Thanks for all the responses. I had the feeling it wasn't going to be easy (or cheap). I decided to have the picture picked up. It's not a particularly valuable piece and the shipping cost would probably outweigh it's value.

I work for a gallery and we ship very valuable framed pieces all the time (always via FedEx). I agree with meowmix about the layers of bubble wrap and building a box around it. I have two things to add...

1. If the item behind glass is irreplaceable, consider covering it in protective film or even making an "X" with packing tape on the glass. That way, if the glass were to break during shipping, the artwork won't get sliced up.

2. Mark the package "Fragile" in as many places as possible. Might seem obvious but you'd be surprised how many damaged packages we get that aren't marked as fragile.

Is it definitely glass, and not UV plexi? If yes, then $82 is actually reasonable, since just the shipping of something that size is pretty expensive. You're probably not going to be able to find a similarly sized box unless you buy in bulk from uline or something. If it is plexi, then you probably can get away with wrapping the whole thing in a few layers of bubble, and then sort of building a box around it using large sheets of double wall cardboard. I don't know how much money you'll save doing that, however. The alternative is getting it crated, which would cost you several hundred dollars.
In the future, I would definitely recommend getting things framed with UV plexi rather than glass. It's so much lighter, more durable, and cheaper to replace is anything does happen to it.

How does art.com or allposters.com shipped their pictures? How about the galleries downtown?

You can look in the garbage for flat screen tv boxes and the styrofoam material that comes with it. Or ask the stores.

I have leftover styrofoam popcorn from a flat screen tv that I ordered from 6th Avenue Electronics. They shipped the tv box inside another box filled with popcorn.

If you want the styrofoam popcorn, PM me.

unless the UPS store or Mail Boxes Etc packs it, the insurance they sell will not cover it.

1) its the going price

2) it is risky shipping something something that large with glass.

can you swap out the glass? it is safer and makes it lighter (less shipping cost)

good luck with it,

um, bubblewrap and popcorn are available at staples. pack it yourself and drop it off at the post office

I need to mail a large, framed picture - approx. 30" x 25". Has anyone ever shipped something like this? Does anyone know where I can get a box and packing materials for this type of item? It is very fragile due to the glass. I already called the post office and they told me they do not have supplies. I called the UPS store and they told me it would cost $82 for packaging and shipping which is totally ridiculous.