European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday july 20, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3new chapter vowed in Book sales by Kevin Robinso staff writer. With less than 75 Days before the mandated Transfer of bookstores from the european stars and stripes to cafes Exchange officials say customers will notice better prices faster shipment of magazines and More books when the takeover occurs. As directed by Congress in the 1994 defense budget stars and stripes must turn Over the operation of the bookstores to cafes Ana the Navy Exchange by oct. 1. The promises Are the Cornerstone of the army and air Force Exchange services Book Mark operation said Ken Moon in a news release dated monday from cafes Headquarters in Dallas. Moon is the Exchange program Bookstore Transfer. But a fest heralded changes in Many cases Are not considered new said Chris Ryan director of stars and stripes Bookstore operations. A fest plan for instituting better Bookstore sales was the highlight of its Dallas statement a by shipping its inventory by air cafes promises to put Date sensitive books and magazines on Exchange shelves at the beginning of the week or Ryan manager for the month posted on the cover i a cafes promises a 10 percent discount from cover prices on All books a hardback paperback and magazines. It promises up to 25 percent off of hardback Best Sellers. A customers will be Able to use the cafes deferred payment plan known As App and credit cards. The Exchange will eventually offer the top 200 Selling magazines in the United states adding titles never before sold in stripes bookstores. A More locations a from about 115 stars and stripes bookstores and direct sales outlets to 239 cafes locations a mean More bo6ks available to customers. These locations include sales of pocket books and magazines in shop Pettes troop stores and main stores. In response to a bigger and better Way of Selling books in Europe Ryan said just about every initiative cafes announced is already a mainstay at stripes bookstores. For example stars and stripes carries 580 Magazine titles comp a with the top 200 magazines the Exchange to compete by Dave Melancon Wurzburg Bureau Wurzburg Germany if staff sgt. Gerald Van Den Elsenp a partner Rikky were talking Friday he probably would have asked for a Cool drink and some Shade. The Giessen military policeman a partner a narcotics detection dog was one of 34 canines competing in the first . Army Europe military working dog Competition that took place Friday and saturday at Leighton Barracks. The teams represented area support groups from Germany Bel cum and Italy Ana the Miessau Germany ets Erve storage depot. During hot spells dogs act differently from when it is Cool or at night when they normally work Van Den Elsen said. A dogs body temperature can Range from 101 to 105 degrees be said. A in the heat of the Day they military working dogs get frustrated just like peo pie a Van Den Elsen said. A team of veterinarians from the 67th combat support Hospital was on hand to Monitor the dogs Well being. A this is not just fun and games or additional training a said Mai. Wendy Lichtenstein of the Usa eur Provost marshals office. A it is Nof just for Esprit not Only to recognize the teams but to improve their training and  the one air Force and two army judges measured each dogs obedience and ability to master an obstacle course search a building detect narcotics or explosives and subdue an attacker she said. A the standards we developed for this Competition forces the handlers and the dogs to work a lot harder a Lichtenstein by consolidating the bookstores cafes will make it work like they did with the class i  v a Tom Moffat. V a a military marketing consultant have All weekly magazines on Sale prior to their cover Date a Ryan said in a written statement. Ryan also said stripes matches cafes with a 25 percent discount on Best Selling hardback books. A genuine change would be a fest Promise of a 10 percent Dis count on All books and magazines compared with stripes 5 percent reduction on such merchandise. The idea of expanding Book sales to More locations in Europe a shop Pettes troop stores main exchanges Ana even commissaries a was a concept Ryan said stripes proposed to cafes and commissary officials in 1992. A if cafes had Given us this approval More thai 580 Magazine titles compared our number of sales outlets would direct promised to offer Ryan said. Cafes officials would not specify if they will offer magazines that Arentt on their top 200 listings. He also said stripes bookstores currently meet the same standards of timeliness promised by the Exchange with air shipment or other fast transportation of magazines and books. A bearing in mind there Are exceptions to everything and that we cover an area from Norway to saudi Arabia we try to a 7 match the sales outlets that they will have a Ryan said. �?o., we also had plans to offer books and magazines at other morale welfare and recreation outlets such As Golf clubs and Rod and gun  wherever the Exchange Sells books opinions differ As to whether cafes will be Able to deliver on All its promises Tom Moffat a military marketing consultant in nauheim Germany said cafes is an organization that can to help but make the Transfer profitable. A whether they will make More Money than stripes i done to know a Moffat said a if they put Book Marks in existing pcs they wont have to add people and it wont require extra facilities a that will save them Money. A by consolidating the bookstores cafes will make it work like they did with the class i stores a Moffat said. For Anthony Nihra the european sales manager for stripes bookstores bigger does not always mean better. A my perspective on cafes policy is that they give High ticket items prime display. And their major goal is sales a not customer service. Quot the bookstores Are very specific facilities a he added. A if it was so easy for cafes to do it sell books Why Arentt other retail sales giants doing it they done to because they leave it to the  air Force col. Steven s. Hoffman commander publisher of the european stars and stripes said he Hopes cafes will continue stripes Bookstore policy of providing Quality service to customers. A Al am proud of the outstanding service provided by stars and stripes employees Quot he said. A a. I am very confident they will continue to serve our customers needs until the very  sgt. Gilbert Rivera of Wiesbaden Germany watches As Sandor competes in military working dog activities in Wurzburg. A amps Dave Melancon said. The judges also look at the handlers ability to control their dogs she said. Besides finding out who is Best the handlers and Kennel masters Swap tips on training their jobs and animal care she said. A we Are looking for the perfect dog a s Aid judge staff sgt., Billy Meier of the Usa eur Provost marshals office. A we picture a perfect dog and then we Start taking Points from  teams Start with 100 Points and the judges Start deducting for mistakes he said. A the perfect dog sits correctly and listens to his handler at All times a said air Force master sgt. Charlie Lawrence of Span Dah Lem a Germany. A the negotiates All the obstacles upon command and he finishes upon command in the perfect position. A Many people say it can to happen. But it can happen and has happened. A you just pick up a lot of really Good information from this Type of Competition a said spec. Jennifer Brien of the Miessau army depot. Handlers learn More about their dog s strengths and weaknesses but also gain insights from other competitors on How to Deal with the problems she said. Brien said she and her partner due May do a few things differently when they get Home. A a he a done excellent so far. He a done everything he a supposed to do and he a done it Well a she said. Here Are Hie first place winners detection Competition area a narcotic detection a sgt. James Matson 98th area support group. Wurzburg Germany. A explosive detection a sgt. Steven Castonguay 6th area support group Stuttgart Germany. A top detection Kennel a team of sgt. William Finch and set James Dalton. 100th area support group Gra pc Wohr Germany and 100th area support group a w grab org respectively. Patrol Competition area a obedience a spec. Jennifer Brien 191st Ord in Miessau army depot. A obstacles a Brien. A suspect search a Brien a criminal apprehension a staff sgt. Darrell Merrit 104th area support group Hanau Germany. A Best in patrol a Brien scores added for obedience obstacles suspect search and criminal apprehension. A top patrol Kennel a team of staff sgt. Tim Dawson and staff sgt. Lisa Jefferson 22nd area support group Vicenza Italy