Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Catalogs VS Online ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 09:32 AM
  #1  
df85732's Avatar
df85732
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 124
From: Nebraska
Club FTE Gold Member
Catalogs VS Online ?

For you old timers and want to be old timers............remember being a kid and spending hours going through the Sears and Roebuck catalog to help fill out your Christmas list ? Well some things never change. Half of the fun of these old Trucks is browsing through the Ford Truck catalogs to find what you need, OK want. All these parts can be found online but there is just something about flipping through a catalog that makes it special. What do you guys use? Online, Catalog, or combination? Buy the way this is not a "plug" for any particular company.

 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 09:54 AM
  #2  
avf100's Avatar
avf100
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 599
From: Lancaster, CA.
Combination...I enjoy browsing thru the catalogs, then order online or via telephone.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 09:56 AM
  #3  
avf100's Avatar
avf100
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 599
From: Lancaster, CA.
oops nevermind
 

Last edited by avf100; Mar 31, 2018 at 09:59 AM. Reason: .
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 09:57 AM
  #4  
schoo's Avatar
schoo
Logistics Pro
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,393
Likes: 44
From: placer county usa?
Last week was spring cleaning at my place so we had too go to the dump with all the old cats
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 10:04 AM
  #5  
Tedster9's Avatar
Tedster9
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
For the most part there's still no substitute for the ease and convenience of a paper catalog for simply browsing, the online experience is sometimes useless unless you already know what you need to order.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 10:04 AM
  #6  
JPMallory's Avatar
JPMallory
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 120
From: Behind the wheel, IN
For LMC, it find the physical catalog easier to use/browse than their website. Midfifty's catalog is great to have on hand, but their website is pretty good as well. As for the rest, I tend to rely on their websites. I regularly receive mailed catalogs from speedway and Macs. I never look at them.
 
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2018 | 02:33 PM
  #7  
underthebridgejim's Avatar
underthebridgejim
FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,674
Likes: 11
From: paradise, northern calif.
Club FTE Gold Member
Catalogs are what I use for browsing, then the internet to dial in more information and comparisons. I like to carry a new catalog with me when I'm running My mother around to her medical or other appointments .. Parts catalogs "ROCK" along with some good 60's rock or some good blues playing in the car while waiting for mom to return.:
 
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2018 | 08:08 AM
  #8  
bjmayberry2's Avatar
bjmayberry2
Lead Driver
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,742
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Club FTE Gold Member
Enough said


 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 1, 2018 | 09:55 AM
  #9  
Mr. Ed's Avatar
Mr. Ed
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 4
From: NJ
I find that the printed catalogs have more information than the online version. I do order in line though.

Later!
Mr. Ed
 
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2018 | 11:30 AM
  #10  
abe's Avatar
abe
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,421
Likes: 5,428
From: Central PA
Club FTE Silver Member

I prefer the printed on paper catalogs. They are easier to read when in my little "reading room" with the porcelain throne!

I have found carpenter's search function is way better than MidFifty 's. Even if I find something on line I will call to order.
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2018 | 10:19 AM
  #11  
ReForder's Avatar
ReForder
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
I love me a paper catalog, and I seem to have the same 'reading room" as abe does I still flip through the regular Summit catalog I get, even though 90% will never be of any use to me.

What I'm reading here is that you can get paper catalogs from some of the suppliers for our trucks?! I need to order those, as I find some of their websites to be annoying to navigate.
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2018 | 12:53 PM
  #12  
Tedster9's Avatar
Tedster9
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Maybe they've improved the websites, but they never have been very well set up for just flipping through anything. They'll display maybe 10 or 15 items. In a paper catalog they will show 50 or 75 at a glance.

Impulse buying is a lot easier if you know exactly what it is that you don't need. That's probably why they still mail out paper catalogs.
 
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2018 | 01:00 PM
  #13  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Tedster9
Maybe they've improved the websites, but they never have been very well set up for just flipping through anything. They'll display maybe 10 or 15 items. In a paper catalog they will show 50 or 75 at a glance.

Impulse buying is a lot easier if you know exactly what it is that you don't need. That's probably why they still mail out paper catalogs.
When Carpenter's "road man" Pat Ford attended the F100 Western Nationals Truck Show* .. I got every paper catalog he had for three reasons.

(1) Most FTE members don't have them, so I could tell them what's available. (2) I wanted to see what Carpenter had reproduced. (3) I didn't want to squint at catalogs online, when I could get paper catalogs.

Sadly, Pat Ford hasn't attended this show over the past several years.

*Held the 3rd Saturday of June at Canyon RV Park (aka gopher hole acres), part of the Featherly Park complex, north of the 91 Freeway in NE Anaheim CA
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2018 | 07:15 PM
  #14  
52 Merc's Avatar
52 Merc
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,198
Likes: 4,807
From: Burbank, WA
Give me a real paper catalog anyday. I find online searches typically are futile and frustrating. Too many other things in the way of finding what you want or need, I get tired of sorting through pages of sunvisor screws while looking for brake pedal pads, just because it says 'fits 52 Ford.'
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2018 | 07:32 PM
  #15  
ct50f1's Avatar
ct50f1
More Turbo
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 696
Likes: 48
From: Central Connecticut
I used to go through the catalogs to find prices for the things I need and then make a list comparing the total cost of the order from several different vendors. Then I would order online from the vendor with the lowest overall price. Often that was Mac's although the prices when you go online are often higher than the catalog and their shipping & handling charges often knock them out of the running. Also, I haven't been too happy with their quality recently. I still go through the catalogs to get prices but I've been giving Carpenter's and LMC the order when I think quality is more important than price. And often Carpenters flat rate pricing turns out to be a bargain. In general, search the paper catalogs and order online.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:17 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE