European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Let the buyer beware the sad tale of a Soldier who paid the Price for dabbling in Art by Randy Pruitt staff writer ski first class James cider can toll you that when i comes to buying Art you Don t always get what you pay for. On april 3, 1989, the emergency action no at v corps in Frankfurt Germany bought four framed Oil paintings from a door to door Salesman representing the Art gallery h. Walentowski. Today All he has to show for 1,600 Marks Are 30 notices from a German collection Agency and a painting he d never seen until it was dropped on his Doorstep about one month ago. Now he s Learned from the Art company that his four original paintings a the ones he finally finished paying off on july this year a can to be located. F rank Kohler manager of the Art company says a fund is out of the question. Dur. To say the least is not a Happy Man. He a also tuck with a strange painting that was delivered to his government housing uni in the Frankfurt suburb of t Fusen i Ider. 37. Has turned the matter Over to a jag attorney t he said his troubles Bogan in 1989 when a Salesman my the four paintings at his House the paintings collectively called inc four seasons depicted scenes of Pang summer fall and Winter together they Cost 950 Marks i did t want them Quot elder said he told the Salesman 1 he Salesman whom elder had purchased a painting my m 1987, insisted elder keep the paintings for three weeks. Then Quot Call him if i did t wan them Quot elder said. I tie Salesman even Hung them on fhe elders dining mom Wall promising to pick them up at elder s request before leaving the Salesman asked that elder sign a paper acknowledging to had receipt of the pictures elder said the Salesman assured him it was Only a Loi Mality Eider admits to made a mistake by not Reading it. Quot i took him the Salesman Al his word. I had no reason to doubt elder said. By signing he agreed that the paintings had to be returned within one week not three otherwise they would to his. Before the three week period was up. Elder said he telephoned the company the Salesman assured him the paintings would be picked up they weren t he said he called again and again finally he said lie spoke with Walentowski the gallery owner who reminded him of the agreement he signed and the seven Day limitation i said i was t going to pay for anything and Hung i idol my i Dot a d tie boxed the Pauling. And interned them to hu1 company at Weil Germany. Once they were shipped out i Turgot about it Quot he on july 5. 1989, tie received a notice lion a f inn Fuu collect on Agency Cay i tie owed not 950 a Racks put 1.600 Murks a second notice followed july perhaps you do not Realise the Senous effects it can cause you m a military career by not paying just debts Quot it stated. Quot military men and women who deliberately default on a contracted debt can be subjected to severe penalties. Failure to pay just debts can Lead to administrative elimination from the service and commanders can take disciplinary action by using lesser administrative sanctions. Becoming a poor credit risk can seriously damage a career in the armed forces. For example the poor credit risk May not be Able to get the Security clearance he or she needs for the assignment necessary for the letter threatened action in German civil court if no payment were received. Elder said he soon began the first of what was to be Many $50 and $100 payments. Meanwhile the company acknowledged receiving the paintings and said they would be returned once his account was paid. Elder said head been allowed to keep the first painting he d purchased in 1987 while making payments. Quot i really did t want the pictures Quot he said. That s Why i sent them Back. I fell victim to a contract i did t fully understand but my signature is on it. I took Cam of my elder who has lived in Germany 13 years paid off the final instalment july 1 this year. However to has not seen his pictures since he boxed them up and mailed them Back to the company More than three years ago Kohler blames elder for the foul up saying to failed to pay his Bill on time. Kohler said that since the company waited More than three years to get its Money from elder. Quot now we will wait four years and he will gel his Kohler however acknowledged that the company cannot find the paintings. He offered to let elder pick a 00 James elder s hands Are filled with notices from a German collection Agency and a 3 ,4-year Battle for Art he paid for but never received. Painting valued at 1,000 Marks from the company s showroom in Werl. Werl is about 140 Miles from Frank i Kohler said he would give elder 50 Marks Lor gasoline Kohler explained that the company no longer makes door to door sales to americans because it had trouble collecting payments. In 1987, several americans took the company to coun alleging the firm misrepresented the Worth of paintings they had purchased. A German civil court ruled against the company. At that time one couple said they agreed to pay 2,990 Marks for two paintings that were later appraised at from 150 to 450 Marks each. They said the Salesman led the"1 to believe the value of one painting would triple upon the death of the artist. At that time the couple s attorney Sec to was representing at least seven other soldiers m similar cases against the Art company none of this however is of much Consolation to elder he fears he May be held responsible for the to recent painting he received a an Island Sunset a and wants it out of his House. Repeated Calls to the compus have elicited Only promises he said a spokeswoman for the Frankfurt military commune said records reflect that the Salesman did not get permission before canvassing government House a areas. I m concerned that the Salesman May be going a found and doing this to other military families Elrie a and Kohler said the Salesman is no longer employ d the Art gallery. Twer said he would never do business with the company again As far As he s concerned the comp a can keep the four paintings and give him a refund k i wanted the paintings to Start with what really Burns me up is i be paid for my my v May and still Don t have what i paid for he a u react Quot a it a a Quot Quot. Of clockwise from left James elder examines the collection Agency s letters this painting Cost elder More than $750 elder s contract which includes notice that the gallery must be notified within one week if the customer does t want to keep the Art. He a the rules on door to door sales pitches not just anybody who has something 1o sell can walk into an american housing area and set up shop. People who sell products or services door la door Are supposed to be screened a special identification card issued by the solicitation administration office in Heidelberg and approved by ease commanders is required. Americans should ask to see it and not buy anything rom anyone who can t show it. Said a Frankfurt Public a a Quot airs spokesman say a no thank you close the door and make sure he the housing area Quot the spokesman said. Businesses Are checked thoroughly before being mowed he said. Permits Are not easy to obtain. Margaret rein Ger a clerk at the customer service. Her for the 418th base support in said currently 11 Vance companies have been approved along with a a Oriental carpet dealer and two Wood carving a ceases no Art companies Are on the approved list they w Ould duplicate sen ices already offered by a army air Force Exchange service safest she Sao a rrn11s must be renewed annually she said. Randy or glut elder inspects the painting that was mysteriously left on his Doorstep about one month ago. A amps photos by Jim Derheim Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday n or 1992 the stars and stripes Page 15
