Shipping Partner?

[wiredgeorge]

Recently I have purchased from what appear to be US based sellers.  Several has turn item over to a "shipping partner" and it takes them many days to get the small parcels into the hands of the USPS.  What is a "shipping partner".  Example:

• Apr 30, 2020 7:31am    Accepted at USPS Origin Facility   HEBRON, KY 41048

• Apr 23, 2020  12:00am  Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item  HEBRON, KY 41048

Why are several eBay sellers located or shipping from Hebron KY and why a "shipping partner".  Note this added 7 days (purchase was on Apr. 22nd).

[orangehound]

A shipping partner is just simply another carrier like UPS, DHL or FedEx ... often is it more cost effective for these larger companies to use USPS for the last leg of delivery in rural areas that are not regularly served by the carrier.

If it is a small package, most likely it is a Chinese shipping company taking advantage of the below-market rates that the USPS offers to packages originating in China.

[theteamsetguy]

Some sellers use FedEx Smartpost, UPS Surepost, or DHL Suremail to save money especially to rural areas. The package picked up or dropped off by shipper to FedEx, UPS, or DHL and is transferred to the post office last leg of the delivery. In the Twin Cities FedEx, UPS and DHL delivers the packages to the Maplegrove, MN postal facility to be transferred to the local post office for delivery.