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Brand Use Study for BUILDER INSTRUMENTS

Survey Years:
Quality Rating
Awareness & Use
About the Study
BUILDER INSTRUMENTS-2005-Quality Rating

Quality Rating

How do you rate the QUALITY of each brand you are familiar with?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
Sokkia4.54.04.55.04.0
Spectra Physics4.54.04.54.75.0
Calculated Industries4.44.34.94.44.3
LS Starrett4.44.54.35.04.3
Berger4.34.15.04.34.3
DeWalt4.34.14.24.44.1
Levelite4.34.05.04.34.0
Toolz4.33.05.04.05.0
David White4.24.24.44.24.1
Laser Alignment4.14.14.34.04.3
Laser Tool4.13.94.24.24.0
Topcon4.13.64.24.24.2
CheckPoint4.03.75.04.0
Macklanburg-Duncan3.94.53.94.13.3
Zircon3.83.43.84.03.7
other4.32.05.05.04.0
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
Sokkia3.55.05.04.7
Spectra Physics3.04.54.64.7
Calculated Industries4.04.14.64.5
LS Starrett3.54.65.04.4
Berger3.34.64.54.0
DeWalt4.04.34.44.2
Levelite3.04.55.04.0
Toolz4.04.5
David White4.24.34.14.2
Laser Alignment4.44.14.1
Laser Tool3.03.94.24.0
Topcon3.04.54.14.0
CheckPoint5.04.54.03.5
Macklanburg-Duncan3.74.33.83.8
Zircon3.33.73.93.7
other3.05.04.8
Units Built
1-45-4950+
Sokkia4.04.8
Spectra Physics4.64.35.0
Calculated Industries4.84.34.8
LS Starrett4.54.54.0
Berger4.14.45.0
DeWalt4.34.24.3
Levelite4.23.05.0
Toolz4.04.3
David White4.34.14.3
Laser Alignment4.34.04.5
Laser Tool4.13.94.5
Topcon3.84.14.3
CheckPoint4.23.05.0
Macklanburg-Duncan4.03.93.5
Zircon3.93.83.5
other3.74.8
BUILDER INSTRUMENTS-2005-Brand Familiarity
Select Detail Statistics:

Brand Familiarity

Which brands have you HEARD OF?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)346.060.087.0141.058.0
DeWalt69.0%77.0%68.0%67.0%69.0%
David White38.0%42.0%36.0%38.0%38.0%
Zircon33.0%42.0%40.0%23.0%38.0%
Laser Tool23.0%33.0%25.0%18.0%17.0%
Berger22.0%35.0%16.0%23.0%16.0%
LS Starrett19.0%27.0%23.0%11.0%24.0%
Laser Alignment18.0%32.0%20.0%13.0%12.0%
Topcon18.0%22.0%17.0%20.0%12.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan15.0%10.0%15.0%17.0%17.0%
Calculated Industries14.0%15.0%13.0%16.0%12.0%
Levelite11.0%13.0%8.0%10.0%14.0%
Spectra Physics10.0%15.0%10.0%9.0%5.0%
CheckPoint7.0%12.0%7.0%3.0%14.0%
Sokkia5.0%7.0%6.0%5.0%3.0%
Toolz5.0%7.0%6.0%3.0%9.0%
other2.0%2.0%3.0%1.0%3.0%
indicated at least one82.0%92.0%82.0%78.0%83.0%
no answer17.0%8.0%17.0%20.0%17.0%
none1.0%0.0%1.0%2.0%0.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)18.071.0115.0128.0
DeWalt61.0%70.0%72.0%68.0
David White39.0%46.0%36.0%38.0
Zircon28.0%34.0%37.0%30.0
Laser Tool6.0%27.0%23.0%23.0
Berger28.0%23.0%17.0%27.0
LS Starrett22.0%24.0%18.0%16.0
Laser Alignment0.0%14.0%17.0%24.0
Topcon17.0%25.0%15.0%19.0
Macklanburg-Duncan22.0%18.0%16.0%14.0
Calculated Industries11.0%10.0%17.0%14.0
Levelite11.0%11.0%9.0%12.0
Spectra Physics11.0%14.0%10.0%8.0
CheckPoint11.0%6.0%5.0%9.0
Sokkia17.0%3.0%3.0%8.0
Toolz0.0%7.0%3.0%8.0
other11.0%1.0%3.0%1.0
indicated at least one83.0%86.0%85.0%78.0
no answer17.0%14.0%14.0%20.0
none0.0%0.0%1.0%2.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)121.0160.055.0
DeWalt70.0%74.0%58.0%
David White39.0%43.0%22.0%
Zircon29.0%37.0%33.0%
Laser Tool26.0%24.0%13.0%
Berger24.0%26.0%11.0%
LS Starrett20.0%22.0%13.0%
Laser Alignment17.0%21.0%13.0%
Topcon14.0%21.0%20.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan15.0%18.0%11.0%
Calculated Industries8.0%19.0%16.0%
Levelite13.0%9.0%11.0%
Spectra Physics7.0%13.0%9.0%
CheckPoint7.0%7.0%9.0%
Sokkia5.0%6.0%4.0%
Toolz4.0%6.0%5.0%
other3.0%3.0%0.0%
indicated at least one82.0%86.0%75.0%
no answer17.0%13.0%24.0%
none2.0%1.0%2.0%

Bases for Quality Rating

What are the BASES FOR QUALITY RATING?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
DeWalt171.032.047.063.029.0
David White82.013.019.034.016.0
Zircon72.016.021.019.016.0
Laser Tool42.013.012.011.06.0
Berger36.012.02.019.03.0
Calculated Industries32.07.07.014.04.0
Topcon31.05.06.015.05.0
Laser Alignment28.011.07.06.04.0
LS Starrett27.010.09.02.06.0
Macklanburg-Duncan24.02.07.011.04.0
Spectra Physics19.05.04.09.01.0
Levelite10.02.02.04.02.0
CheckPoint9.03.01.00.05.0
Sokkia8.02.02.03.01.0
Toolz4.01.01.01.01.0
other7.01.03.01.02.0
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
DeWalt7.035.063.060.0
David White6.022.025.028.0
Zircon4.018.027.021.0
Laser Tool1.013.010.016.0
Berger3.011.08.013.0
Calculated Industries1.07.015.08.0
Topcon2.08.010.010.0
Laser Alignment0.05.08.015.0
LS Starrett2.011.04.09.0
Macklanburg-Duncan3.06.09.06.0
Spectra Physics1.06.09.03.0
Levelite1.04.01.03.0
CheckPoint1.02.02.04.0
Sokkia2.01.02.03.0
Toolz0.02.00.02.0
other2.01.04.00.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
DeWalt63.085.021.0
David White33.043.06.0
Zircon23.036.012.0
Laser Tool16.023.02.0
Berger16.019.01.0
Calculated Industries4.024.04.0
Topcon6.018.06.0
Laser Alignment8.016.04.0
LS Starrett10.015.02.0
Macklanburg-Duncan11.011.02.0
Spectra Physics5.012.02.0
Levelite6.01.02.0
CheckPoint6.02.01.0
Sokkia3.04.00.0
Toolz1.03.00.0
other3.04.00.0

Brands Used the Most

Which brand(s) does your firm USE THE MOST?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)346.060.087.0141.058.0
DeWalt32.0%35.0%29.0%34.0%28.0%
did not indicate used most31.0%38.0%37.0%23.0%36.0%
David White12.0%10.0%10.0%13.0%14.0%
Zircon6.0%8.0%2.0%6.0%10.0%
Berger5.0%8.0%0.0%7.0%2.0%
Calculated Industries4.0%2.0%3.0%6.0%2.0%
Laser Alignment4.0%8.0%5.0%2.0%3.0%
Laser Tool4.0%5.0%0.0%4.0%7.0%
Topcon4.0%3.0%3.0%7.0%0.0%
Spectra Physics3.0%8.0%2.0%3.0%2.0%
LS Starrett2.0%3.0%1.0%1.0%3.0%
CheckPoint1.0%2.0%1.0%0.0%2.0%
Levelite1.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan1.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%2.0%
Sokkia1.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
Toolz0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%
other2.0%0.0%2.0%1.0%3.0%
indicated at least one50.0%53.0%45.0%53.0%47.0%
no answer16.0%8.0%17.0%18.0%17.0%
none3.0%0.0%1.0%6.0%0.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)18.071.0115.0128.0
DeWalt22.0%34.0%36.0%30.0
did not indicate used most33.0%34.0%28.0%30.0
David White17.0%14.0%13.0%11.0
Zircon11.0%1.0%8.0%7.0
Berger6.0%4.0%3.0%6.0
Calculated Industries6.0%1.0%7.0%3.0
Laser Alignment0.0%3.0%4.0%5.0
Laser Tool0.0%6.0%3.0%4.0
Topcon0.0%7.0%3.0%4.0
Spectra Physics0.0%3.0%5.0%3.0
LS Starrett0.0%1.0%2.0%2.0
CheckPoint0.0%1.0%0.0%2.0
Levelite0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
Sokkia0.0%0.0%1.0%1.0
Toolz0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
other6.0%0.0%3.0%1.0
indicated at least one50.0%52.0%56.0%47.0
no answer17.0%14.0%14.0%18.0
none0.0%0.0%3.0%5.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)121.0160.055.0
DeWalt33.0%35.0%22.0%
did not indicate used most31.0%29.0%40.0%
David White14.0%14.0%4.0%
Zircon5.0%7.0%7.0%
Berger7.0%5.0%0.0%
Calculated Industries2.0%4.0%9.0%
Laser Alignment3.0%4.0%5.0%
Laser Tool4.0%4.0%0.0%
Topcon3.0%4.0%7.0%
Spectra Physics4.0%4.0%2.0%
LS Starrett3.0%1.0%0.0%
CheckPoint2.0%1.0%0.0%
Levelite0.0%1.0%0.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan2.0%1.0%0.0%
Sokkia0.0%1.0%0.0%
Toolz0.0%1.0%0.0%
other2.0%3.0%0.0%
indicated at least one50.0%56.0%35.0%
no answer16.0%13.0%24.0%
none3.0%2.0%2.0%

Brands Used in Past 2 Years

Which brands has your firm USED IN THE PAST 2 YEARS in the homes you've built (including brands you subcontracted with others to install)?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)346.060.087.0141.058.0
DeWalt53.0%60.0%52.0%51.0%53.0%
David White23.0%28.0%18.0%23.0%24.0%
Zircon22.0%28.0%25.0%13.0%33.0%
Berger10.0%20.0%2.0%13.0%2.0%
did not indicate used in past 2 years10.0%10.0%10.0%11.0%7.0%
Laser Tool10.0%15.0%8.0%9.0%10.0%
Topcon10.0%8.0%10.0%11.0%9.0%
Calculated Industries9.0%12.0%8.0%9.0%7.0%
Laser Alignment8.0%17.0%8.0%5.0%7.0%
LS Starrett7.0%17.0%8.0%1.0%9.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan7.0%8.0%6.0%9.0%3.0%
Spectra Physics5.0%8.0%5.0%4.0%2.0%
Levelite3.0%2.0%3.0%2.0%3.0%
CheckPoint2.0%2.0%1.0%1.0%5.0%
Sokkia2.0%2.0%1.0%2.0%2.0%
Toolz1.0%2.0%1.0%1.0%0.0%
other2.0%0.0%3.0%1.0%3.0%
indicated at least one72.0%82.0%71.0%67.0%76.0%
no answer17.0%8.0%17.0%20.0%17.0%
none1.0%0.0%1.0%3.0%0.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)18.071.0115.0128.0
DeWalt56.0%49.0%59.0%51.0
David White33.0%25.0%23.0%23.0
Zircon22.0%25.0%23.0%20.0
Berger6.0%13.0%7.0%11.0
did not indicate used in past 2 years6.0%14.0%6.0%9.0
Laser Tool6.0%14.0%9.0%9.0
Topcon6.0%15.0%8.0%10.0
Calculated Industries6.0%8.0%12.0%7.0
Laser Alignment0.0%6.0%8.0%12.0
LS Starrett6.0%13.0%4.0%7.0
Macklanburg-Duncan11.0%10.0%7.0%5.0
Spectra Physics0.0%6.0%7.0%3.0
Levelite0.0%3.0%1.0%4.0
CheckPoint6.0%3.0%1.0%2.0
Sokkia6.0%0.0%1.0%3.0
Toolz0.0%3.0%0.0%2.0
other6.0%1.0%3.0%1.0
indicated at least one78.0%72.0%78.0%69.0
no answer17.0%14.0%14.0%20.0
none0.0%0.0%2.0%2.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders (multiple answers)121.0160.055.0
DeWalt55.0%57.0%42.0%
David White27.0%25.0%11.0%
Zircon24.0%23.0%18.0%
Berger12.0%11.0%0.0%
did not indicate used in past 2 years7.0%9.0%16.0%
Laser Tool12.0%11.0%2.0%
Topcon7.0%11.0%13.0%
Calculated Industries3.0%14.0%9.0%
Laser Alignment7.0%10.0%7.0%
LS Starrett7.0%9.0%2.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan9.0%7.0%2.0%
Spectra Physics4.0%6.0%2.0%
Levelite4.0%2.0%0.0%
CheckPoint3.0%1.0%0.0%
Sokkia2.0%2.0%0.0%
Toolz1.0%2.0%0.0%
other2.0%3.0%0.0%
indicated at least one75.0%76.0%58.0%
no answer17.0%13.0%24.0%
none2.0%1.0%2.0%
Purpose

The findings cited in this report are based on a survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood, LLC, on behalf of their publication, BUILDER.

The purpose of this research project was to provide the editors and advertisers with a profile of the brands used by builders in the BUILDER audience. Specific areas of inquiry included:

  • The number and average sale price of residential units built by respondents' firms in 2004.
  • Respondents' familiarity with, use of, and opinions about brands in 69 product categories.
  • The one brand within each category respondents feel is best at communicating with them.
Method

The survey sample of 6,250 was selected in systematic fashion by Palm Coast Data, Inc., and Readex from BUILDER's domestic, qualified "builder" circulation of approximately 125,000 recipients at the time of sample selection.

Five versions of an 8-page questionnaire were designed jointly by BUILDER and Readex. Each version contained two questions common to all versions, with the remaining brand-specific questions unique to each.

Data was collected via mail survey from October 18 to December 11, 2000. To ensure the value of this brand use data to manufacturers, the findings cited in this report are based on the 2,247 respondents who indicated their firms built residential units in 2000 (36% of the survey sample).

The margin of error for percentages based on all 2,247 usable responses is ±2.0% at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for percentages based on smaller sample sizes—census regions, for example— will be larger.