European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Teggi to Jap  a Bri i i  own of a of Strw " i la a a yen for japanese goods despite falling Dollar associated press Mark Elliott might have slammed oni to  last year when the japanese yrs edited soaring pushing up Itie Price Sci the i Toncia cars he Sells on Manhattan s111ll Avenue instead to  on Iho Gas Elliot was so sure that customers  keep buying hondas thai he expanded Hig arc incan Honda motor co franchise. A Lew months later he opened a franchise for Honda s now Acura division sure. Iho prices have gone up but tha Price value relationship is sit so great. I am crying for cars  said Eliom a senior vice president of Martin s Manhattan Dealership. Elli Oll s Story 15 repeated around the country japanese products ranging irom cars lovers Are going up in Price but the increases have Boon Modost and americans Are Silil buying the goods. The surprising durability of japanese exports is a big reason Why economists expect Iho . Trade  to grew this year to Ghoul $165 billion irom last Yeai s record $148 5 billion the . Trade deficit hit $18 billion m july a record for a single in Only. The  has fallen 40 percent against the yen since Laic f february 1985. Making the yen the strongest in has been since the late 1940s that makes japanese pm polls More a pen to and american made goods  Bui the japanese have Hung Onlo customers by cutting their profit margins in order to keep Price incenses Lar billow the Rise in their currency. Al the same hmm. Iho japanese continue to stress Mir Quality of their products. Tile american manufacturers have made some Progress but the Rodney Dange Ifield Complex is still haunting  said Bernard Addo an analyst for Argus research corp., referring specifically to automakers no matter what they do it looks like they Don i got much respect moreover. The japanese have been helped by american competitors who have chosen to raise their own prices preferring to make bigger profits instead of Cap Lurig a bigger share of the Market. For e ample White japanese automakers have Loisera i hair average suggested list prices about 14 percent cr$,330. Since the end on the 1985 Model year american automakers have been close behind with increases averaging More than $620, according to automotive news a Trade weekly. Prices actually paid for japanese cars went up Only Aboul a percent because dealers absorbed some of the blow by rolling Back their additional markups said David Healy. An analyst at the investment irm Drexel trading has bean hectic on the Toyko Exchange As the Dollar has dropped to Post Wii lows. Apply to bum Ham Lambert inc. The japanese Are nol alone in their successful Trade game. Other nations have Field Onlo american customers despite big increases in their currencies against the Dollar since february 19bs 35 percent for Nlaly s lira 41 percent for West Germany s Mark. 37 percent for France s franc 33 percent for Britain s Pound one reason for the continuing Trade Gap is . Reliance on foreign suppliers Lor certain products such As Vars and cheap desktop copiers not made in Quantity in the United states. It lakes time for alternate suppliers to appear said David Lund a Commerce department Trade analyst. The currencies of certain major trading partners such As Canada South Korea and Taiwan have scarcely budged again so the Dollar compounding Iho problem. Therefore Korea s Hyundai motor America inc. Has not had to raise prices of its inexpensive cars when Honda hit he . Auto Market in the Early 1970s, its civics were scarcely larger than Honda motorcycles. Hondas gradually gained in size luxury service and reputation recently surpassing Mercedes Benz to become no 1 in customer satisfaction according to . Power & associates a marketing information company. As a result. Honda has been Able to raise prices with relative impunity. The suggested list Price of a four door Honda Accord do with stick shift and no options Rose from $9.299 in september to $10,238 in May. Howard Guberman a Manhattan lawyer shrugged off the increases As he sat behind the wheel of an Accord in a Manhollan car Dealership it has t yet reached the Point where i feel i m paying Loo much for the Quality compared to the american Standard he said. Americans in Europe seemingly also Are still sold on the Quality of japanese products. It. Cof. Charlie while Public affairs officer for cafes Europe says that cafes purchases almost All of its electronics merchandise in Japan. As an indication of Ihei popularity of such goods he notes thai the Stuttgart store atone netted s1.3 million during a its recent four Day i tech i fashion Safe and that the Exchange photo shops did $2.1 million Worth of business in August Kodak customers still waiting by Mary Neth consumer editor w Hen Eastman Kodak co lost its 9-year-Ald Battle with Polaroid corp. This past january in was promises promises or the Consumers left holding he More than 1g million practically useless Ruslan cameras. The drawn out court cases had entered on charges by Polaroid that Kodak had infringed on seven . Patents the latter company was barred from making or Selling products such As film. For use in its already prod need instants. When the court decision Camo through. Kodak Page 16 the stars and stripes announced that Consumers would be allowed to Trade in the instants for its newest disc camera to film cartridges a Coupon Book with e50 world of rebates on Kodak photographic products or one share of Kodak Stock which had just closed at $48.625 a share. Kodak said it also would accept unsold cameras and film from dealers and Issue them refunds. The company however planned to Appeal the lower court ruling following the announcement cafes Europe withdrew the cameras from its shelves but said it would continue to sell and Stock the instant print film while supplies lasted coupons were provided cafes customers to sign and Mai to the company. Kodak then was to Send the customers a Leller listing the options available to them Friday september 26, 1986 plus a special Container for mailing Back the cameras. Now. Eight months have passed and stripes readers report thai they have heard nothing further. They want to know what has happened contacted by cafes Headquarters in Dallas Kodak spokesman Chris Verana reported that the camera Exchange program is on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit by the company in a county court. Until a decision is made. Kodak is barred from implementing its program. The company however is still accepting names of those who will receive an option in return of the cameras. If me court decides in Kodak s favor the Exchange program can begin no matter what the court decides customers will be entitled to some Type of recon pontalion