For you guys that sell bows on the classifieds or whatever, how do you package them up?  I've got a longbow I might sell and want to figure that part out before I list it.  I could make a pvc tube, but thought about just packaging it in a box with lots of bubble wrap, etc would work too.  Just can't find a box the right size.

For a long bow, I would't use anything but a pvc tube.  I received one in the mail that was in the USPS triangle cardboard tubes.  The box was broken and the limb sticking out.  Luckily the bow was fine, but could have been a disaster.  I shipped one a couple weeks ago in a pvc tube and it only cost $18.  Would much rather spend that money and not have to worry about it.  Insurance no matter how you ship.

What Hermon said.
I shipped one in for repair, and used a PVC tube, and bow arrived safely, and was returned in the same tube with the same results.

PVC tube for me. IT'll set you back maybe $15 for the tube & ends & $18-20 for the shipping, but the peace of mind is priceless.

PVC tubes work great, but as robtattoo states, they can be expensive to to go out and buy and then send it off never to be seen again.

What I use, for Hill style straight end longbows,  has worked great thus far, is a piece of plastic gutter downspout. Use a fine toothed hand saw and cut it to length. I then cut two, one inch ends from a 2"x4" as end plugs. Secure them with a few 1/2" or 3/4" wood screws. Much lighter than the PVC tube and protects the bow very nicely.

I like to build a wooden crate to ship a bow. It costs between $25-30 for priority shipping, but, like robtattoo said, "the peace of mind is priceless".

I've shipped exactly one bow, for the bow trade here.  I used PVC and cut round pieces of wood to fit inside the ends and fastened them with screws.  A ten foot section of PVC coast about $8.00 and I had the wood laying around.  Shipping was about $20.00.

Just went to a lowes and got an old carpet tube for free. Made some end caps out of the part of the tube I wasnt using and it was pretty much bomb proof as far as i could tell.  Not quite as good as pvc, but I could have stood on that thing all day long without putting a dent in it so it was good enough i figured. Bow arrived un-scathed!!    

Nathan

Pvc only way to go. Gotta agree with the above statements!

To ship a classic "D" shaped longbow, I also like a PVC tube.

For a recurve, since I have 2 local Gander Mountain stores near where I live, I ask the manager of the Fishing department if he has any of their leftover very hard cardboard tubes which they get when they receive their shipment of 7' one piece offshore fishing rods from their warehouse. The tube is usually around 6" in diameter.

For a longbow a PVC tube is the best.  A carpet tube is almost as good and usually free from your local carpet supplier.  I like Creekwood's idea for shipping a recurve.

If can find the hard carboard tubes that they ship fishing rods in they work good too! Nate from Bama bows has went to shipping all his bows in wood boxes  because of the shenanigans of the USPS!

PVC and a prayer

Shippers can break pretty much anything at times. USPS will provide those triangular boxes for free if you order on line. They are plenty robust enough when combined with adequate insurance.

Thanks for the input guys. Might put a bow up for sale then.

Bubble wrap & heavy cardboard carpet tubes, 35 Bows later, No Problems ...