent user reviews. Swappa also has fair fees, which means there will be a bit extra money going into your bank account once you sell your iMac.