10-3-2862 US purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 10-3-2862; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
WOVEN ELECTRIC BLANKETS

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than May 3, 2010
See page 4 of the Instruction Booklet for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its antidumping investigation concerning woven electric blankets (“WEBs”) from China (Inv. No. 731TA-1163 (Final)). The information requested in the questionnaire is requested under the authority of the Tariff Act of
1930, title VII. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel
the submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)). Further information on this
questionnaire can be obtained from Joshua Levy (202-205-3236, joshua.levy@usitc.gov).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased either WEBs or knit electric blankets (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any
source (domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2007?

NO

(Sign the certification below and promptly return only this page of the questionnaire to the Commission)

YES

(Read the instruction booklet carefully, complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire
questionnaire to the Commission so as to be received by the date indicated above)

CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge
and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission.
By submitting this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this investigation in any other import-injury investigations conducted
by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this investigation may be used by the
Commission, its employees, and contract personnel who are acting in the capacity of Commission employees, for developing or
maintaining the records of this investigation or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits
and investigations relating to the programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3. I understand that
all contract personnel will sign non-disclosure agreements.

Name of Authorized Official

Title of Authorized Official
Phone: (

Date

)

Signature

E-mail address
Fax (

)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - WEBs

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PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
The questions in this questionnaire have been reviewed with market participants to ensure that issues of
concern are adequately addressed and that data requests are sufficient, meaningful, and as limited as
possible. Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 25 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the questionnaire. Send comments regarding the accuracy of this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
I-1a.

OMB statistics.--Please report the actual number of hours required and the cost to your firm of
preparing the reply to this questionnaire and completing the form.
hours

dollars

I-1b.

OMB feedback.--We are interested in any comments you may have for improving this
questionnaire in general or the clarity of specific questions. Please attach such comments to your
response or send them to the above address.

I-2.

Establishments covered.--Provide the name and address of establishment(s) covered by this
questionnaire (see page 3 of the instruction booklet for reporting guidelines). If your firm is
publicly traded, please specify the stock exchange and trading symbol.

I-3.

Ownership.--Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?

I-4.

No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Extent of
ownership

Related Chinese importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic
or foreign, which are engaged in importing WEBs from China into the United States or which are
engaged in exporting WEBs from China to the United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-5.

Related nonsubject importers/exporters.--Does your firm have any related firms, either
domestic or foreign, which are engaged in importing WEBs from countries other than China into
the United States or which are engaged in exporting WEBs from countries other than China to the
United States?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name and country

I-6.

Address

Affiliation

Related producers.--Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which
are engaged in the production of WEBs?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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PART II.--PURCHASES
Contact information (Purchases).--Who should be contacted regarding the information requested in
parts II to IV?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number
II-1.

E-mail address

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of WEBs. Report based on delivery date, not order date.

Item
Purchases of WEBs produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value
Purchases of knit electric blankets produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
All other countries:1
Quantity
Value

2007

2008

2009

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of WEBs from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed since
January 1, 2007.
Source of purchases
The United States

Trend
Decreased

Explanation for trend

Increased
Constant
Fluctuated
China

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

All other countries

Decreased
Increased
Constant
Fluctuated

II-3.

Purchases from one country only.--If your firm has purchased WEBs from only one country,
please explain the reasons for doing so.

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PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please identify below the names and addresses of your firm’s FIVE
largest suppliers of WEBs since January 1, 2007. Please also provide the name and telephone
number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of WEBs
that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2009.
Supplier’s
name

No.
1

2

3

4

5

Street address (not P.O.
box), city, state, and zip
code

Contact person

Share of
Telephone number
2009
or e-mail address purchases
(%)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of WEBs (check all
that apply)?
Retailer
Distributor
Other (Describe:

III-2.

Competition for sales.--If you are a retailer or distributor of WEBs, do you compete for sales to
your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which you purchase WEBs?
No

III-3.

)

Yes--Please explain

Types of customers.--If your firm is a retailer or distributor of WEBs, what are the major types of
customers to which you sell WEBs?

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-4.

Substitutes.-(a) Can other products be substituted for WEBs?
No

Yes--Please complete (b).

(b) Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for WEBs. For each
possible substitute product, please give examples of applications and end uses for which they are
substitutes and indicate the degree to which changes in the price of the substitute products affect
the price of WEBs, and the length of any time lag for such price effects.

Substitute

Applications/end uses

Have changes in the prices of this
substitute affected the price for WEBs?

1.

No

Yes--Please explain.

2.

No

Yes--Please explain.

3.

No

Yes--Please explain.

4.

No

Yes--Please explain.

5.

No

Yes--Please explain.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-5.

Demand trends.-(a)

How has the demand within the United States for WEBs changed since January 1, 2007?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

What principal factors affect changes in demand?

(b)

How has the demand outside the United States (if known) for WEBs changed since
January 1, 2007?
Increased

Decreased

Fluctuated

No change

What principal factors affect changes in demand?

III-6.

Importance of purchasing domestic product.--Is buying a product that is produced in the
United States an important factor in your firm’s purchases of WEBs (check ALL that apply)?
No
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required by law or regulation (for example,
government purchases under “Buy American” provisions). This involves
percent of
all purchases of WEBs.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are required by
your customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of WEBs.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all purchases of WEBs.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-7

Conditions of competition.-(a)

Is the WEBs market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to
WEBs?
No

(b)

Has the emergence of new markets for WEBs since January 1, 2007 affected the business
cycles or conditions of competition distinctive to WEBs?
No

III-8.

Yes--Please explain and estimate the duration of any such cycle.

Yes--Please explain any such changes.

Decisions based on producer.—To what extent does your firm, and to the extent that you know,
do your customers make purchasing decisions involving WEBs based on the producer of the
WEBs?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss the factors your firm and/or your customers consider in
determining the preferred producer or producers.
Your firm:

Your customers:

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-9.

Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving WEBs based on the country of origin of the
WEBs you purchase?
Your firm:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Your customers:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, please discuss the factors your firm and/or your customers consider in
determining the preferred producer or producers.
Your firm:

Your customers:

III-10. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases?
Daily

Weekly

Other (specify)
(b)

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

)

Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since
January 1, 2007?
No
Yes—Please describe.

III-11. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms

III-12. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2007?
No

Yes--Please list the supplier or suppliers and indicate whether the firm was
added or dropped as a supplier. Also explain the reasons for each
change and indicate how frequently you change suppliers in general.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-13. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since January 1, 2007?
No

Yes --Please identify each new supplier and indicate when and how you
became aware of them.

III-14. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell WEBs to your
firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2009

Yes--all purchases

(b) Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process. Briefly
describe the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of product,
reliability of supplier, etc.)

(c) How long does it take to qualify a new supplier?

days.

III-15. Failure to certify.--Since January 1, 2007, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their
attempts to certify or qualify their WEBs with your firm or have any producers lost their
approved status?
No

Yes--Please identify these firms, the countries where they are located, and the
reasons why they failed the certification/qualification process.

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-16. Purchasing factors.—Please rate each factor listed below in terms of its importance to your firm
in choosing between competing suppliers of WEBs.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Branding..........................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Incentive programs..........................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements..............
Packaging .......................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Return rates ....................................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs.................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three most important
factors generally considered by your firm in deciding from whom to purchase WEBs for any one
order (examples include branding, extension of credit, incentive programs, prearranged contracts,
price, quality exceeding specifications or industry standards, range of supplier’s product line,
traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-18. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of WEBs (e.g., fabric blends and weaves (ppi); weight and size of WEBs; wiring, control
settings, and control displays; and return rates)?

III-19. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the WEBs that are
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-20. Price leaders.--Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the WEBs
market since January 1, 2007. A price leader is defined as (1) one or more firms that initiate a
price change, either upward or downward, that is followed by other firms, or (2) one or more
firms that have a significant impact on prices. A price leader does not necessarily have to be the
lowest priced supplier. For those firms identified as a price leader, please specify the time period
in which a price change was communicated, whether the price change was upward or downward,
and whether it covered a specific geographic region or a specific product type. Please also
describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

Country knowledge.--Please indicate the countries of origin for WEBs for which your firm has
actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Other countries (Please specify

IV-2.

)

Interchangeability by country-pair.--Are WEBs produced in the United States and in other
countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)? Please
indicate below, using “A” to indicate that the products from a specified country-pair are always
interchangeable, “F” to indicate that the products are frequently interchangeable, “S” to indicate
that the products are sometimes interchangeable, “N” to indicate that the products are never
interchangeable, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

United States

China

Other countries

United States

China
1
For any country-pair producing WEBs which are sometimes or never interchangeable, please explain
the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-3.

Non-price differences--Are differences other than price (i.e., availability, branding, product
range, quality, return rates, technical support, transportation network, etc.) between WEBs
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s purchases
of the products? Please indicate below, using “A” to indicate that such differences are always
significant, “F” to indicate that such differences are frequently significant, “S” to indicate that
such differences are sometimes significant, “N” to indicate that such differences are never
significant, and “0” to indicate no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

United States

China

Other countries

United States

China
1

For any country-pair for which factors other than price always or frequently are a significant factor in
your firm’s purchases of WEBs, identify the country-pair and report the advantages or disadvantages
imparted by such factors:

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-3.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically purchase WEBs from one
country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-4.

Availability of merchandise.--Are certain grades/types/sizes of WEBs available from only a
single source (domestic or foreign, including both subject and nonsubject countries)?
No

IV-5.

Yes--Please identify all relevant countries (including the United States and
both subject and nonsubject foreign countries) from which you or your
customers prefer to order, and indicate why WEBs from these
countries are preferred over WEBs from other countries (please note
the specific product or products in your response).

Yes--Please identify the source and the grade/type/size.

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased WEBs from one source although a
comparable product was available from another source at a lower price, please explain your
reasons for doing so (please specify by country, including the United States and both subject and
nonsubject foreign countries). Possibilities might include branding, control and display
electronics, incentive programs, weave and blend of blanket shell, product range, return rates, etc.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how WEBs produced in
each country you identified in your response to question IV-1 compare with WEBs produced in
each of the other countries you identified (including the United States and both subject and
nonsubject foreign countries).

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

compared to
product from

Inferior

compared to
product from

Comparable

compared to
product from

Superior

product from

Inferior

product from

Comparable

Quality

product from

Superior

IV-6.

Availability ...............................................
Branding..................................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Incentive programs..................................
Price1 .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Return rates ............................................
Technical support/service .......................
U.S. transportation costs1 .......................
Other (specify):

1

A rating of superior on price and U.S. transportation costs indicates that the first country generally has
lower prices/U.S. transportation costs than the second country.

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-7.

Minimum quality.-(a)

How often do domestically produced WEBs meet your firm’s minimum quality
specifications?
Always

(b)

Usually

Rarely or never

How often do subject imported WEBs meet your firm’s minimum quality specifications?
Always

(c)

Sometimes

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or never

How often do imported nonsubject WEBs (i.e., WEBs from countries other than China)
meet your firm’s minimum quality specifications?
Source

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never