European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse We asked for comment we got it we asked you the readers of 7h� stars ones Mph to Tell us what you knew about the encyclopedia sales business in Europe. Your response was tremendous. As of this morn ing we have received 112 letters on encyclopedias the second largest total of any in depth report subject in the five year history of the is projects Section. Only a request for information about the military commissary system received More responses 135. We have contacted Many of you who wrote us to verify problems and in some cases to secure further information so we could help with individual prob lems. The letters were varied. Some included valuable material that led us into previously undiscovered areas of the Book business. Several readers dug out brochures and sent clips of Magazine articles that Deal with encyclopedia sales. Just the Range of locations from which the letters came was enlightening As to How widespread the Sale of encyclopedias is to americans in Europe. During the past month and a half we have gotten letters from Belgium Crete England Ger Many Greece Italy the nether lands saudi Arabia Sicily Spain and Turkey. Of the 112 letters 61 listed complaints about the Book business in Europe or about specific companies doing business with the military of the letters were complimentary. In four cases the tetters contained Tom plants and compliments on some aspect of the Book business. Twenty one letter writers complained specifically about cafes concessionaire companies 26 complained specifically about off Post firms. One company american Book distributors of Kaiserslautern Germany garnered 13 com plaints or one half of All the complaints about off Post firms. During the four Days of this series we will run each Day excerpts from the Best letters including a representative sampling of the com plaints compliments and comment received. Readers rest of stalked into. An of inferior Hanan get Many foot months ago just after arriving in country we were cajoled into buying a set of american educator encyclopedias from american Book distributor. The heft to was from England and was forceful. We were talked into purchasing what i believe to be an inferior product Molj. Jat incs j. Sit boo Csc Kshond England it a Dent i to tee a Young military couple with toddler being Given the hard Tell by some Tal Umen at the by. They will spend hundreds of Dollar they can t really a Ord to spare or a set of Book hoi will be outdated bythe time their Emid it old enough to uie them limply be cause the Talesman s line make them feel their child Oitt grow up ignorant i they deprive him of these Neces sary Mary o. Stewart Ramsten Germany the Young lady came to my door on the Economy incl Onweller Germany. She saw my Green tags on the car and the name Yates on the door where the Buzzer buttons located. Her first pitch was that she was going to give me a set of free encyclopedias american Peoples Rich Ards company Ert. Howard l. Yates Wiesbaden. Germany the 20-volume american educator ii at up to Date an Complete a our let of encyclopaedia Brita mudcat but written in language that children can easily understand. Or. Terri l. Sermon 0 Karlsruhe Germany 1 would highly recommend tue encyclopaedia Britan Nilca to anyone considering making such a Purchase. Under Vonbuskirk Baum older Germany i am writing about the encyclopedia sold at he pm stores and various other places on Post. I think i m like alot of people who Are taken very easily by a sales Pilch. I was talked into buying a set of books i did t really least. I personally think it s in air oat of one of the Feu Placiti can go to spend my Money Here in Europe i must be exposed to a Salesman every time. Spec. 4 Wayne t. Sharp 0 Liesheim Germany i am pleased with the encyclopedia Britannic and with the instant research service that has been provided. Btu. Philip p. Scala Spong Pohlem Germany i do my Best to avoid those rip oils who Are always crowding the by Entrance and harassing in patrons. Stanley p. Wro Tuki or. We Brucken Germany the encyclopaedia Britannica is not designed for the Normal Home a. We feel our Purchase was poor encyclopedias we bought do not satisfy the average need of a family because they cover a limited number of subject matter in too much depth. We would not recommend anyone to Purchase such to item at such Cost with out first doing More research As to the other Brand names Selling the same Basic product. Another item we Are no satisfied is the Way in which the salesmen use gimmicks to get your attention to buy their products by saving things like buy at this Price now became tomorrow or next week the Price will they try to get the people to big out free drawing cards so that they Caa use Yusas a Means of obtaining their address. Many times i have gone into the by and oat Only to be approached by some character about his product. These sates Mea Dent realize the inconvenience they cause Many people wit this approach. Terry and Leslye du1 0 Pir Masens Germany i discussed the Purchase of the encyclopaedia briton Nilca Urith one of their salesmen about april 1376 at the a lobby Kreuzberg Kasheme Ziaei Brincken. When he quoted me a fantastic savings which was Only Good Lothat one Day i left he wot trying to pressure me into buying something without faking Lime o think it Over. Sgt. . Thoma e. Speed 0 Sembach Germany we have 20 More payments to make and i fed like i m wasting another $18 every time i make a payment for american Peoples Richards company est. Of Well they say people team by their mistakes. I be Learned from ours and Hope that maybe someone somewhere May Benefit from our costly mistake. 0 Ramstein. Germany a very Good set of encyclopedia world Book tuesday june 14, 1977 the stars and stripes Page a3
