I have bought many frames on the internet, and have had them arrive in various types of packing. The majority have been protected, but I have also had them arrive just tossed into a box big enough to hold them with no protection other then the box, air, and luck.
That said, I feel like if the frame is worth selling, it is worth protecting. The downside of that, for me, is that shipping a frame is now a relatively expensive proposition. On the frames I sell on eBay, I charge $55 for packing/insurance/shipping and am not making any money on it even at that.
I used to be able to ship bikes via UPS Ground Service without them measuring the bike box...only was billed actual weight. Now, they go by dimensional weight instead of actual weight and the cost is significantly higher, especially for what they consider "oversize" packages like bike boxes. Last frame and fork I shipped was $41.48 to California.
Pipe insulation is $7 per pack and takes almost two packs to cover a frame and fork with every tube wrapped in closed cell pipe insulation, plus the cost of electrical tape, zip ties, dropout protectors, bike box, etc.
I am very methodical and thorough with my packing. I first put a plastic dropout protector in the rear drop out and the front fork. I then wrap each tube of the frame, including the fork legs, in closed-cell pipe insulation and fasten them with zipties. I then wrap bubble wrap or pipe insulation around the seat tube and headtube opening, as well as around the bottom of the bottom bracket shell and front and rear dropouts. I also take the fork off and wrap it in some additional bubble wrap or packing to keep it from damaging either the fork or frame during transit.
I have pics of how the "mummified" frame and fork look after they are packed, if anyone would like to contact me off-line for pics.
It may seem like overkill to pack so thoroughly, but I have yet to have a frame damaged and have received many comments on "best packing job ever". I also make sure I list the shipping charges in the auction so a buyer knows what they will be paying rather than listing the item and after the auction coming up with a figure higher than what they expected.
I don't like charging, or paying when I buy, what seem like high shipping charges but I would rather do so than to have a frame damaged and deal with the issue of a claim or disappointed buyer.
Frank Phillips
McAlester, OK