KATOUSA WEB SITE

[woodone]

Any one been to the new web page for Kato.
Went looking for a part today to order.
WOW! Took me awhile before I was able to find the place to order parts.
Sure looks like Kato is not to interested in servicing replacement parts.
Getting harder & harder to to locate what you may be looking for?
Maybe it just me, but the old form was much more user friendly.

[MK]

How did you search?  Seems pretty easy for me.  You can search by part number of description.  They also have a drop down that lists model names (e.g., SD70MAC) and if you select one, it'll show you all the parts for that particular model.

[woodone]

I searched for Kato USA. when page comes up I could not find anywhere for a parts order. I finally clicked on contact us.
That gave me a link to the parts pages. I overlooked the drop down some how-SORRY!

[Hedron]

Once you find the parts page, it functions like it did before. But I agree I have a hard time finding a link to the plain old parts section from the new front page.

Long ago I bookmarked this: http://katousa.com/parts-catalog/ and it still works prefectly.

[altohorn25]

It wasn't any more easy/difficult than ordering parts off their previous website.  I found the same stuff I usually order in the same amount of time it usually took me in the past.

All you do is hover over the "purchase" tab at the top of the page and it works like it did before.  I guess I'm not understanding the difficulty......

Nate

[Mark5]

The new website is a big mess. Hopefully they'll have it fixed by the end of May.

[peteski]

Not a big fan of the "new improved, better than ever" Kato USA web sight [sic].  Way too much flashy fluff (just like MBK). The old one was nice, simple, and to-the-point.

Yes, there is a lot of broken functionality.  Finding things (like the parts link buried in some graphics) was a pain, and last time I looked there, none of the links to photos of the parts worked (they were still pointing to the old URLs).

[Hedron]

If you search for KatoUSA in your favorite search engine, sometimes it will take you to the Company front page, and sometimes to the Online Store page. The problem with the different experiences seems to be if you find yourself in the "Online Store" page, which looks a lot like a company home page, there is no direct link to the "Parts" store. The Online Store and the Parts Store are separate things, and they were under the old design. So it's actually not changed at all, but with a new graphics package we all have to re-orient to the idiosyncrasies again.

[Dwight in Toronto]

I’m relieved to see this topic - I didn’t realize that Kato had changed their web design, and spent far too much time trying to find the home page that I had been so accustomed to.  I’m having a hard time getting used to the new version, and simply cannot convince myself that it is in any way an improvement. 

[MetroRedLine]

It's much easier to Google, "Kato USA parts" than to find it on their man page.

[peteski]

I’m relieved to see this topic - I didn’t realize that Kato had changed their web design, and spent far too much time trying to find the home page that I had been so accustomed to.  I’m having a hard time getting used to the new version, and simply cannot convince myself that it is in any way an improvement.

You are likely an older person where all those "new, improved, and busy" web pages are likely designed for the younger generation.  I'm sure one of them will chime in and let us all know that the new version is snazzy!

[thomasjmdavis]

Was the old webpage https compliant?  A lot of websites are upgrading from http to https, and upgrade the site at the same time.

I am an old guy, but frankly, I see some of the features of the new site as an improvement. Type size, for instance, is larger, making things easier to read. I am not a fan of "rotators" but they seem to be standard for retailers, schools, and many if not most corporations. It will take a little while to get used to, and I appreciate the posts on how to find the "parts" pages on the new page. But it is under the same category ("purchase") as it was on the old page, just a different format and font.

Hopefully, Kato is successful and sells more trains to younger modelers- our hobby would be healthier if there were more young people coming into it.

[oakcreekco]

Just ordered some parts. Pics of parts are now up.

New website, no big deal, and I'm an old fart.

For those that can't find the new parts page:
https://katousa.com/parts-catalog/

[kiwi_al]

You are likely an older person where all those "new, improved, and busy" web pages are likely designed for the younger generation.  I'm sure one of them will chime in and let us all know that the new version is snazzy!

I'm 61 and think it's snazzy  so I must be a teenager at heart!! BTW I had no trouble finding the parts  page. I seem to spend a lot of my time on the Kato parts pages!!

[Dwight in Toronto]

You are likely an older person where all those "new, improved, and busy" web pages are likely designed for the younger generation.  I'm sure one of them will chime in and let us all know that the new version is snazzy!

Yup, good guess Peteski … I’m an old phart at 66!