J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Ridgid Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Cordless Drills/Drivers in Inaugural Study
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., June 5 /PRNewswire/ — Ridgid ranks highest in satisfying customers with cordless drills/drivers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Cordless Drill/Driver Study(SM) released today.
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The inaugural study measures customer satisfaction with cordless drills/drivers by examining six key factors (listed in order of importance): drill performance (including drilling and driving power, performance under heavy use and maneuverability in tight spaces); ease of use (including balance, weight and grip size and feel); battery performance; price; versatility of the battery platform in supporting other power tools; and warranty. The study is designed to provide information to help customers with purchase decisions, as well as to assist drill/driver manufacturers in their efforts to improve satisfaction.
“Even though the housing and construction market is slowing down, power tools still represent a $9 billion industry in North America,” said Dale Haines, senior director of the real estate and construction practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “According to The Freedonia Group, demand for power tools in North America is projected to increase over the next several years, totaling $10.2 billion by 2011. With this growth on the horizon, both consumers and manufacturers of power tools can benefit from understanding what is particularly satisfying to customers.”
Among the ten brands ranked in the study, Ridgid ranks highest in customer satisfaction with a score of 784 on a 1,000-point scale, demonstrating strong performance in all factors that drive customer satisfaction, and performing particularly well in the warranty and price dimensions.
“Ridgid performs consistently well across all aspects of the study and truly differentiates itself in the highly competitive cordless drill/driver market through warranty and price,” said Haines.
DeWalt and Hitachi follow Ridgid in the rankings with scores of 779 and 774, respectively. DeWalt performs particularly well in drill performance and versatility of the battery platform, as well as in ease of use. Hitachi performs particularly well in battery performance.
“There are many good choices in cordless drills and drivers — particularly among the top-ranked brands,” said Haines. “Consumers can feel confident in finding a product that provides ample power and performance, as well as excellent value.”
The study finds that consumers who purchase a cordless drill/driver with a lithium ion battery tend to be more satisfied, on average, than owners of cordless drills/drivers that use other battery technologies.
“While cordless drills and drivers with lithium ion batteries are somewhat more expensive than their counterparts, they offer the advantages of longer run time and retaining their charge over a longer period of time,” said Haines. “In addition, lithium ion battery technology helps manufacturers decrease the weight of cordless drills without sacrificing power, so consumers may experience less fatigue during long periods of use. It may be worthwhile for cordless drill shoppers to include battery technology on their list of considerations.”
The study also finds the following key patterns: — Most cordless drills/drivers are highly reliable, with only 4 percent of owners reporting a problem with their cordless drill/driver. — Nearly one-fourth of owners (22%) report that they purchased their cordless drill in a multi-tool kit. Flashlights (47%), extra batteries (39%), and 110 volt battery chargers (36%) are the most frequently reported devices that cordless drill/driver owners currently own and use with their current battery platform.
The 2008 Cordless Drill/Driver Study is based on responses from over 4,800 consumers who purchased a new cordless drill/driver within the past 12 months. The study was fielded in March and April 2008.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts: John Tews Syvetril Perryman Troy, Mich. Westlake Village, Calif. (248) 312-4119 (805) 418-8103 john.tews@jdpa.com syvetril.perryman@jdpa.com
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/corporate
Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings (Based on a 1,000-point scale) For Consumers Ridgid 784 5 DeWalt 779 5 Hitachi 774 4 Craftsman 773 4 Makita 765 4 Industry Average 755 4 Bosch 753 4 Milwaukee 753 4 Ryobi 746 3 Black & Decker 742 3 Skil 718 2 Power Circle Ratings Legend: 5 – Among the best 4 – Better than most 3 – About average 2 – The rest
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J.D. Power and Associates
CONTACT: John Tews, Troy, Mich., +1-248-312-4119, john.tews@jdpa.com, orSyvetril Perryman, Westlake Village, Calif., +1-805-418-8103,syvetril.perryman@jdpa.com, both of J.D. Power and Associates
Web site: http://www.jdpower.com/