Lionel, How about creating a “Product Locator” on your website?

I'll second that.  I really like and use the product locator that MTH has.  I have no idea what it takes to set up something like that but I'm sure IT guys do.

If Lionel did that would MIKE sue?

Ditto...  

- Mike

Good Idea - But - It is only as good as the dealers who update their sites.  Used the MTH one - said dealer had an item - called - out of stock.

There are 2 very different issues to do this.  The first and simple issue is for Lionel to add this functionality to their website.  The second and much more challenging issue is for all Lionel dealers to update the website in an accurate and timely manner.

I've experienced issues with the MTH product locator:

1. It says a dealer has it in stock.  Call the dealer and they don't have it.  They hadn't updated the website.

2. There are many MTH dealers who don't update the product locator database at all.

I would love for there to be a Lionel product locator.  But, I fear it would have as many shortcomings as the MTH product locator. 

I've also found the MTH product locator to be hit-or-miss, but at least it pays off some times.

I've been told that, from a dealer's POV, it is a little clunky to use and that is why more dealers don't keep it up to date.

I've often thought that it might make for a good small business for someone to come up with an inventory management system linked to a point-of-sale system that could be linked to a central database (for a monthly or annual fee) that would provide this kind of functionality, or even just a centralized database that can work with existing IM/POS software..  Kind of makes me wish I had gone the comp-sci/IT route in college.  This kind of system would even have appeal in other collecting hobbies as well (rare coins, comic books, stamps, die-cast cars, etc.).

Andy

Andy,

The MTH product locator is not hard to use. When I was in business I loved it. Yes, it does take time to keep it updated. Yes, there were times when product was coming in and going faster than I could keep up with. But, in my opinion, it's the greatest tool MTH ever invented.

I like the ideal, it seems like the responsibility for upkeep would rest on the LHS.

Brent

As time goes on, I point and click more and more to shop.  At Home Depot you can check store inventory on an item.  When I purchase an item, that inventory is reduced by one.  I am sure setting all this up is the hard part but when I first saw the idea of bar codes in 1974 my first thought was inventory management.  Some big and little companies use it that way.  It is probably vital to large companies with an extensive and expensive product line.  I am sure that 40 years later, small companies like MTH and Lionel could do the same.  Take Jim Sutter's word for it.  It's a great tool.

I think it would be good deal if Lionel did it to. I have found so many items using the MTH product locater, its how I found Jim Sutter train shop when he was in business

From a dealers standpoint, I've used the MTH locator to update stock.  Its a little clunky to work with.  Biggest complaint is cant read data from any other type of file, so its needs to be manually updated separately from the dealers inventory/POS software.

Would be nice if dealers could have a system a little more user friendly for updating.

I would also love to see Lionel add a product locator to there site!