Rising costs, Katrina fuel rush on gas coupon sales in Europe (AAFES)

[lebkuchen]

Servicemembers rush to lock in lower price before anticipated spike


In three years as manager of the Shoppette in Mainz-Kastel, Germany, Clarence Oates can’t recall having a day like Wednesday, when demand for gas coupons far exceeded anything he had ever seen.

“Usually I sell, in one month, between $13,000 and $15,000 in gas coupons,” Oates said Friday, “but I sold $13,000 just on that one day.”

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Sharp increases were reported elsewhere.

The Ramstein North Side Shoppette, for example, sold $3,500 worth of coupons on July 31. On Wednesday, that same store took in $30,000.

Across town, at the Vogelweh exchange, the increase was equally dramatic, from $11,000 to just under $50,000. And at the Mannheim main exchange, sales increased from $11,607 to $39,939.

“It’s obvious something is going on,” Byerly said.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?article=31357§ion=104

[Retired AF Dem]

1. Ramstein, Vogelweh

Stationed there for ten years. I miss that place. That was one good thing about buying the rationed gas coupons if gas prices went up it didnt matter. In Germany American forces can buy up to 400 liters of gas per vehicle per month tax free. How it works is you can buy books of 25, 50, 75 or 100 liters and than use them off base at Esso gas stations.

[lebkuchen]

2. yes

I bought 800 liters the other day at the BX. AAFES says that their prices aren't dependent on availability of gas in the US since they buy their gas in Europe. However, the price of coupon books has jumped in just the last month before the hurricane. Katrina isn't going to be forcing those prices down.

[JABBS]

3. What Bush should do

Read this posting.