13-3-3087 Purchaser Questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 13-3-3887; Expiration Date: 6/30/2014
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than December 31, 2012
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 countervailing and antidumping duty investigations concerning drawn stainless steel sinks from China
(Investigation Nos. 701-TA-489 and 731-TA-1201 (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 James Fetzer (202-708-5403, james.fetzer@usitc.gov).

Name of firm

_________________________________________________________________

Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased drawn stainless steel sinks (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any source
(domestic or foreign) at any time since January 1, 2009?

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 proceeding in any other import-injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I acknowledge that information submitted in this questionnaire response and throughout this proceeding 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 proceeding or related proceedings for which this information is submitted, or in internal audits and
proceedings 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

Date

Phone:
Signature

Email address
Fax

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire – Drawn stainless steel sinks

Page 2

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

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

Page 3

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 drawn stainless steel sinks from countries
other than China into the United States or which are engaged in exporting drawn stainless steel
sinks 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 drawn stainless steel sinks?
No

Yes--List the following information.

Firm name

Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

Page 4

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
Contact information.-- Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which Commission
staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted in this questionnaire.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Fax

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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

Purchases.--Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales
agent or broker) of drawn stainless steel sinks. Report based on delivery date, not order date.
Quantity (in units) and value (in $1,000)
Item

Purchases of all drawn stainless steel sinks
produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
1

All other countries:
Quantity
Value

Purchases of drawn top mount/drop-in
stainless steel sinks produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
1

All other countries:
Quantity
Value

Purchases of drawn undermount stainless
steel sinks produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
1

All other countries:
Quantity
Value

Purchases of drawn dualmount stainless
steel sinks produced in-The United States:
Quantity
Value
China:
Quantity
Value
1

All other countries:
Quantity
Value
1

Please identify these countries:

2009

2010

2011

Jan.-Sept. 2012

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
II-2.

Changes in purchasing patterns.—Please indicate how the relative levels of your firm’s
purchases of drawn stainless steel sinks from different sources have changed in the last three
years.

Source of Did not
purchases purchase Decreased Increased Constant Fluctuated

Explanation for trend

United
States

China

Mexico

All other
countries

II-3.

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

II-4.

Supplier identification.--Please list your firm’s FIVE largest suppliers for drawn stainless steel
sinks since 2009. Also, provide the share of the quantity of your firm’s total purchases of drawn
stainless steel sinks that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2011.

No.

Supplier’s name

City and state

Share of quantity of
2011 purchases

1

%

2

%

3

%

4

%

5

%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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

III-1.

Firm type.--Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of drawn stainless
steel sinks (check all that apply)?
Mass merchandise retailer (“big box”)
Fabricator
Wholesale distributor
Other (Describe:

III-2.

Competition for sales.--If you are a distributor or reseller of drawn stainless steel sinks, do you
compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which you
purchase drawn stainless steel sinks?
No

III-3.

)

Yes--Please describe.

Types of customers.--If your firm is a distributor or reseller of drawn stainless steel sinks, what
are the major types of customers to which you sell drawn stainless steel sinks?

III-4a. End uses.--If your firm is an end user of drawn stainless steel sinks, list in order of quantity of
drawn stainless steel sinks consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm purchases drawn
stainless steel sinks as a component part or input. Please indicate what percentage of the total cost
is accounted for by drawn stainless steel sinks and other inputs.
Share of total cost in each of the product(s)
you produce accounted for by
Product(s) you
produce

Drawn stainless
steel sinks (percent)

Other inputs (percent)

Total

%

%

100%

%

%

100%

%

%

100%

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-4b. Sales of kitchen countertops with stainless steel sinks.-Do you sell kitchen countertops and
stainless steel sinks? (Check ALL that apply)
No
Yes—installed by independent countertop fabricators that purchased these goods from
us. This involved
percent of all U.S. purchases of drawn stainless steel
sinks in 2011.
Yes—arranged for their installation at the premises of our customers using
subcontractors. This involved
percent of all U.S. purchases of
drawn stainless steel sinks in 2011.
Yes—arranged for their installation at the premises of our customers using our
own employees. This involved
percent of all U.S. purchases of
drawn stainless steel sinks in 2011.
Yes—other. This involved
percent of all U.S. purchases of
drawn stainless steel sinks in 2011. Please explain below.

III-4c. Competition with mass merchandise retailers.—Do you compete with mass merchandise
retailers (“big box retailers”) for sales of kitchen countertops and drawn stainless steel sinks?

No

Yes--Please explain.

III-5. Demand for end use products.-(a)

If your firm is an end user of drawn stainless steel sinks, has the demand for your firm’s
final products incorporating drawn stainless steel sinks changed since 2009?
Increased

(b)

No change

Decreased

Fluctuated

Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for drawn stainless steel sinks?
No

Yes--Please describe.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-6.

Substitutes.--Can other products be substituted for drawn stainless steel sinks?
No

Substitute

Yes--Please fill out the table below.

End use in which this
substitute is used

Have changes in the prices of this substitute
affected the price for drawn stainless steel
sinks?
No Yes

Explanation

1.
2.
3.

III-7. Demand trends.-- Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United States
(if known) for drawn stainless steel sinks has changed since January 1, 2009. Describe the principal
factors that have affected these changes in demand.

Market

No
Increase change Decrease Fluctuate

Factors

Within
the United
States
Outside
the United
States

III-8.

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 drawn stainless steel sinks (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 drawn stainless steel sinks.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are not required by law or regulation, but are by your
customers. This involves
percent of all purchases of drawn stainless steel sinks.
Yes--Purchases of domestic product are required for other reasons (please specify these
reasons below). This involves
percent of all purchases of drawn stainless steel
sinks.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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

Conditions of competition.-a) Is the drawn stainless steel sinks market subject to business cycles or conditions of competition
(including seasonal business) distinctive to drawn stainless steel sinks?
No (skip to question III-10.)

Yes-- Please describe and then answer part (b).

(b) If yes, have there been any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
drawn stainless steel sinks since January 1, 2009?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

III-10. Decisions based on producer.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do your
customers make purchasing decisions involving drawn stainless steel sinks based on the producer
of the drawn stainless steel sinks you purchase?

Always

Your firm
Your
customers

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the producer and why
this information is important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-11. Decisions based on country-of-origin.--Does your firm, and to the extent that you know, do
your customers make purchasing decisions involving drawn stainless steel sinks based on the
country of origin of the drawn stainless steel sinks you purchase?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

If at least sometimes, discuss
how your firm/customers
determine the source and why
this information is important

Your firm
Your
customers

III-12. Purchasing frequency.-(a)

How frequently do you make purchases (check one)?
Daily

(b)

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Other

If other, specify

Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) since
2009?
No
Yes—Please describe.

III-13. Number of suppliers contacted.--How many suppliers do you generally contact before making a
purchase?
firms

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-14. Supplier negotiations.-(a)

Do purchases of drawn stainless steel sinks usually involve negotiations between supplier
and purchaser?
No

(b)

Yes--Please describe these negotiations, noting whether purchasers
generally quote competing prices as part of the negotiation
process.

Does your firm tend to vary its purchases from a given supplier within a specified time
period based on the price offered for that period?
No

Yes--Specify the time period.

III-15. Change in suppliers.--Have you changed suppliers since 2009?
No

Yes--Please list the supplier(s), whether the firm was added or dropped, the
reasons for the change, and how frequently you change suppliers.

III-16. New suppliers.--Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have
entered the market since 2009?
No

Yes --Please identify the firms and indicate how you became aware of them.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. Supplier qualification
(a) Do you require your suppliers to be or to become certified or qualified to sell drawn stainless
steel sinks to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2011

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-18. Failure to certify.--Since 2009, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to
certify or qualify their drawn stainless steel sinks 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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-19. Purchasing factors.--For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in
your purchase decision for drawn stainless steel sinks.
Very
important
Availability .......................................
Delivery terms .................................
Delivery time ...................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit...........................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements ..............
Packaging .......................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards ....
Quality exceeds industry standards
Product range..................................
Reliability of supply .........................
Technical support/service ...............
U.S. transportation costs .................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

Somewhat
important

Not
important

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-20. Major purchasing factors.--Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors
generally considered by your firm in deciding from whom to purchase PRODUCT for any one
order (examples include availability, extension of credit, contracts, price, quality, range of
supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
1.
2.
3.
Other factors or comments:

III-21. Quality characteristics.--What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the
quality of drawn stainless steel sinks?

III-22. Frequency of decisions based on price.--How often does your firm purchase the drawn stainless
steel sinks that is offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-23. Price leaders.— 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 is not necessarily the lowest priced supplier.
Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the drawn stainless steel sinks
market since 2009. Describe how the firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS

IV-1.

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

)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-2. Interchangeability.--Are drawn stainless steel sinks produced in the United States and in other
countries interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable
F = the products are frequently interchangeable
S = the products are sometimes interchangeable
N = the products are never interchangeable
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China
All drawn stainless steel sinks

Mexico

Other

United States
China
Mexico
Drawn top mount/drop-in stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico
Drawn undermount stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico
Drawn dual mount stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico

For any country-pair producing drawn stainless steel sinks that is sometimes or never interchangeable, please
explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-3. Factors other than price.--Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between drawn stainless steel sinks
produced in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the
products?
Please indicate A, F, S, N, or 0 in the table below:
A = such differences are always significant
F = such differences are frequently significant
S = such differences are sometimes significant
N = such differences are never significant
0 = no familiarity with products from a specified country-pair
Country-pair

China
All drawn stainless steel sinks

Mexico

Other

United States
China
Mexico
Drawn top mount/drop-in stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico
Drawn undermount stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico
Drawn dual mount stainless steel sinks
United States
China
Mexico

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

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-4.

Country preferences.--Do you or your customers ever specifically order drawn stainless steel
sinks from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?
No

IV-5.

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

IV-6.

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 drawn stainless steel sinks
from these countries is preferred over product from other countries
(please note the specific product in your response).

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

Choice of product not based on price.--If you purchased drawn stainless steel sinks 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 transaction characteristics
such as length of time to fill orders, minimum order size, reliability of supply, etc.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

Page 20

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-7. Factor country comparisons.--For the factors listed below, please rate how drawn stainless steel
sinks produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares
with drawn stainless steel sinks produced in each of the other countries you identified (including the
United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries).

Inferior

Comparable

product from
China
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Mexico

Superior

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
China

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
1

Price .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards ............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range ..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
1

U.S. transportation costs .......................
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
Continued.

Inferior

Comparable

product from
Mexico
compared to
product from
Other

Superior

Inferior

product from
China
compared to
product from
Other
Comparable

Inferior

Comparable

Superior

product from
United States
compared to
product from
Other

Superior

IV-7.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
1

Price .......................................................
Minimum quantity requirements ..............
Packaging ...............................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards ............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range ..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
1

U.S. transportation costs .......................
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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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

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PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued

IV-8.

Minimum quality.--How often does drawn stainless steel sinks from the following countries
meet minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Source
United States
China
Mexico
Other:
Other:

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely or
never

Don’t
know

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Drawn stainless steel sinks

Page 23

PART IV.—PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-9.

COMPARABILITY OF TOP MOUNT/DROP-IN, UNDERMOUNT, AND
DUAL MOUNT DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS.–Since January 1, 2009, has your firm
purchased drawn stainless steel sinks?

No
Yes
top mount/drop-in ;

undermount;

dual mount.

-- If yes, please describe the differences and similarities between top mount/drop-in, undermount,
and dual mount and all other types of drawn stainless steel sinks with respect to the following
factors: (a) characteristics and uses--describe the differences and similarities in the physical
characteristics and end uses; (b) interchangeability--discuss the interchangeability in end use of the
three products; (c) manufacturing processes--describe the two processes and include a discussion of the
interchangeability of production inputs, machinery and equipment, and skilled labor; (d) channels of
distribution--describe the specific end use/customer requirements and channels of distribution/market
situation in which the products are sold; (e) customer and producer perceptions--describe any
perceived differences in the two products (e.g., sales/marketing practices); and (f) price--provide a
discussion and specific examples of prices for the two products.
(a) Characteristics and uses:

(b) Interchangeability:

(c) Manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution:

(e) Customer and producer perceptions:

(f) Price: