By contrast, UPS's Mail Logic System uses an Origin Processing Facility, and expedited transportation by air and/or truck to a Destination Processing Facility, which transports the mail directly into the USPS mail stream at a Destination SCF or Destination DDU.

Using the existing postal system, but taking advantage of UPS's economy of scale, air and ground transportation and their centralized mail processing centers, UPS Mail Innovations is able to both save time and save money, while integrating with United States Postal work-share programs. According to my representative, priority mail is delivered within 24-48 hours of pickup, and media mail is also speedily delivered, usually within 6 days.

Moreover (and this is particularly important to us), we can continue to use our Endicia system, linked to UPS servers. This requires a specific set-up, which we have yet to schedule. Although we still have to go to the post office to pick up our mail, we will not have any handling time associated with outgoing packages. We can track our shipments from portal to portal -- a clear advantage over USPS's rather weak delivery confirmation scanning. UPS's Mail Logic tracking and reporting system is Web-based, another clear advantage for us.

UPS will handle flat mail (including annual reports, brochures, catalogs, information kits, membership materials, newsletters, quarterly reports); lightweight products under 1 lb. such as CDs and DVDs; bound printed matter that is 1-15 lbs (catalogs, directories, books, handbooks, technical guides), and media such as film and printed music.

Internationally, UPS Mail Innovations goes to 200 countries around the world and takes advantage of the economies of scale to reduce the cost of air mail transport. Mail Logic was initially tested in the United Kingdom, and after meeting with very positive responses, was expanded to include other EU countries. They claim that internationally their first class service transit times average 4 to 8 days, while economy services average 7 to 14 days. I will find out more about international services for next month's article.

I have been told, and I expect to receive, a personal trainer, here at my shop, to help us integrate our existing systems into the Mail Logic system.

If you are interested, speak to your UPS driver, log on to the special UPS website, or give UPS a call. Then be prepared to queue up, because a lot of people are interested in this. You don't have to give up the post office, but this new system may very well be a way to utilize it better.

Renée Magriel Roberts can be reached at renee@roses-books.com.