European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                18 the stars and stripes Money matters wednesday november 25,1993british Check out cafes facilities influx of customers welcomed criticized by Mark k1nkade stuff writer Giessen Germany a after five years in Germany. Tracy sin Field the wife of a British Soldier stationed near Dortmund wanted to take something unique Back to England a a Nintendo game boy the popular computer game. Forgoing the usual shops on the Economy and the British exchanges she set out on a different kind of Christmas shopping junket. Her itinerary the american Post exchanges at Frankfurt and Giessen and the base Exchange at Rhein main a. A a it a different Isnit it a said Sinfield a i mean when in Germany shop in the German shops and we be done that. But we done to have Access to As Many american things in England so we be gone  shopping carts overflowing with shampoo station wagons stuffed with children a bicycles and British shoppers carrying dozens of full army and air Force Exchange service bags to waiting tour buses have become common sights at the Giessen Post Exchange. Its part of a surge in British customers that cafes officials and Exchange customers said began nearly four months ago and is escalating every weekend As Christmas draws near. And while Many americans arc unhappy about the Long lines Lack of parking and empty shelves cafes officials said the influx of foreign shoppers actually is helping americans. A a we be doubled even tripled our orders for some products a said Chris Schrafft Giessen Exchange sales and merchandise manager. A without them British shoppers we  offer the varied selection we have a hot items on the British shopping lists Are children a bicycles health and Beauty products ski equipment audio and video supplies and baby supplies Schrafft said. Often the shoppers buy so much of one item that shelves Are emptied prompting complaints from americans. A but we have the items in Stock a Schrafft said. Sometimes its just too crowded to get through the store with a fresh Stock but its always restocked for the next  the heart of the Issue for some american shoppers is that some sort of rationing should be applied to the shopping. Quot i think they should Tell people that they can buy Only so much of certain items a said cassic Procell a Giessen resident. A when they British shoppers come in shopping they done to leave anything for us but cafes does no to have plans for rationing. Schrafft said much of the anxiety about Short stocks developed because inventory orders weren to Large enough to cover the sudden increase in customers that began in in the left photo a British forces shopper loads his car Germany in the right photo Gill Pawlow left and Christmas gifts they bought at the Exchange. September. Since then cafes has adjusted its Stock Levels. Quot All we have to do is increase our orders on popular items a he said. A but id be lying if 1 said that if the British customers came in and bought All of our pampers off the shelves today right now that i could get them in Stock in an hour because i can to. But we will have the shelves stocked before we open for business the next  for cafes British shoppers mean the Impact of the draw Down is softened. For example Giessen ranked 13th in total sales in Europe in 1991. In 1992, the Exchange was rated 14th in Europe said Barbara Kirsch an cafes spokeswoman. The decline in sales a drop of nearly $1.4 million compared with 1991, was attributed to the draw Down of american forces in the area. However British shoppers have filled the void propping up lagging sales by accounting for nearly 60 per. M8 Jund Aitmon with christinas gifts he bought at the Exchange in Giessen Fiona streets fill their car with three bicycles and others amps Jim Oelheim British warrant officer 2 Peter Mulderrig and his wife Lynn finish packing their car with purchases from the Giessen Exchange while their a year old daughter Anna Chews on a chocolate pastry. Cent of the weekend shoppers and a sustained customer base throughout the week Schrafft said. Rumours that cafes is going to ban British shoppers from the facilities after the holidays May be fueling much of the sudden increase in customers Schrafft said. The rumours May have come from the ongoing negotiations to Amend the supplement to the nato status of forces agreement governing foreign forces in Germany. But cafes officials said the negotiations wont affect British Access to exchanges. A those rumours arc simply not True a Kirsch said. A the British will continue to be authorized customers at cafes  another Factor that brings the British to american facilities is a favourable Exchange rate. In recent months the Dollar has been weak against the British Pound and american products Are being bought at bargain prices. A the prices arc Good and the selection is so much better than what we have a said flight it. Nick Churchman a spokesman for British forces in the Raf Gaiter slow area. British exchanges have a limited selection of consumer goods he said. Food items Are plentiful but a big tickets items such As bicycles and audio equipment Are in huge demand. Gaiter slow is about 250 Miles from Giessen but British shoppers travel to Giessen Frankfurt Bremerhaven and other areas on organized bus parties he said. Others simply Load the family into the car and make the trip for a Day of shopping a on the american  according to Exchange employees at Giessen its not unusual to see a British shopper spend More than $500 during a Day at the Exchange a some of the wives pay 10 do German Marks each to hire a bus a said Sinfield the British soldiers wife. A a it Sall very organized rather like a tour to a German shopping  the British said there is Little they can do to Stop the crowds from flocking to american facilities. Attempts have been made to curtail bus parties. But As Churchman said individuals May do what they want As Long As it s allowed by the status of forces agreement. While cafes wrestles with trying to create a balance to suit All customers americans at Giessen seem to have resigned themselves to dealing with the influx. A it does no to matter a said Gloria Brown who has shopped at Giessen for nearly three years. A even before the British started shopping Here i was t Able to get what 1 wanted. It would be gone regardless of who got  for Sinfield her first shopping junket to Giessen was a bust. The Stock of Nintendo game boys was depleted. She left the Exchange with Little More than two bags of cosmetics and a few Small toys but she was still optimistic. Quot there a a few More places to go a she said. A and Christmas is still a ways off. Well find some Nice