The only worse website mistake is to have no list at all of available merchandise. Simply publishing "We sell MTH and Lionel" or "Call with specific inquiries". This is a complete waste of a Website.
Oh Dear God YES, I so badly hate that.
Dear vendor: If you write, "call or send a want list" and not listing anything you have for sale, you won't be getting my business.
This is one of my pet peeves as well. But I gotta say I know of TWO train stores I've visited every now and then that fall into that category, and TWO more train stores that still don't have websites at all. 
One of the shops in the latter group has very limited hours, and the owner told me he's more than content to use the MTH product finder as his online presence. 
I don't understand how these shops do it, but they seem to be hanging in there... and perhaps even prospering. 
Ironically, these are often the places you can find hard-to-locate items, 'cause they DON'T have broad exposure. 
Granted... you may need to physically visit the store to SEE the stuff. But I haven't crossed them off my list of favorite "hidden" train shops, 'cause they've come through for me more than a few times over the years. 
David
