09-3-2754 U.S. purchaser questionnaire

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 09-3-2754; Expiration Date: 6/30/2011
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. PURCHASERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
CERTAIN KITCHEN APPLIANCE SHELVING AND RACKS FROM CHINA

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than May 15, 2009
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 duty and antidumping investigations concerning certain kitchen appliance shelving and
racks from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-458 and 731-TA-1154 (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 Clark Workman (202-205-3248).

Name of firm
Address
City

State

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm purchased certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks (as defined in the instruction booklet) from
any source at any time since January 1, 2006?

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

Date

Signature

Phone: (
Fax ( )

E-mail address

)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks (Final)

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.

Please report below 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.

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.

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.

Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No

Firm name

Yes--List the following information

Address

Extent of
ownership

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks (Final)

Page 3

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-4.

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in
importing certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks from China into the United States or
which are engaged in exporting certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks from China to the
United States?
No
Firm name

I-5.

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks?
No
Firm name

Yes--List the following information
Address

Affiliation

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks (Final)

Page 4

PART II.--PURCHASES
II-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested purchase information?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

II-2.

E-mail address

Report, as indicated below, your firm’s purchases (either directly or through a sales agent or
broker) of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks. Report based on delivery date, not order
date.
(Quantity in thousands of units, value in $1,000)

Item
Certain refrigeration shelving
Purchases of product produced in
the United States:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in
China:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in all
other countries:1
Quantity
Value
Certain oven racks
Purchases of product produced in
the United States:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in
China:
Quantity
Value
Purchases of product produced in all
other countries:2
Quantity
Value
1
Please identify these countries:
2

Please identify these countries:

2006

2007

2008

Jan.-Mar.
2009

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks (Final)

Page 5

PART II.--PURCHASES--Continued
If your answers differ for certain refrigeration shelving and certain oven racks, please indicate so in
your response.
II-3.

If the relative shares of your firm’s total purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
from different sources (both domestic and foreign) have changed in the last three years, please list
the country, state whether the relative share from that country has increased or decreased, and
state the reason.
Country

II-4.

Increase/decrease

Reason

If your firm has purchased certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks from only one country,
please explain the reasons for doing so.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks (Final)

Page 6

PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES
If your answers differ for certain refrigeration shelving and certain oven racks, please indicate so in
your response.
III-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested information on market characteristics and
purchasing practices?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

III-2.

III-3.

E-mail address

Which of the following best describes your firm as a purchaser of certain kitchen appliance
shelving and racks (check all that apply, noting the specific end uses if known)?
OEM manufacturer of kitchen appliances (

)

Other end user (

)

Distributor (

)

Other (

)

(a) If your firm is a distributor or reseller of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks, what
are the major types of consumers to which you sell certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks?

(b) Do you compete for sales to your customers with the manufacturers or importers from which
you purchase certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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

If your firm is an end user of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks, list in order of quantity
of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks consumed, the top 3 products for which your firm
purchases certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks as a component part or input. Please
indicate what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by certain kitchen appliance shelving
and racks.
Product you produce

III-5.

Percent of cost accounted for by certain
kitchen appliance shelving and racks

(a) If your firm is an end user of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks, has the demand for
your firm’s final products incorporating certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks changed
since January 1, 2006?
Increased

No change

Decreased

(b) Has this had any effect on your firm’s demand for certain kitchen appliance shelving and
racks?

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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

(a)

Can other products be substituted for certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks?
No

Yes--Please list these substitute products in order of importance.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b)

For each possible substitute product, please give examples of applications and end uses
for which they are substitutes.

(c)

Have changes in the prices of these products affected the price for certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks?
No

Yes--To what degree do changes in their prices affect the price for
certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks? Does this effect have a
time lag? If so, how long is the time lag for each substitute product?
Does this vary by type of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks or
final end use?

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

Are you aware whether the certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks you are purchasing is
U.S.-produced or imported?
Always

III-8.

Sometimes

Never

Do you know the manufacturer of the certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks that you
purchase?
Always

III-9.

Usually

Usually

Sometimes

Never

To your knowledge, are your buyers aware of and/or interested in the country of origin of the
goods you supply them?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-10. Have you made significant changes in your purchasing patterns (e.g., frequency) in the last three
years?
No

Yes-- Please describe.

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

III-12. Have you changed suppliers since January 1, 2006?
No

Yes--Please list the suppliers, indicate whether each firm was added or
dropped as a supplier, and give the reasons for the change.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-13. Are you aware of any new suppliers, either foreign or domestic, that have entered the market in
the last 3 years?
No

Yes--Please identify the firms.

III-14. Do you require your suppliers to become certified or prequalified with respect to the quality,
chemistry, strength, or other performance characteristic of the certain kitchen appliance shelving
and racks they sell to your firm?
No

Yes--

percent of purchases in 2008

Yes--All purchases

Please provide a general description of the certification or qualification process and the time
required.

III-15. Briefly describe the factors that you consider when qualifying a new supplier (e.g., quality of
product, reliability of supplier, etc.) and estimate the time it takes to certify or qualify a new
supplier.

III-16. Since January 1, 2006, have any domestic or foreign producers failed in their attempts to certify
or qualify their certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks 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 - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. (a)

For the factors listed below, please rate each in terms of its importance in your purchase
decision for certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks.
VERY
IMPORTANT

Availability .....................................
Delivery terms.................................
Delivery time ..................................
Discounts offered ............................
Extension of credit ..........................
Finance terms..................................
Price ................................................
Minimum qty requirements.............
Packaging........................................
Product consistency ........................
Quality meets industry standards ....
Quality exceeds industry standards.
Product range ..................................
Reliability of supply........................
Technical support/service ...............
Tooling costs...................................
U.S. transportation costs .................
Other (specify):
........
........
........

SOMEWHAT
IMPORTANT

NOT
IMPORTANT

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-17. (b)

Please list, in order of their importance, the three major factors generally considered by
your firm in deciding from whom to purchase certain kitchen appliance shelving and
racks for any one order (examples include current availability, extension of credit,
prearranged contracts, price, quality exceeding specifications or industry standards, range
of supplier’s product line, traditional supplier, etc.).
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Other factors or comments:

III-18. What characteristics does your firm consider when determining the quality of certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks?

III-19. How often does your firm purchase the certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks that is
offered at the lowest price?
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

III-20. Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the certain kitchen appliance
shelving and racks market during January 2006-March 2009. 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.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
III-21. Please describe how the above firm(s) exhibited price leadership.

III-22. Does your firm purchase certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks over the internet?
No

III-23. (a)

Yes-- Please describe, noting the estimated percentage of your firm’s total
purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks in 2008
accounted for by internet purchases.

How do tooling costs, including any discounts, for your purchases of certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks imported from China compare to tooling costs for certain
kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the United States?
Certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks imported from China generally has
lower tooling costs than certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the
United States-percent lower in 2006,
percent lower in 2007,
percent lower in 2008.
Certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the United States generally
has lower tooling costs than certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks imported
from China-percent lower in 2006,
percent lower in 2007,
percent lower in 2008.
Tooling costs are generally the same for certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
produced in the United States and certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
imported from China
Other (please explain below)

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART III.--MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND PURCHASING PRACTICES--Continued
(b)

Please estimate the average cost of tooling as a percentage of the delivered price for your
purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks (leave blank if you made no
purchases from a particular source):
Certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the United States-percent since 2006
Certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the China-2006

III-24.

percent since

How do credit terms for your purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
imported from China compare to credit terms for certain kitchen appliance shelving and
racks produced in the United States?
Credit terms for purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks imported
from China are generally better than credit terms for purchases of certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks produced in the United States.
Credit terms for purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in
the United States are generally better than credit term for purchases of certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks imported from China.
Credit terms are generally the same for certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
produced in the United States and certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
imported from China
Other (please explain below)
If credit terms differ between countries, describe the different credit terms generally
offered for purchases of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in the
United States and certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks imported from China. In
particular, report whether you are provided lower interest rates or extended periods of
time for repayment from different sources.

.

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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

III-25. COMPARABILITY OF COMMERCIAL KITCHEN APPLIANCE SHELVING &
RACKS AND THE SUBJECT PRODUCT.–Since January 1, 2006, has your firm purchased
certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks for COMMERCIAL appliances?
No
Yes--Please describe the differences and similarities between certain kitchen appliance
shelving and racks for COMMERCIAL appliances and certain kitchen appliance shelving
and racks (the subject product for residential appliances) 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 two 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. Use additional pages as necessary.
(a) Characteristics and uses:

(b) Interchangeability:

(c) Manufacturing processes:

(d) Channels of distribution:

(e) Customer and producer perceptions:

(f) Price:

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS
If your answers differ for certain refrigeration shelving and certain oven racks, please indicate so in
your response.
IV-1.

Who should be contacted regarding the requested information on product comparisons?
Company contact:
Name and title
(
)
Phone number

IV-2.

E-mail address

Please indicate the countries of origin for certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks for which
your firm has actual marketing/pricing knowledge.
United States
China
Other countries (Please specify:

)

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

Are certain refrigeration racks and certain oven racks (please answer separately) 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
Certain refrigeration shelving
Country-pair

United States

China

Other countries

United States
China
1

For any country-pair producing refrigeration racks which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

Certain oven racks
Country-pair

United States

China

Other countries

United States
China
1

For any country-pair producing certain oven racks which is sometimes or never interchangeable,
please explain the factors that limit or preclude interchangeable use:

IV-4.

Do you or your customers ever specifically order certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
from one country in particular over other possible sources of supply?

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
No

IV-5.

Are certain grades/types/sizes of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks 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 certain kitchen appliance
shelving and racks 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.

If you purchased certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks 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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Page 19

PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
For the factors listed below, please rate how certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks
produced in each country you identified in your response to the first question in Part IV compares
with certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks produced in each of the other countries you
identified (including the United States and both subject and nonsubject foreign countries). Please
type an “X” for each quality in each product comparison indicating whether the product from the
first source is superior, comparable, or inferior compared with the product from the second
source.

Availability ...............................................
Delivery terms .........................................
Delivery time ...........................................
Discounts offered ....................................
Extension of credit...................................
Lower price..............................................
Finance terms .........................................
Minimum quantity requirements..............
Packaging................................................
Product consistency ................................
Quality meets industry standards............
Quality exceeds industry standards ........
Product range..........................................
Reliability of supply .................................
Technical support/service .......................
Tooling costs ...........................................
Lower U.S. transportation costs..............
Other (specify):

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-7.

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PART IV.--PRODUCT COMPARISONS--Continued
IV-8.

(a)

How often does domestically produced certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
Always

(b)

Usually

Sometimes

Never

How often does imported subject certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
China
Always

Usually

Other country (Please specify:
Always

Always
(c)

Usually

Never

Sometimes

Never

Sometimes

Never

)

Usually

Other country (Please specify:

Sometimes

)

How often does imported nonsubject certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks meet
minimum quality specifications for your uses or your customers’ uses?
From:
Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

Usually

Sometimes

Never

From:
Always
From:
Always
From:
Always

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U.S. Purchasers’ Questionnaire - Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving & Racks (F)

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PART V.—SUPPLIER IDENTIFICATION
V-1.

No.

Please provide the names and addresses of your firm’s five largest suppliers of certain kitchen
appliance shelving and racks purchased during 2006-08. 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 certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks that each of these suppliers accounted for in 2008.
Refrigeration shelving
supplier’s name

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

Oven rack supplier’s
name

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

Contact person

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2008
purchases
(%)

Contact person

Area
code and
telephone
number

Share of
2008
purchases
(%)

1

2

3

4

5

No.

1

2

3

4

5