Retirees can now shop on base

HEIDELBERG, Germany — U.S. military retirees can now shop at on-post thrift shops in Germany operated by community spouses clubs, customs officials with the U.S. Army Europe Office of the Provost Marshal have announced.

The new policy also allows widows and widowers of U.S. military members whose sponsors died on active duty or as retirees, 100 percent disabled U.S. veterans, certain unaccompanied dependents, and surviving minor children of U.S. military members to buy items at community thrift shops.

OPM officials stressed that the policy applies only to purchases, and does not authorize this new category of patrons to sell items on consignment through thrift shops.

“Military retirees will need the German Customs Certificate — also referred to as the ‘pink card’ — to buy items at a thrift shop,” said Bill Johnson, director of the USAREUR OPM’s Customs Executive Agency. They must also pay duties and taxes to German customs authorities, just as they do for purchases from
exchanges and commissaries. Thrift shop personnel will verify that shoppers have valid, unexpired pink cards and list purchases of items costing $250 or more each on the back of the pink card, OPM officials said.

For more information, visit the customs section of the USAREUR OPM Web site at www.hqusareur.army.mil/opm/custom4.htm.