08-2-2688 US Importer questionnaire (final)

OMB No. 3117-0016/USITC No. 08-2-2688; Expiration Date: 6/30/11
(No response is required if currently valid OMB control number is not displayed)

U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
UNCOVERED INNERSPRING UNITS FROM CHINA, SOUTH AFRICA, AND VIETNAM

This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by no later than SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
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 investigations concerning uncovered innerspring units (innersprings) from China,
South Africa, and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1140-1142 (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)).

Name of firm
Address
State

City

Zip Code

World Wide Web address
Has your firm imported innersprings (as defined in the instruction booklet) from any country at any time since
January 1, 2005?

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 means of 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 these investigations 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 these investigations 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 these investigations 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. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

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 30 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. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

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 innersprings from China, South Africa, and/or Vietnam into the United States or which
are engaged in exporting innersprings from China, South Africa, and/or Vietnam to the United
States?
No

Yes--List the following information

Firm name

I-5.

I-7.

Affiliation

Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, which are engaged in the
production of innersprings?
Firm name

I-6.

Address

Address

Affiliation

Please indicate the nature of your firm’s importing operations on innersprings. More than one
answer may be applicable.
Importer of record

Takes title to the imported product(s)

Consignee of the imported products(s)

Customs broker or freight forwarder.

If your firm is an importer of record of innersprings but is not the consignee, please list the
consignees below (firm name, address, telephone number, and individual to contact).

Firm name

Address

Contact person and phone
number

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 4

PART I.--GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
I-8.

I-9.

Please indicate whether your firm enters innersprings into, or withdraws such merchandise from,
foreign trade zones or bonded warehouses.
Foreign trade zones

No

Yes

Bonded warehouses

No

Yes

Please indicate whether your firm imports innersprings under the TIB (temporary importation
under bond) program.
No

I-10.

Yes

To your knowledge, have the products subject to these investigations been the subject of any
other import relief investigations in the United States or in any other countries?
No

Yes–Please specify.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 5

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jennifer Merrill (202-2053188 or [email protected] ). Supply all data requested on a calendar-year basis.
II-1.

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

II-2.

Has your firm experienced any plant openings, relocations, expansions, acquisitions,
consolidations, closures, or prolonged shutdowns because of strikes or equipment failure; or any
other change in the character of your operations or organization relating to the importation of
innersprings since January 1, 2005?
No

II-3.

Yes--Supply details as to the time, nature, and significance of such changes.

Has your firm imported or arranged for the importation of innersprings from China, South Africa
and/or Vietnam for delivery after June 30, 2008?
No

II-4.

E-mail address

Yes–Indicate when such orders are to be delivered and the quantities
involved.

If your firm also produces innersprings in the United States, please indicate your reasons for
importing this product. If your reasons differ by source, please elaborate.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 6

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-5.

If your firm is the importer of record, please indicate which of the following HTS statistical
reporting numbers your firm used at the time of entry to classify innersprings since January 1,
2005.

9404.29.9010

9404.10.0000

7320.20.5010

7320.90.5010

7326.20.0070

Other:

II-6.

Has your firm changed the HTS statistical reporting number used to classify innersprings since
January 1, 2005?
No

II-7.

Has your firm performed any further processing or assembly of innersprings after importation
since January 1, 2005?
No

II-8

Yes– Please identify the HTS number(s) used before the change, the
subsequent number used, and the approximate date on which the
change was made.

Yes–Please describe the post importation operations performed by your firm.

Has your firm imported mattress boxsprings/foundations from China, South Africa, and/or
Vietnam since January 1, 2005?
No

Yes–Please indicate the source(s) such imports.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 7

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-9

Has your firm imported individual innerspring coils from China, South Africa, and/or Vietnam
since January 1, 2005?
No

Yes–Please indicate the source(s) such imports.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 8

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-9.

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of innersprings imported from CHINA by your firm during the
specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

CHINA
Please indicate applicable HTS statistical reporting numbers used for these data:
9404.29.9010

9404.10.0000

7320.20.5010

7320.90.5010

7326.20.0070

Other:

Quantity (in 1,000 units), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 9

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-10.

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of innersprings imported from SOUTH AFRICA by your firm during
the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

SOUTH AFRICA
Please indicate applicable HTS statistical reporting numbers used for these data:
9404.29.9010

9404.10.0000

7320.20.5010

7320.90.5010

7326.20.0070

Other:
Quantity (in 1,000 units), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 10

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-11.

IMPORTS FROM SUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of innersprings imported from VIETNAM by your firm during the
specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction booklet.)

VIETNAM
Please indicate applicable HTS statistical reporting numbers used for these data:
9404.29.9010

9404.10.0000

7320.20.5010

7320.90.5010

7326.20.0070

Other:
Quantity (in 1,000 units), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the foreign producers, if known:

2

Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:
3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire - Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 11

PART II.--TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
II-12.

IMPORTS FROM NONSUBJECT SOURCES.–Report your firm’s imports and your firm’s
shipments and inventories of innersprings imported from ALL OTHER SOURCES
COMBINED by your firm during the specified periods. (See definitions in the instruction
booklet.)

ALL OTHER SOURCES COMBINED
(SOURCES OTHER THAN CHINA, SOUTH AFRICA, AND VIETNAM)
Please indicate applicable HTS statistical reporting numbers used for these data:
9404.29.9010

9404.10.0000

7320.20.5010

7320.90.5010

7326.20.0070

Other:
Quantity (in 1,000 units), value (in $1,000)
Calendar years
Item

2005

2006

January-June
2007

2007

2008

Beginning-of-period inventories (quantity)
Imports:1
Quantity of imports
Value of imports
U.S. shipments:
Commercial shipments:
Quantity of commercial shipments
Value of commercial shipments
Internal consumption/company transfers:
Quantity of internal consumption/transfers
Value2 of internal consumption/transfers
Export shipments:3
Quantity of export shipments
Value of export shipments
End-of-period inventories4 (quantity)
Channels of distribution:
U.S. shipments to distributors (quantity)
U.S. shipments to end users (quantity)
1

Please identify the sources and foreign producers, if known:

2
Sales to related firms (including internal consumption) must be valued at fair market value. In the event that you use a
different basis for valuing these sales within your company, please specify that basis (e.g., cost, cost plus, etc.) and provide
value data using that basis for 2005, 2006, and 2007 below:

3

Identify your principal export markets:
Reconciliation of data.--Please note that the quantities reported above should reconcile as follows: beginning-of-period
inventories, plus imports, less total shipments, equals end-of-period inventories. Do the data reported reconcile?
4

Yes

No--Please explain:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 12

PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Kelly Clark, Economist (202205-3166 or [email protected])
III-1.

Identify the individual who prepared or has knowledge of the requested financial information.
Company contact:
Name and title
Ext.:
Phone No.

Email address

Section III-A.--PRICE DATA
If your firm imported innersprings and used all of the imports internally (did not resell any of the
imports), please skip to question III-B-10 on page 22.
Otherwise, this section requests quarterly price and quantity data concerning your firm’s shipments of the
following innersprings products that were imported from any country and sold to unrelated U.S.
customers during January 2005 to June 2008 (please note that these products have changed since the
preliminary phase of these investigations):
Product 1:

Twin size: 206 to 226 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 5.0” to 5.5”
height, unit dimensions of 36.5”x 73”

Product 2:

Twin size: 230 to 250 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 6.75” to 7.25”
height, unit dimensions of 36.5”x 73”

Product 3:

Full size: 302 to 322 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 5.75” to 6.25”
height, unit dimensions of 51.5”x 73”

Product 4:

Queen size: 380 to 400 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 5.0” to 5.5”
height, unit dimensions of 58.5”x 78”

Product 5:

Queen size: 406 to 426 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 5.75” to 6.25”
height, unit dimensions of 58.5”x 78”

Product 6:

Queen size: 406 to 426 coils, 6.0-6.5 gauge border rods, 13 gauge coil, 6.75” to 7.25”
height, unit dimensions of 58.5”x 78”

Product 7:

Twin size: 206 to 226 coils, 9 gauge border rods, 13.5 gauge coil, 5.0” to 5.5” height,
unit dimensions of 36.5”x73”

Product 8:

Full size: 302 to 322 coils, 9 gauge border rods, 13.5 gauge coil, 5.0” to 5.5” height,
unit dimensions of 51.5”x73”

Product 9:

Full size: 650-670 coils, 6 gauge border rods, 14.0-14.5 gauge coil, 5.75” to 6.75”
height, unit dimensions of 51.5”x73”

Please note that total dollar values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.
inland transportation costs. Total dollar values should reflect the FINAL NET amount paid to you (i.e.,
should be net of all deductions for discounts or rebates). See instruction booklet for further information.
Please complete a separate page for each country (China, South Africa, Vietnam, and each
nonsubject country) from which you import innersprings.
Electronic submissions: Complete each page for China, South Africa, and Vietnam. In addition, for each
nonsubject country, manually copy and paste III-A-4 in a new page in this document as necessary. (At
the end of III-A-4, insert a page break (Menu: Insert-Break-Page break), copy III-A-4 and paste in the
new page.)

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam
PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-A-1.

Report below the quarterly price data for pricing products1 imported from China and sold by your firm.
Country: CHINA

Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

(Quantity in units, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3

Product 1
Quantity

Value

Quantity

Value

Quantity

Product 4

Value

Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

Product 5
Quantity

Value

Product 6
Quantity

Value

Product 7
Quantity

Value

Product 8
Quantity

Value

Product 9
Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the previous page.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the product, provide a description:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam
PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-A-2.

Report below the quarterly price data for pricing products1 imported from South Africa and sold by your firm.
Country: SOUTH AFRICA

Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

(Quantity in units, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3

Product 1
Quantity

Value

Quantity

Value

Quantity

Product 4

Value

Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

Product 5
Quantity

Value

Product 6
Quantity

Value

Product 7
Quantity

Value

Product 8
Quantity

Value

Product 9
Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the previous page.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the product, provide a description:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam
PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-A-3.

Report below the quarterly price data for pricing products1 imported from Vietnam and sold by your firm.
Country: VIETNAM

Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

(Quantity in units, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3

Product 1
Quantity

Value

Quantity

Value

Quantity

Product 4

Value

Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

Product 5
Quantity

Value

Product 6
Quantity

Value

Product 7
Quantity

Value

Product 8
Quantity

Value

Product 9
Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the previous page.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the product, provide a description:

Business Proprietary
U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam
PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION--Continued
III-A-4.
Report below the quarterly price data for pricing products1 imported from any nonsubject country and sold
by your firm.
(please specify and copy this page as necessary)
Country:
Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

(Quantity in units, value in dollars)
Product 2
Product 3

Product 1
Quantity

Value

Quantity

Value

Quantity

Product 4

Value

Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
Period of
shipment
2005
Jan-Mar
Apr-June

Product 5
Quantity

Value

Product 6
Quantity

Value

Product 7
Quantity

Value

Product 8
Quantity

Value

Product 9
Quantity

Value

July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2006
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2007
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
July-Sept
Oct-Dec
2008
Jan-Mar
Apr-June
1
Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods),
f.o.b. your U.S. point of shipment.
2
Pricing product definitions are provided on the previous page.
Note.--If your product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the product, provide a description:

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 17

PART III.—PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION -- Continued
Section III-B.--PRICE-RELATED QUESTIONS
Please note that questions in the following sections refer to imports of innersprings from China,
South Africa, and/or Vietnam. If your firm imports innersprings from more than one of the
subject countries, and your response to any question differs depending on the country of origin,
please report separately for each country and note this in your response.
III-B-1.

Please describe how your firm determines the prices that it charges for sales of innersprings
(transaction by transaction negotiation, contracts for multiple shipments, set price lists, etc.).
If your firm issues price lists, please include a copy of a recent price list with your submission.
If your price list is large, please submit sample pages.

III-B-2.

Please describe your firm’s discount policy (quantity discounts, annual total volume discounts,
etc.).

III-B-3.

What are your firm’s typical sales terms for innersprings imported from China, South Africa,
and Vietnam (e.g., 2/10 net 30 days)?
On what basis are your prices of such
product usually quoted (e.g., f.o.b. port of entry, or delivered)?

III-B-4.

(a) Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its innersprings imported from China,
South Africa, and Vietnam in 2007 were on a (1) long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries
for more than 12 months), (2) short-term contract basis (multiple deliveries up to 12 months),
and (3) spot sales basis (for a single delivery)?
Type of sale

Share of sales (percent)

Long-term contracts
Short-term contracts
Spot sales

(b) If your firm sells innersprings on a long-term contract basis (multiple deliveries for more
than 12 months), please submit copies of your long-term contracts with your five largest
customers that were in effect at any time since January 1, 2005.

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U.S. Importers’ Questionnaire – Innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam

Page 18

PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued
III-B-5.

If you sell on a long-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect
to provisions of a typical long-term contract.
(a) What is the average duration of a contract?
(b) Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?
(c) Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?
(d) Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

III-B-6.

If you sell on a short-term contract basis, please answer the following questions with respect
to provisions of a typical short-term contract.
(a) What is the average duration of a contract?
(b) Can prices be renegotiated during the contract period?
(c) Does the contract fix quantity, price, or both?
(d) Does the contract have a meet or release provision?

III-B-7.

What is the average lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your
firm’s sales of your innersprings imported from China, South Africa, and Vietnam?
Source

Share of 2007 sales

Lead time

From inventory
Produced to order
Total

III-B-8.

100%

(a) What is the approximate percentage of the total delivered cost of innersprings that is
accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs?
percent.
(b) Who generally arranges the transportation to your customers’ locations? Your firm
purchaser
(check one).

or

(c) What proportion of your sales occur within 100 miles of your storage or production
facility?
percent. 101 to 1,000 miles?
percent. Over 1,000 miles?
percent.
III-B-9.

What is the geographic market area in the United States served by your firm’s innersprings
imported from China, South Africa, and Vietnam?
Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

Southeast

Southwest

Rocky Mountains

West Coast

Northwest

National

Other (describe)

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued

III-B-10.

What percent of the total cost of the mattress is accounted for by the cost of the innerspring
(NOTE: the number should not be 100 percent)?

III-B-11.

(a) Please list in order of importance any products that may be substituted for innersprings.
(1)

(2)

(3)

(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 innersprings?
No

III-B-12.

Yes--To what degree do changes in the prices of the substitute products
affect the price for innersprings? 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 innersprings or final end use?

Please describe any trends in the prices of the raw materials used to produce innersprings, and
whether your firm expects these trends of continue.

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued

III-B-13.

Please list the names of any firms you considered price leaders in the innersprings market
since January 1, 2005. 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.
Also describe how the firm exhibited price leadership.

III-B-14.

(a) Is the innersprings market subject to business cycles (including seasonal business) or
conditions of competition distinctive to innersprings?
No

Yes--Please explain.

(b) Please describe any changes in the business cycles or conditions of competition for
innersprings since January 1, 2005.

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued
III-B-15.

(a) How has the demand within the United States for innersprings changed since January 1,
2005? What principal factors have affected changes in demand?
Increased

Unchanged

Decreased

(b) How has the demand outside the United States for innersprings changed since January 1,
2005? What principal factors have affected changes in demand?
Increased

III-B-16.

Decreased

Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix, or marketing
(including sales over the internet) of innersprings since January 1, 2005?
No

III-B-17.

Unchanged

Yes--Please describe.

(a) Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply innersprings since January 1,
2005? (Examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled order entry,”
declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less than the
quantity promised, unable to meet timely shipment commitments, etc.)
No

Yes--Please note and document the time period(s) (i.e., month and year),
country of origin, and the customer involved; and the amount and
type of product involved.

(b) Have your Chinese, South African, and/or Vietnamese innersprings suppliers refused to
ship or sell innersprings to your firm since December 31, 2007?
No

Yes--Please note and document the time period(s) (i.e., month and year),
country of origin, and the supplier involved; and the amount and type
of product involved.

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued
III-B-18. Are innersprings 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 “always”
to indicate that the products from a specified country-pair are always interchangeable, “frequently”
to indicate that the products are frequently interchangeable, “sometimes” to indicate that the
products are sometimes interchangeable, “never” to indicate that the products are never
interchangeable, and “NO FAMILIARITY” to indicate no familiarity with products from a
specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

South Africa

Vietnam

Other countries

United States

China
South Africa
Vietnam
1

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

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued

III-B-19. Are differences other than price (i.e., quality, availability, transportation network,
product range, technical support, etc.) between innersprings produced in the United States and in
other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the products? Please indicate below,
using “always” to indicate that the products from a specified country-pair are always
interchangeable, “frequently” to indicate that the products are frequently interchangeable,
“sometimes” to indicate that the products are sometimes interchangeable, “never” to indicate that
the products are never interchangeable, and “NO FAMILIARITY” to indicate no familiarity with
products from a specified country-pair.1
Country-pair

China

South Africa

Vietnam

Other countries

United States

China
South Africa
Vietnam
1

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

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PART III.--PRICING AND RELATED INFORMATION—Continued
Section III-C.–CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION
Please provide the names and addresses of your firm’s 10 largest customers (on a company-wide basis)
for innersprings imported from China, South Africa, and Vietnam during 2005-07. Please also provide
the name and telephone number of a contact person and the share of the quantity of your firm’s total
imports of innersprings from China, South Africa, and Vietnam that each of these customers accounted
for in 2007.

No.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Customer’s
name

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

Contact person

Area code
and
telephone
number

Share of
2007 sales
(%)