Catalogs?

We get asked quite often if we have a catalog we can send out. I guess my question is this: what's a catalog? Isn't it just a list of items we sell, just like our website? If so, what reason would we have for making a catalog when our website shows a much more up-to-date and much more comprehensive list of what's available than anything we'd print? Below are some of my favorite responses to why someone wants a catalog from us.

Reason #1: I don't have Internet access

Great. So how did you call us? We don't have our number listed anywhere but through our website, so you must have found some way of locating it online. Ok, so I can understand that we have some sweet products and maybe you had to go to your neighbor's place to find it and just wanted to call us.

Reason #2: I don't have time to find everything on your site

We use a Google search appliance, so you don't have to find everything. Just ask it what you're looking for and it'll spit out results much faster than what a catalog can. Maybe I'm just too used to searching Google for my needs, but catalogs seem slow to me. I suppose they're faster for some people, though.

Reason #3: I'm not always around a computer

Well, that one I've got to give to some people. Personally, if I'm not at a desk my laptop isn't ever too far away. If I have my laptop, I'm probably within range of an access point. But then again, I don't ever really remember where a catalog went about a week after it shows up, so it wouldn't help me in that case anyway.

Reason #4: I like to browse for nothing in particular

Well, you can do that on our site as well. Simply search for "tools" and it'll show you stuff in no particular order. Restrict the search to products only in the drop down to get rid of categories if you like, even add in negatives to get rid of a brand you dislike or categories you're not interested in. But I can relate to this one as well... I like browsing catalogs when I get them. I just don't usually find anything I can't live without.

On to your reasons

What reasons do you have for wanting a catalog from us. I was really wanting to get some legitimate reasons so I can talk to our marketing folks about getting one, but had to throw in some of the "Good" reasons to make us smile here first. I'm looking for those reasons that shout "File / Print!"