[netsharc]

It's surprising that they are. And sometimes it's a padded envelope inside a padded envelope, both having stickers with my address on them. I've also gotten packages where the stamp says "Kazahkstan Post". Geez, I wonder what the routing is (I believe they optimize for cost)..

[KMnO4]

I ordered a set of wire spools[0] from AliExpress for $30 and I kid you not it was drop shipped from Sparkfun[1] from the US.

Usually it works the other way around.

[0]: what I ordered: https://i.ibb.co/wKtrM5W/IMG-9952.jpg

[1]: what I received: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11367

[amelius]

I once ordered such a set from AliExpress. It had silicone insulation, making it the best set I ever used because it can be soldered to anything without the insulation melting away. Perfect for prototyping.

[logankeenan]

The seller was potentially buying the product off sparkfun with a stolen credit card. In return, they receive money from you through a legitimate business transaction.

They’ve just washed money from a stolen credit card.

[yardie]

My last purchase was an envelope in an envelope both with my address. One had the USPS printed stamp out of NYC. I assume my orEr was palletized. Then container shipped to NYC.

[Scoundreller]

That and aliexpress has cracked a nut that eBay hasn’t even figured out: consolidating shipments from different sellers in one package to minimize last mile delivery costs.

Some of these “bag in a bag” deals might be consolidation “misses”

[pridkett]

My child has learned that when a package says “JFK” on the return address to shout “more fun stuff from China!”

But yeah, that’s what they do for a lot of shipments. Repackage and mail them from New York. Occasionally get something from Memphis, which I assume means they packed it into FedEx to start.