Understanding Consumers’ Perceptions of Wood Quality Assessment in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Quality assessment regarding purchase of wood and wood-based products is inevitable to protect consumers for incurring losses. The present research was focused to enable consumer to assess quality woods. Questionnaire containing qualitative and quantitative information were prepared and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Respondents were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Data was gathered from 120 respondents, operating in Multan city, Punjab, Pakistan, and analyzed using SPSS-21 software. The study was conducted using survey research which is accomplished in three steps namely (1) questionnaires were assembled; (2) respondents were selected using purposive sampling and kept sample size as 120; (3) interviews were conducted using a well-constructed questionnaire containing wealth of quantitative and quantitative information. Variables used for quality assessment were durability, resistance to splitting, elasticity, hardness, color and weight. Results revealed that regarding choice of species for furniture making, Dalbergia sissoo and Cedrus deodara were equally most preferred species while Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Mangifera indica were least preferred based on perceived quality assessment indicators. Wood design is perceived as more effective factor in choice of wooden furniture. Respondents’ self-reports identified wood breakage as main problem mostly occurred between 2-10 years of furniture use and furniture replacement followed by repair and polish are reported as possible solutions. Regarding safety and economic use, trucks were considered efficient in wood transportation especially in bulk quantity and for transportation to shorter distances, motor cart remained preferred for economic reasons. It was concluded to develop wood quality standards for raw wood and furniture for easy choice for quality woods and furniture.