European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Judy and Maria inspect porcelain in Kaiser m i left to Are Margie and Judy Miller holding their Kaiser factory like bulls in a China the shoppers grabbed boxes and proceeded to rummage through the vases and other soon Tobe treasured the place was Small and packed with people and All Heads turned As the distinctive sound of China hitting the floor reminded shoppers to be not extremely tables were stacked High with figurines and the famous Kaiser porcelain big boxes held hundreds of soup and but the Hunt was Worth the Kaiser supposedly but most pieces looked flawless was sold at one third the regular a Complete service for eight of White Kaiser including breakfast soup Coffee and Tea Cost richly painted porcelain clocks from 250 to 500 a figure of two dolphins Cost 75 Marks and one with 5 dolphins was 850 Small covered dishes ran about 30 while three foot tall vases were about 500 since time was of the the tour spent Only about an hour in staf Lestein the most organized shoppers were also the most it helps to know exactly what you want to buy before you get that Way you can quickly pick out what you came then browse for there were no Price lists available at the Kaiser shop and the clerks were not very helpful they were too Busy wrapping up the Kaiser factory is off Highway 173 near look for a sign that says the phone number is the seconds store is open from 8 to 4 monday through its closed on the after everyone got their stash stored carefully on the bus and labelled with tags supplied by it was off to Kups for Dresden and it was already by the time the bus get to the first of the three outlets in this tour stopped at the Benno schuster Wicker at 8 Richard Wagner the Telephone number is the shop is open from 8 to 6 monday through Friday and from 8 to noon on prospective customers should Call first if they plan to shop on a sometimes the store is closed the entire limited mostly to various size Magazine doll carriages and Small Wicker some of the shoppers said they were disappointed the outlet did not have Wicker chairs or other Large pieces of but everyone agreed that what was for Sale was of Good Quality and the clerks were very Friendly and unlined Wicker baskets started at about 15 Wicker trays could be had for As Low As 5 and a sturdy looking Wicker Cane stand was 36 after a whirlwind 30 minutes most of the shoppers rushed Down the Street to the Dresden having already been told the toy factory was the Dresden outlet was supposed to close at 5 but stayed open for the shopping that was Good business the shoppers were in their element at the Dresden Row after Row of tiny porcelain with the elaborate costumes Dresden is known were snatched up for inspection and usually the Dresden factory had Many items that were also for Sale at the Kaiser but at a cheaper quarters were there was just barely enough room to squeeze through the the prices were right at the Dresden outlet and there was a Good selection of from Ballerina figurines for 25 Marks to Gold Tea sets for 94 Small figurines started at about 12 a dancing couple Statuette Cost 80 porcelain dolphins were 80 while the Well known Mother and child porcelain figurine was sold for 60 the called the Wilhelm Rit Tirsch is at goeth Strasse 18 in the Telephone number is the outlet is open monday through thursday from 9 till 12 and from from 1 to 5 on the shop is open Only from 9 till it is closed on the at about 8 the Busload of tired but Happy shoppers headed for arriving Back at Darmstadt at about to have the Best shopping tour bring a sturdy bag to pack your treasures in perhaps a Backpack or sports bring German Marks dollars or credit most of the factories do not accept and even fewer take credit several would be shoppers came Home with lots of dollars but no most of the shoppers said they spent from 300 to 500 Marks on the according to an informal poll on the bus ride was about what they planned to if bring More Money than you think youll that you wont have to leave anything truly wonderful if you go on a shopping bring something a a Good conversation or a Friend to amuse yourself on the its a Long the shopping tour was a though the Day May be Shorter if you drive on a bus tour you can relax on the Road and concentrate solely on someone else does All the of you will also have to wait for the others on your even though you May be done Martha the itt tour said itt would try to run a similar shopping tour in about two she said the tour was organized to meet the shoppers demand for a Hummel buying but by most accounts that was the least fruitful part of the since there was no discount on the next time Well delete this part of the that Way Well have More time for the other factories and we will make sure we make it to All of i think the people got their moneys she Audrey visiting Darmstadt from i got everything i came and had a Good time March stripes Magazine