Auto Care Insider Volume 101 - 17

2014-2016 (Average Ratings) 1 Mobile vendor 2 3 4 5 Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment Full line parts jobber Internet seller 2016 2015 2014 Catalog CONCERNS OVER Hardware retailer TOOL PURCHASING DECISIONS Concerns Over Purchasing Tools Over the Internet, 2014-2016 (All Respondents) Tool jobber/warehouse distributor Fast delivery The impersonal nature of online shopping generates uncertainty and concernsRetail about fast delivery, warranty, return policy and brand parts store Warranty selection. Tool purchasing decision-makers expressed a growing Manufacturer concern about on-time delivery of tools purchased, as this factor Return policy was rated 3.91 out of a possible 5.00. Their worries were not only 1 2 3 4 5 selection Brand limited to fast delivery, but also to warranty (3.82 mean) and the Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment supplier's return policy (3.71 mean). Concern over fast delivery was Lowest price acute among parts managers and technicians. Conversely, not being Unable to demo product able to demo a product (3.16 mean) was less of a concern to all respondents. A supplier's ability to quickly deliver tools purchased has supplanted return policy as this year's top issue of concern of all online tool purchasers. Concerns Over Purchasing Tools Over the 2016 2015 2014 1 2 3 4 5 Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment 2014-2016 (AllInternet Respondents) (Respondents were asked toInternet, rate their concerns over tool purchases. The mean ratings were based on a 5-point scale, where 1= not concerned and 5= very concerned.) Fast delivery 2016 2015 2014 Warranty Return policy OVERALL FACTORS Brand selection INFLUENCING TOOL PURCHASING DECISIONS DOLLAR AMOUNT Recommendation by seller Advertising or promotion Factors Influencing Tools Purchasing Decisions, 2013-2015 (All Respondents) Warranty Fast delivery/availability Availability from my primary source Strong brand name 2016 2015 2014 Recommendation by other tech/shop owner/blog Made in USA Low price Recommendation by seller Advertising or promotion 1 2 3 Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment 4 5 25.9% Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment Low price 55.7% Made in USA 18.4% (Respondents rated the importance of selected factors influencing their tool purchasing decisions. The mean ratings were based on a 5-point scale, where 1 = not important and 5 = very important.) $100 - $500 Recommendation by other tech/shop owner/blog parts managers, service managers and technicians. INFORMATION RESEARCH Before conducting online information research, tool purchasers pay particular attention to the tool prices.2016 The data suggest that the more2015 expensive a tool price, the 2014 less likely respondents are to seek online information. More than half the respondents (55.7 percent) researched information on tools when prices were no 1 2 3 4 5 less than $100 and as much Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment as $500. Conversely, when tool prices ranged between $1,000 and $3,000, only one in four respondents (25.9 percent) embarked on online research. Only 18.4 percent researched online information when tool prices were below $100. The percentage of respondents seeking information when prices ranged between $1,000 and $3,000 increased to 25.9 percent in 2016 from 22.9 percent in 2015. Less than $100 Lowest price The 2016 report confirms previous survey results that warranty remains the most Warranty to demofactor productin any tool purchasing decision. According to the tool importantUnable influential Fast delivery/availability purchasers, when it comes to purchasing decisions, warranty takes precedence 1 2 3 4 5 Availability(4.10 from mean) my primary source over advertising/promotions, seller's recommendation, etc. Fast delivery Source: 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment and tool availability from primary source (3.80 mean) were also highly rated as Strong brand name influential factors. Additionally, warranty was the top rated factor among all job types; $1000 - $3000 Factors Influencing Tools Purchasing TOOL Decisions, 2013-2015AND (All Respondents) The 2016 Purchasing Trends Study - Tools and Equipment is available to Auto Care Association members for $250; the non-member price is $750. For more information or to order, visit www.autocare.org/market-intelligence. www.autocare.org 17 http://www.autocare.org/market-intelligence http://www.autocare.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Auto Care Insider Volume 101