Please be aware: data loss is always a risk whenever a laptop is worked on. Please back up your data before you send us your laptop! We are not responsible for data loss that occurs during repair.

Packing your laptop correctly is a crucial part of the repair process - we can't repair your laptop if it arrives at our office in pieces! Plus, we return your laptop to you in your own packaging - so the stronger it is, the greater the chances it will protect your laptop on its journey home.

Here are some tips for making sure we receive your laptop in the same shape as when it left your hands. Labeling your box "FRAGILE" or putting stickers on it is helpful, but we're not convinced that UPS/FedEx/US Post Office really notices all that.

1. Try to find a box that is at least 2-3" larger than your laptop on each side. A plus would be finding a box that also makes extra room for your a/c adapter. The sturdier the box, the better. The free priority boxes that the US Post Office gives away are not very strong.

2. The key to making sure your box does not get crushed, or have a corner or side dented in badly, is to make sure every inch of your box is filled with padding. Don't leave any empty spaces in your box - that's where the box will be dented inward if it's thrown or dropped.

3. There are lots of different materials you can use as padding (e.g. balled up newspaper, Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, foam, plastic air pillows). Styrofoam peanuts can shed little particles that can get trapped in your laptop. If you use Styrofoam peanuts, make sure to seal your laptop in a plastic bag. At Bay, we prefer to use a combination of bubble wrap and plastic air pillows. We wrap a laptop with several layers of bubble wrap, and surround the laptop with air pillows, which come in various sizes. Some carriers (like FedEx) will provide excellent packing materials at an additional cost.

4. Make sure to include your a/c adapter in the box, placing it on the side of the laptop, never on top of it. If your box gets crushed and your a/c adapter is packed on top of your laptop, chances are your LCD will get cracked underneath it from the added pressure.

5. eBay Customers - please include a copy of your eBay auction receipt! Regular retail customers - please include a note with your name, shipping address, phone number and email address. It helps to include a description of the problems you are experiencing with your computer!

6. We recommend insuring your computer for at least $500 when you ship it to us. FedEx, UPS, and the US Post Office don't care half as much about your laptop as you do, and we receive damaged boxes regularly. Document your shipment properly. And remember - if you do not adequately package your laptop, no carrier will honor an insurance claim for damage - even if they're at fault!