European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine trusting shopper court disaster by Mary Neth consumer editor overseas it is a rare american military base that in t encircled by blocks of Garish stores plastered with signs in English advertising Cut Rale prices or easy go  some Are reputable some Are not. Raymond Jourdan and his Wile Catherine a stall sergeant in the air Force bought furniture from an Oil base firm. What they ordered was not what was delivered. When they complained they were Given the runaround. When they said they planned to go to an attorney they were met by sneers and threats. " you Damn americans Are All alike. Be Happy with what you be got we were told. Can you imagine says Jourdan. Despite the store owner s warning that going to court would do them no Good Many have tried. Don t waste your time or Money they did and won. It was a drawn out exhausting Battle. Later be Learned that other americans had had problems with the same people says Catherine Jourdan. And that we could have purchased the same furniture Lor $1,000 less downtown says her husband. I know from this experience that you Don t shop any place that has signs All Over in English and prices in dollars and that advertises that financing is no problem Al All Jourdan says. The Jourdan troubles began shortly after they arrived in Europe about three years ago. They came ready to spend big Bucks. You have Only one Chance in your life to Purchase things like  explains Jourdan. You buy these things with Hopes of keeping them around  their first big Purchase was a living room set a Couch love seat chair and co fee table. Only Matching end tables were missing. The Salesman however assured them that they were available. The whole package Cost $2.500. The Jordans paid Cash and were promised delivery in six weeks. Alter 14 weeks and a number of phone Calls the furniture finally was delivered at 11 30 . But the upholstery was t what the Jordans had ordered and the Matching end tables did t match at All. In broken English with much shoulder shrugging the delivery men made known that they took no responsibility Lor what was delivered. Jourdan took the next Day Oil from his civilian Job at Sembach a and drove with the tables to the shop. The Salesman said it was no problem just a mistake and assured me that the Correct tables would be delivered in two or three weeks at the  three weeks passed. Jourdan called and was Given the runaround again. Mora weeks patted. Jourdan called twice More with no results. Finally he again took time from his Job and drove to the store and asked to see the manager himself. He was very sarcastic. He said that in the first place they did t even make such tables. The Salesman then tried to deny that he had told me they could be delivered. We had had witnesses and when i reminded him. He backed Down. Well maybe. I did Tell you that he  the manager finally agreed that the end tables could be provided but that it would take a bit More time. Another month passed with no word. Jourdan made an angry Call to the store demanding that the contract be fulfilled. Furthermore he said he did t want the delivery men showing up in the Middle of the night. A Date was arranged for the upholstery to be changed and the new end tables finally to be delivered. Nine ., the time agreed upon came and went. Angry and discouraged the Jordans gave up and turned in for the night. At 12 30 a.m., the Doorbell rang. The upholstery problem was solved but still no end tables. That s when Jourdan called the firm and said he was taking Legal action and was told arrogantly to go right ahead other americans have used. You Don t have a Chance the next Day the Jordans visited their base Legal office where they were Given a list of German lawyers. We went through the whole Story with the one we went  recalls Catherine and then telling him we did t have much Money to waste asked him his honest opinion As to our Chance of winning. He said he thought our Case was solid but that we d have to expect it to take some  Raymond and Catherine Jourdan look vow it Legal Pap a from their court Cote. As the Case proceeded the Jordans knowledge that they had been dealing with a Sleazy character was confirmed Over and Over again. He and his lawyer tried every trick possible to delay or undermine the court hearing they say. Under German Law. When a foreigner is involved in a contract dispute the Laws of the foreigner s country apply. In the United states some states require that the person suing put up a Bond that would cover All expenses if the Case is lost. Under German Law. The person being sued can demand that this requirement be met and under German Law the loser pays All both lawyers and All court expenses. In this Case Jourdan s lawyer estimated that the Bond taking into account court costs and fees for both lawyers could easily reach 30,000 Marks. Catherine Jourdan whose name was being used in the suit is from Ohio a state that does not require such a Bond. Ii however she had been from a slate that requires one the lawyer could have changed the suit from one involving a contract dispute to a charge of fraud. Fraud cases Don t require such a Bond after month of Legal parrying and court dates the judge appeared to be ready to give a decision. That s when according to a Jordans the furniture Man tried his last trick. He stood up in court and said the lady is crazy that just brought everything to a halt says Catherine. Now. The judge had to decide if i was crazy or  i think by this  says Jourdan. The judge was getting pretty fed up with All the stalling and histrionics being presented by the other Side. He said i think the lady has a valid Case and i do not think she is crazy but the Only solution is for the court to go and look Al the furniture Itsell we stored the furniture never used in our party House in the Back Yard so that s where it was agreed the next court session be  when the Day and the time arrived the Jordans and their lawyer were there the judge was there the translators and other required court personnel were there. Everyone was there but the furniture Man and his  Catherine says. The judge was furious. Finally just As about everyone was to leave there was a great Clatter in the driveway. There came the furniture Man with two end tables that finally matched the furniture we d picked out except that they still were not the exact height. Then that awful Man who had been trying to sneak in those tables at the last minute stood there leaning against the garage Wall acting so sincere and saying Over and Over again this woman is crazy i just Don t understand her problem it was too much i started to  says Catherine. The judge reached Over and patted me on the shoulder and i could Tell he was trying to say everything would be  the Case was decided in the Jordans favor. The Jordans got their Money Back plus $92 in interest. They were out Only 125 Marks that they had had to pay a translator. The furniture company had to pay All the court fees and both lawyers. It was the principle of the whole thing though that really mattered to  says Jourdan. We Learned something too. From now on even in we have to Lake along a translator we will shop downtown at stores that Are Well known stores where the germans shop  Friday november 29. 1985 the stars and stripes Page 13