shipping just a computer tower

Our computer has been on the edge of its life for some time now.  We've been very worried b/c it's my means of staying connected with my US family, but with DH still looking for work, we can't afford a new computer. 

My mom, as it turns out has a good desktop computer that she does not use anymore b/c she uses her laptop exclusively.  She offered to send it to us if we wanted it, but I'm wondering how we can do it without shipping costs equalling that of the computer.  I'm perfectly happy with it coming by slow boat, but it seems like when I was coming before I had a hard time finding places that did small shipments for cheap.  Does anyone know how I'd go about finding a cheap shipment for a computer?

Also, when I do find it, what do I mark on which customs pages to avoid paying duties on it since it was previously owned by the family and not a purchase?

Cadenza - I asked the same question to a friend of mine that works for an import/export company and it is not insurable or something...

Do you have any friends that can look into the desktop just to see if it needs a "clean up"
Maybe just add memory/ram?

Is your hard drive shot? Maybe just ship the hard drive?

I just had a computer built for me over there for 4 gig of ram (it was xmas present) with all bells and whistles for 450 pounds...

you could break down and bubble wrap the hardware and pack with a flat monitor and bring it over, just need to buy a case which is super cheap. Thats if you HAVE to ship it. Libraries and such have internet if you get a bit stuck

Are you currently using a laptop or a desktop?

If you're using a desktop now, then I agree that you should separate the computer in the US and only send over specific parts to replace the ones in your current computer.  You wouldn't need the case or monitor, which are both heavy and large.  Then you could even pick what parts inside the case you'd want sent over based on urgency. 

The hard drive, RAM, motherboard, and power supply are kind of the basics, plus possibly the CD / DVD drive and any fans or graphic cards inside.  If each one were wrapped in bubble wrap I think it could fit in a medium sized box pretty easily so wouldn't be too expensive to ship.  If you take off the side of your current computer and look at the objects inside you'll get an idea of how much empty space is in a computer tower, so how much smaller the box could be if you only send those specific parts.

Hmm, now that's something I hadn't even thought of.  I wonder if she could find someone to help her do it.  My mom is completely inept when it comes to computers.  She buys top of the line stuff, but never seems to know what to do with it once it comes.

I have a laptop and a tower, and plan to ship over the tower's "guts" and buy a case/monitors/peripherals once I get there. I'm planning on shoving the innards into a suitcase surrounded by clothes, so that they're protected.