No more MTH catalogs...online only

hello Chuck.........

is that true ? well i hope not as i like to get in bed and read the new catalogs the old way !!

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany Clark

that's alright with me... catalogs are a thing of the past in my opinion anyway..

I have not heard that, one way or the other, but it would not surprise me to see at least some of the manufacturers (and others) heading in that direction.  After all, growing numbers of folks seem to be drawn to the Internet and the associated hardware gadgets for doing just about everything these days.  Some people can't even put the stuff down for a minute for engage in other activities.

An online-only catalog certainly won't do all that much to attract new people to the hobby or to the available products--not in light of the ocean of "stuff" already online--but I can sure see the cost savings in going that route.  And since the bottom line is about all that apparently really matters anymore, nothing would surprise me.

I will manage to get along okay in any case since I'm already up to my ears in trains.

You'll just have to get yourself an iPad, Tiffany!

I have noticed that you cannot download a .pdf of the recent catalogs on the website, they are online browsing only.

I'm not happy about that as I like to keep them on a memory stick for easy reference.

Only thing I heard was that the printed catalog doesn't contain everything that will be released this year, that some items were yet to be decided and would be announced via the e-mail newsletter. Not a peep about discontinuing catalogs, though.

---PCJ

Well "out of sight, out of mind."  Not a good thing!  The monies they save will most probably translate to monies I will be saving from not seeing something I might like.

I don't mind one way or the other. I just wish ALL manufacturers would show real pictures of their products. Illustrations and artist's impressions just are not good enough.

I hope they still issue the old catalogs, BUT the concept of announcing items throughout the year doesn't sound like a bad one. That way, at least the anticipation of an upcoming catalog will pretty much disappear. Kind of makes you wish Lionel would do this, too!

How would that work when some cataloged items don't exist yet?

I'd believe it seems like a easy way to cut costs, hasn't been anything worth looking at anyway these past few catalogs for me.

Sounds false to me... this would be very surprising and a major disappointment.

My MTH Railroaders Clubs subscription states:

Club Members get all MTH catalogs earlier than other mailing list members via First Class mailings.

Also, when I get bored, I pull out catalogs and spin through them, which increases their chances for sales. I dont go to the computer to look at catalogs multiple times.

Actually, the majority of new products don't exist when they are first cataloged.  It has been that way for years.  I'm not sure there is really any realistic way to get around that these days.

Ahh, the feel of the paper against your fingers,

The smell of the ink,

The rustle of pages as they create a mild zephyrus against your...

Oops, sorry, got carried away a bit...

Anyhow, the nice thing about hard copy catalogs is the batteries never run down....

Rusty

Last York, MTH mentioned that they were thinking about giving people the option to receive their catalogs on DVD, rather than a print version, but that the print version would continue.  They also announced at the OGR Grandstand Meet that there would be more uncatalogued offerings offered throughout the year (at least I think it was at the OGR meet - I may have gleaned that from talking to them at the booth).  If there was a decision to get rid of the print version, it must be relatively recent.  I can understand the desire to cut back on the expense of printing catalogs, but they could save a little by not giving out so many duplicates - I got my copy at York (turned in the paper with all my info, including my MTHRRC number), and yet they still mailed me one, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one who received a duplicate via this route (I got another one from my LHS, but I gave that to my nephew).

Andy

Without any North American Steam Locomotives, they can put the catalog on Itunes for all I care!

How right you are Dave!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the only scale that does that. I guess to replicate the catalogs of the 1930's???
Well I wasn't born in the 30's and an engine isn't 25 bucks any more.
I want to see a real picture of what my hard earned money is buying.
Perfect example : I want a McKeen motor car but I won't buy one till I see a picture of the production model .I've already seen it in an artists picture.

No paper catalogs.
No American steam.
Dictating warranty restrictions.
Scaling back the train show circuit.

Anybody remember the name of that company that used to fix your trains while you waited at York....I think it was Mike's Train House.
That's what I like ...A business that's customer oriented .

David

Will MTH still issue their catalogs overseas?  I sure hope they change their mind on this poor decision.
I  think product catalogs make an excellent selling tool.  I sure hope they get  enough negative responses to this no catalog idea, and just leave things the way they are.

B.N.

If MTH stops issuing catalogs, its a sure sign that they must have really "hit the skids".

IMO catalogs are still a good idea. Even with full internet access its harder to navigate a catalog online than it is to do in print. I can a take a catalog with me to read it in the bathroom,, at a train show,  at a highway rest stop, on a train, bus, at a table in a diner or at my hair stylist or dentists waiting room. I guess that you can do the same with a lap top, tablet or iPad but you can't skim through the pages as well and not everyone has that equipment.

If the next catalog reads anything like the last, it'll make good fire starter..

Who cares?

Joe

Chuck,

I have heard this twice, but cannot confirm. MTH will no longer issue paper catalogs. Online catalog only. Dealers will have to keep up as it will be several times a year when they announce an item, all uncataloged. You will have to check their website often not to miss something. I hope I have false information.

Sounds like something you heard from an ultra-relieable source - like a local hobby shop owner!

Keep in mind that this was reported as a rumor--nothing more and nothing less.  That doesn't make it a done deal.  For that matter, that doesn't even make it something the powers-that-be at MTH are even considering.

Online is the way everything is now. Paper is going the way of the dinosaur. You either accept it, or miss out. 

If they go away I for one will miss them, I've always enjoyed flipping through paper pages. 

They said the same thing about vinyl records. 

They're not dead yet...

Rusty

hello guys an gals......

i think the best catalog is the lionel 1966 catalog as the trains shown on catalogs are productions trains and you know what you buying.

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

I guess I'll have to break out my postwar Lionel catalogs and browse through them even more often! Can't beat them, as far as this guy is concerned, and with just a couple of exceptions in the later years, they are all illustrations/no photos.

In many cases Dave, there is no factory sample when the catalog is prepared for print. That was my point.

You would be surprised how many folks don't have computers and want the Catalog.  You would be surprised how many people can't afford trains, but purchase a catalog because they enjoy it.  You would be surprised how many folks are only seasonally into trains, and use the catalog in the season.  They won't bother to do the research we would.

This will make it hard on small shops and even distributors.  I am sure the big 10 or whatever will not have issue though.

To me this is like the steel industry saying we won't worry about the low cost production items, we will out source that.  Pretty soon, they were out sourced.  G

I don't think they have to have EVERTHING in the catalog.  New items and sets, I say yes.  Maybe DCS.  But things like track could either bve placed in a smaller book, or only on line.

Or.... MTH could just advertise here, with a link to catalogs and new releases. That way, I would know when they do the NY Giants train and superbowl cars! 

I love all the speculation that goes on started by an unconfirmed rumor of all things to top it off! The truth was put forth early on by Andy Hummel in this thread but the dribble goes on, too funny! Talk about not letting the truth get into the way of a good rumor lmao!

Last York, MTH mentioned that they were thinking about giving people the option to receive their catalogs on DVD, rather than a print version, but that the print version would continue.

Allan, what's an ipad? 

TEX

Steve

I for one like to sit on the almighty throne and read my favorite O gauge catalogs and magazines.  This means holding real paper, turning real covers and pages.  All you electronic, texting, maxi pad users are going to get over radiated and your testies will fall off.

TEX

Steve

I don't mind downloading the pdf files.  I would also like to have the paper version to look at when in the reading room.  How does one go about getting the catalogs, I don't have any LHS's in the area?  The closest one to me is Albuquerque, NM and that is a 3.5 hour drive.  The next closest hobby shop after that is Denver at Caboose Hobbies, my candy store.  How much do the catalogs cost?

Well, twice lately, I wondered if anybody had done a car with a roadname I hoped existed but had never seen (then two later came up on eBay) but I paged back through my old MTH catalogs, and voila', they actually made one of each...darned hard to find since I think they only build quantities to order..but I glommed one off eBay. And that is thanks to a stack of old catalogs.  I spend enough time on the

internet wading through eBay...spending time there going through catalogs, and I

have pulled up MTH catalogs on the net, is a nuisance.  So while the other car may never show up on eBay, I will have my beady eyes out for it at York and other shows, 'cause the catalogs told me it existed.  What I would like to see on the net is somebody to catalog, in a way searchable by roadname, every item made by train manufacturers (at least the modern stuff).  Guess that will never happen.

Just think of the historical record catalogs make...I know Marx collectors who scavenge all kinds of old Sear, Wards, Aldens, Western Auto, etc., etc. catalogs

trying to pin down what trains and sets WERE offered by Marx, because their few

tiny little brochures only list a few cars.  All the current and recent catalogs from

the various mfrs. have at least documented that.

hello guys an gals........

well as long as the catalogs are free, i am not going to complain so enjoy it while you still can LOL !!!!!!!!

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Do they have the old catalogs in the PDF versions, maybe I have missed them or just don't know where to look.

At our club open houses, we have a table with giveaways which includes railroad magazines and prior catalogs. The youngsters partake in this and you should see their eyes when you give them the book and how they clutch it walking around the layout. Oh Yes, the magic doesn't stop there! When they go home they go over this book because it is theirs, and there for the touching and letting the imagination run wild

If you are growing the business, you want to cultivate new customers. And thats what a catalog in a youngsters hands does.