Final USITC Report on Chinese Quartz Imports June 2019 | Page 51

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availability of design, delivery times, exclusivity arrangement with one supplier, preference for 
domestic product, and buying “from the best supplier.” 38   
Table II-5
Quartz surface products: Purchasing decisions based on producer and country of origin
Purchaser/customer decision
Always Usually Sometimes
Purchaser makes decision based on producer
5
7
12
Purchaser’s customers make decision based on producer
1
2
18
Purchaser makes decision based on country
3
5
8
Purchaser’s customers make decision based on country
1
---
14
Source: Compiled from data submitted in response to Commission questionnaires.
Never
21
22
28
25
Factors affecting purchasing decisions  
The most often cited top three factors firms consider in their purchasing decisions for 
quartz surface products were quality (34 firms), price (28 firms), and availability (24 firms), as 
shown in table II‐6. Quality was the most frequently cited first‐most important factor (cited by 
19 firms), followed by availability (7 firms); price was the most frequently reported second‐
most important factor (14 firms); and availability was the most frequently reported third‐most 
important factor (13 firms).  
Table II-6
Quartz surface products: Ranking of factors used in purchasing decisions as reported by U.S.
purchasers, by factor
1st
2nd
3rd
Total
Item
Number of firms
Quality
19
8
7
34
Price / Cost
6
14
8
28
Availability / Supply
7
5
13
24
Range of product line
3
7
2
12
Color / Design
3
4
4
11
Builder or customer specification
4
---
---
4
Other factors 1
4
4
8
NA
1
Other factors include customer service, credit options and warranties.
Source: Compiled from data submitted in response to Commission questionnaires.
38
 Purchaser *** reported that it usually makes purchasing decisions based on the producer but not 
on the country of origin. It stated that it has long‐term agreements with certain manufacturers.  
II‐21