18 18
Suppliers for Tool Purchases
Use of Suppliers for Past Tool Purchases
Respondents rated how frequently they used traditional suppliers for past tool purchases. The mean ratings
were based on a 5-point scale, where 1 = infrequently and 5 = very frequently. The chart and tables below
show the analysis by employment role.
Respondents purchased tools most frequently in the past from mobile vendors (3.79 mean), but infrequently
from hardware retailers (2.16 mean), tool jobber/warehouse distributors (2.65 mean) and retail parts stores
(2.65 mean). The full line parts jobber (3.57 mean) and the internet sellers (2.86 mean) were the next most
frequently used tool suppliers. While mobile vendors have consistently remained the tool suppliers of choice,
respondents are increasingly gravitating to full line parts jobbers as the second suppliers of choice. The survey
also reveals that the respondents are increasingly purchasing their tools online. Last year, internet sellers were
rated 2.47 mean, compared to this year’s 2.86 mean. The proliferation of online shopping is happening at the
expense of brick-and-mortar hardware shops. As a result, hardware retailers are consistently ranked at the
bottom, while internet sellers are ranked much higher.3.95
37%
2.97
3.44
2.87
3.79
Mobile vendor
Full line parts jobber
Internet seller
Manufacturer
Catalog
Retail parts store
Tool jobber/warehouse distributor
Hardware retailer
3.57
2.28
2.47
2.86
2.38
1.89
2.76
2.06
2.08
2.76
2.39
1.97
2.65
2.10
2.05
2.65
2.05
2.06
2.16
2015
2016
2017
Traditional Suppliers for Past Tool Purchases, 2015, 2016 and 2017
(Average Ratings)
Suppliers for Tool Purchases
Use of Suppliers for Past Tool Purchases
Respondents rated how frequently they used traditional suppliers for past tool purchases. The mean ratings
were based on a 5-point scale, where 1 = infrequently and 5 = very frequently. The chart and tables below
show the analysis by employment role.
Respondents purchased tools most frequently in the past from mobile vendors (3.79 mean), but infrequently
from hardware retailers (2.16 mean), tool jobber/warehouse distributors (2.65 mean) and retail parts stores
(2.65 mean). The full line parts jobber (3.57 mean) and the internet sellers (2.86 mean) were the next most
frequently used tool suppliers. While mobile vendors have consistently remained the tool suppliers of choice,
respondents are increasingly gravitating to full line parts jobbers as the second suppliers of choice. The survey
also reveals that the respondents are increasingly purchasing their tools online. Last year, internet sellers were
rated 2.47 mean, compared to this year’s 2.86 mean. The proliferation of online shopping is happening at the
expense of brick-and-mortar hardware shops. As a result, hardware retailers are consistently ranked at the
bottom, while internet sellers are ranked much higher.
37%
2.97
3.44
2.87
3.79
Mobile vendor
Full line parts jobber
Internet seller
Manufacturer
Catalog
Retail parts store
Tool jobber/warehouse distributor
Hardware retailer
3.57
2.28
2.47
2.86
2.38
1.89
2.76
2.06
2.08
2.76
2.39
1.97
2.65
2.10
2.05
2.65
2.05
2.06
2.16
2015
2016
2017
Traditional Suppliers for Past Tool Purchases, 2015, 2016 and 2017
(Average Ratings)
