I also pack with styrofoam egg cartons. I line the box and use recycled peanuts or newspapers to cushion the item. I usually am sending breakable items. I put plastic bags over the item first to protect against newspaper ink.

I love your idea about the dowels. I have never tried that!!!!
I read one of the replies that they use insurance as an option. I used to do that, but now I make sure everything expensive is insured. I insure it myself. I have had an item to be damaged, the buyer did not choose to insure it. The buyer paid thru Paypal and complained to Paypal that the item was broken. Paypal refunded their money out of my account. I was stuck with a broken item, all of the shipping, and also the price of the item. I thought this was very unfair. I called Paypal and expressed my thoughts on how they handled it.
They told me that the buyer can claim that the item is not as advertised ( since it came broken) and they were elgible to get a refund.
So now I just add insurance myself. Paypal told me that the insurance is for me as much as it is for the buyer. So, now, I furnish the insurance myself.
I don't necessarily agree with Paypals methods on this subject, but that is the way they handle it.
Again, thanks for the tip on the dowels!

Have any of you ever opened a box with 'peanuts' in them?? I HATE those peanuts! LOL! You can't take the item out of the box, without peanuts ending up all of the room! Tissue, newspaper and bubble wrap is so much nicer and easier for buyers to open.Just my opinion, but definately one of my peaves. Every time I open a box and see those peanuts, first I go get the broom, then I usually start cussing! LOL!
If you are a seller, I know that 'presentation' is everything. A buyer's first impression of opening your package, can determine alot, between a happy buyer that leaves good feedback, or a disgusted buyer that wants to do a return.
It's almost like opening a gift, when they get it to their home. The nicer you can present it to them, the better your sale experience with them will be.So use a nice NEW box that doesn't have old addresses on it that are blacked out.
I have received a pair of boots, from a seller, that were stuffed in a CEREAL BOX!! The heel was poking through the box! Needless to say, I was not too impressed.This is just one of many examples of sloppy shipping I have received.
USPS offers FREE Priority boxes for shipping. I find Priority to be absolutely the best way to do my ebay shipping. It gets the item there quickly and looks good in their nice boxes.Keeps all of my buyers happy and I have received alot of great comments about it, which shows me that buyers really do appreciate us taking the time to pack it well and get it there quickly.
Alot does depend on what you sell. While all sorts of things can be boxed in various size Priority free boxes, there are many things that won't. SO obviously , you would have to buy new boxes or envelopes, in bulk.

While recycling is always good, not necessarily good for shipping. Especially on ebay, with their feedback system.. With all these viruses and allergies, most folks appreciate the use of NEW packing materials.A clean fresh look makes for a better 'opening' experience which ultimately gets you happier buyers and better feedback.

I sell pottery/glass for the most part and really only one 100% safe way to wrap fragiles like that and thats ALOT of packing peanuts and bubble wrap.

I have just started to buy to and was very disapointed with the way SOME sellers pack. I got one package that had "reused packing materials" with in them was dead bugs and dead leaves. One packed a vase in toilet paper and of course it was broke the time I got it.

When people buy my items I take it they are spending hard earned money and like any normal professional store/business I use for the most part ONLY New Packing materials. I feel its only right and part of good customer service. I mean you would not buy something Say at Target or a department store online and think they are going to wrap your item in toilet paper or a box that's near falling apart its so old and "reused". I like to do business the way they would that's just me. Peace to all.

Recieved an Improperly boxed BROKEN item today.
Ceramic Cookie Jar 9" wide wraped in very light bubble wrap and put in a 12" Box with news paper filled in around the outside.
Left the cookie jar hollow and only had 1 1/2" space left for cushioning!!
The Seller Says its my fault I didn't buy insurance (they did)
and I say it was not packaged well enough.

I say it should of had at least 3-4" around and not left hollow.
OR even boxed inside another cushion.

Am I wrong?????

I am not a seller but a buyer so I hope this post helps out from an opposite perspective. I often buy vintage mixers and small vintage appliances on EBAY such as toasters, waffle irons and coffee pots. I have had some bad luck, mostly due to USPS rough treatment as well some poor packing on the part of the vendor. I am convinced that USPS does NOT acknowledge any stamps, stickers, or markings that say 'fragile', 'do not crush' or 'this end up'--and given the tons of boxes they see each day, I can see why in their defense.
For those merchants packing mixers, the bakelite handles and knobs on them or any small appliance is easily breakable and sometimes impossible to replace, so insurance can refund the money, but not fix the product in many cases. No part of the bakelite or item should touch the walls of the box. I have had some excellent sellers who line the box with foam boards, then use peanuts, crumpled newspaper, and bubblewrap. They also wedge foam under the mixer handle and often times unscrew the stand into two pieces.
The glass mixer bowls/juicer usually do better in a second box or a "box in a box"....again with lots of anti-crushing room and padding.
Box integirty is also important. A new box does not necessarily mean a strong box. The thicker the better.
I recently mailed boxes I bought from a popular office supply chain and they were horrible.
I am always happy to wait for the vendor to get together good packing materials as opposed to shipping out something right away. Many collectors are also willing to pay extra postage to receive an item carefully packed so that it arrives undamaged....even if it exceeds the item cost.
One caution, I am apprehensive to buy from a seller that says "I am not responsible for the item once shipped." USPS inspects the broken item, box and packing materials and will deny an insurance claim if it is deemed poorly packed. Then what?
Hope you all find this helpful.

I pack in salvaged boxes,with new .5" bubble wrap 2" thick, that is 4 layers, fill the voids with bio-degradable peanuts they are less prone drift around the packing area. I reinforce the boxes with strapping tape.
the very fragile must be double boxed. Practice with bricks and eggs in the same box until you can kick the box off a 6 foot drop.