The New York Times has reported that, "Since 1907, United Parcel Service has been delivering packages ordered by consumers. Next week, the company plans to deliver packages they have not ordered, in a test of an effort to expand into direct marketing.United Parcel Service will begin testing its direct marketing service on Monday. Beginning on Monday, UPS will experiment in five major markets with a service it calls Direct to Door, giving advertisers and retailers a chance to provide offers and product samples to UPS customers. The marketing materials will come inside small boxes labeled Direct to Door Paks, and will be delivered to customers along with merchandise they actually ordered. The test, to run through Oct. 2, is intended to gauge whether there is interest in having UPS serve as an alternative to marketing mail delivered by the United States Postal Service or by companies like Valpak.
