Passed up many catalog offerings only to like them when weathering customers items. Went back to buy some but most are sold out when I actually discovered how nice they were.
Bad marketing and sales as I see it. Train companies never actually make any effort in promoting the finished products. In most cases, even the few dealers left don't have the stuff. Plus MFG's don't have the newly offered finished products to display at major shows as well. On the spot buying needed, not wait 2 years to buy stuff unseen.
A few of us modelers / operators also want the car date listed as well to conform with the era it was operated in. We just don't buy items willy-nilly as often noticed. Every item has a historical place in R.R. time.
I think people would buy more seeing a full 360 deg. view of the finished product. I would like to see the heralds on the front and backs of engines. Like automobile sites, you can view the car of interest better.
Just noticed the subtle changes MTH has made to Waffle cars. I always frowned upon the fact that the cars are so high above the trucks on MTH. New cars profile are 1/4" lower now like Atlas O PS-1's. Also separate vs. old molded grab irons. Hidden un-couplers vs. thumbtack. Bet no one noticed these improvements on newer MTH models and they failed to shout it out either. The PS-1 50' box cars sure look identical to Atlas Master with out the heavy metal floor.
Need better product presentation going forward. Thanks to MR. M for taking a photo of the actual product he has for sale. Now that's marketing! 
