European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Competition at the Gas pump stations entice customers with gifts by Matthew l Wald new York times Hort skirts Are Back in fashion Star Trot has returned to television and gasoline Stalions Are giving customers a free Glass will purchaser. Motorists driving past the sign at the Gas a i Ilion uttering a 12-Ounco Glass Wilha $10 purchased Premium unleaded May think they Hava on ered a time Warp for doers this resurgence of cultural flotsam of two decades ago cons lulls the return of the sixties for dealers however the show is a horror movie Competition Al the Rosail end of Oil. The world s largest business is continuing to drive Oul individual dealers by culling the profit Pef gallon by dimes Nickels pennies and Len los o a cell Consumers Benet led from the crash in o l prices last year and Oil companies have gained with the Price recovery Bui the retailers squashed Al the Bottom of a Long Golem pole have seen unrelieved pressure. The number of full service Gas stations with traditional Arnen Liei Kyce rest rooms service Bays and free air pumps is now below 120,000, Down from 226 500 before the first Oil Shock in 1973. According to Tho service station dealers of America a Prado association and More of the survivors Aro destined to look like the a crib serve s save station thai offers the glasses 15 self serve pumps and behind a Glass Booth sits a cashier who looks like the mechanical Fortune Teller in a Penny Arcade the giveaways Are not As pervasive As those before the 1973 Oil Shock now they include can tests scratch off cards promising ups and other prizes free or Cut Fate prices on bottles of soil drinks and Low priced cassette Lapes Oil companies and Gas stations Are trying a variety of other ways to sell More Gas some stations Are saying open longer or never closing. Others Are trying to make it easier Lor customers to pay. Fur example customers with cards Lor Bank automatic Teller machines can use those cares to pay for Gas Al a growing number of stations in the Boston area and elsewhere some Ait companies have resumed