I’m sending a 19" monitor back to the manufacturer for warranty repair; the problem is I don’t have the original box. I know that Kinkos and other mail-specialty stores can pack a box with foam peanuts, but is this really the best way to send it? What has, in your experience, been the best way to send large, heavy, delicate gear? I considered trying to beg a monitor box off one of the local computer stores, but I don’t want to spend a bunch of time driving around, and I’d like to keep the cost to something less than the monitor itself.
What the heck is a shipping monitor, and how big is it? 
If you don’t have the materials at hand then Kinkos or Mail Boxes Etc. is probably your best bet. They charge for packing, so maybe you could economize by just buying the box and peanuts and packing it yourself. If you do, here are some tips:
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Be generous with the box size (at least 6 inches of space all around the monitor) to provide adequate cushioning.
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Fill the spaces completely with peanuts (this may take a lot) but don’t over pack them or you might rupture the box.
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I wouldn’t use newspaper as packing material. It can compress, increasing the likelihood of damage.
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Put the monitor in a large garbage bag first to keep moisture and peanuts out of it.
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Get the whole thing insured when you mail it.
I shipped my monitor in an old TV box. I still had the foam surround things the original monitor came in, but I made up the rest of the difference with packing peanuts. I’d advise you to get it insured, and reinforce the box very well with packing tape (if you can’t do those oversized staples). The company you send it to might just send you a new monitor anyway, so preserving your current monitor perfectly might not be all that important.
Hey, I just did this!
Call up the warehouse you’re supposed to send the RMA to and say “Listen, guys, I don’t have a good box. Would you mind sending me an empty box for monitor model #______?”
I was lucky and they shipped me an empty box free of charge. They might ask you to pay for it though. Could be worth it in order to guarantee getting your monitor shipped in one piece.
I had one of those Mail Boxes, Etc. type places ship a complete computer system once. They did a great job, nothing broke, but it was not cheap. Also shipped a guitar & amp that way. Same story.
What a great idea! Did they send the foam packing pieces as well?
Yes, Kamandi, foam and everything. It was obvious they had just taken an actual monitor out of its box and sent the box to me. There were indentations on the foam that fit perfectly.