KATOUSA WEB SITE

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Kato's site feels very much like it is: a US branch of a Japanese company.

Many of the user experience and user interface paradigms seem to carry over from trends I see on sites designed for consumption in Japan. It's tough to pin down exactly what, but it's my impression.

[DeltaBravo]

I like the new site. it was in need of a refresh.

[peteski]

Kato's site feels very much like it is: a US branch of a Japanese company.

Ok Ed, then what did the previous version of KATO USA site "feel" like?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok Ed, then what did the previous version of KATO USA site "feel" like?

The same thing, but fifteen years old.

[peteski]

The same thing, but fifteen years old.

LOL, fair enough.  I guess I like "vintage". 

[mmagliaro]

Clumsy, awkward, difficult to navigate, with photos of parts that are usually too small.  Parts search and navigation non-existent In other words, no way to filter out parts other than to show all the parts for a particular locomotive.  How about showing me:
a) Only parts that are in stock AND parts that are "gears" AND...

So it's just like the old one, but with new graphics.  That, to me, is not an "upgrade".

[peteski]

Clumsy, awkward, difficult to navigate, with photos of parts that are usually too small.  Parts search and navigation non-existent In other words, no way to filter out parts other than to show all the parts for a particular locomotive.  How about showing me:
a) Only parts that are in stock AND parts that are "gears" AND...

So it's just like the old one, but with new graphics.  That, to me, is not an "upgrade".

As I see it, the actual parts ordering section of the new website is the same old site.  That has not changed.  It is (and has  been) hosted on cartserver.com.  The flashy new site is just for their current and upcoming products. 

[jagged ben]

Go to main page, find menu, try 'Purchase' (because I'm trying to purchase parts) , choose 'Kato Direct - Parts'.

Easiest thing ever guys.  Seriously. 

[Mark5]

Still needs lotsa fixin. 

https://katousa.com/n-20thcentury

https://katousa.com/n-north-american-rolling-stock/

[NorsemanJack]

I just scrolled to the bottom of the home page and clicked on "parts."

[mike_lawyer]

I thought the old website was fairly easy to navigate, and I always have appreciated the number of parts Kato makes available to us.  Sometimes I wish that the parts were re-stocked, but usually that only happens if a new batch of models is created. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I thought the old website was fairly easy to navigate, and I always have appreciated the number of parts Kato makes available to us.  Sometimes I wish that the parts were re-stocked, but usually that only happens if a new batch of models is created. 

Yeah, I more wish that they'd actually re-run tooling they've been sitting on for 20 years.

I mean, odds are that because they did Conrail in the last run (again, almost 20 years ago), that we wouldn't see more Conrail SD40s, but a man can hope.
I wouldn't complain about PC, or PRR, or CNJ, or really anything where I can get more modern mechs with the "high mounted" brake cylinders.

Same story for SD45s. I'd love a couple more modern ones: CR, PRR, PC, EL, etc... all would float my boat.

[motofavorite]

 
             >.<


The new site looks pretty terrible on Android. I visited over the weekend. Ignorant of the refresh, I spent a little time checking that my phone was up-to-date and that I hadn't messed with my script or font settings.

At least they are moving forward. Some sites look as they did when Mosaic was born.

[peteski]

At least they are moving forward. Some sites look as they did when Mosaic was born.

The opposite is also true -  sometimes things move too far into being too flashy, busy or complicated.  Yes, the world always moves forward, but not all the change is good.  Sometimes  restraint is in order. But I'm in a minority here.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The opposite is also true -  sometimes things move too far into being too flashy, busy or complicated.  Yes, the world always moves forward, but not all the change is good.  Sometimes  restraint is in order. But I'm in a minority here.

I'm curious, from a curiosity standpoint, if you can share some examples of what you'd describe as too flashy, busy or complicated (so that I can yell at my UX folks not to do it in the future).