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Summer 1999 Webzine
In this issue: Baglady Boarding Pass | Staying in Touch | Gadget Review | Web Site Review
Web Site Review
Uphill Down USA
I reviewed a travelpack by Uphill Down USA last year. The review was positive, but there was one big drawback that I felt would hinder Travelite FAQ readers from running out and getting the product. At the time, Uphill Down had a minimal web site that did not provide interactivity, much less online shopping. This is an aspect that has changed since the travelpack review.
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Uphill Down USA's opening page. Uphill Down's page design incorporates unobtrusive frames on the top and bottom of the screen. |
Before you rush over and look at their online catalog, keep in mind that their web site is providing them primarily with a web presence, and with a way retailers and resellers can easily check in with them. That means that unlike such online retail giants as Amazon.com (or in the Travelite sphere, REI.com), you're not going to find a tremendous amount of customer-service bells and whistles.
The opening page itself is very clean. They do use frames, but in such a clean and stylish way that it does not get in the way of your experience. For one thing, the horizontal navigation bars of the frame are very thin, and nicely out of your way on the very top and bottom of your screen.
The top navigation bar gives you a choice of four categories (Packs, Professional Bags, Sports Bags & Accessories, and Luggage & Totes). Clicking on them reveals a new vertical frame on the left, which a number of thumbnail photos of various products. Clicking on the thumbnail brings a full-sized photo and description on the main screen. The price is listed, and they now have a shopping bag feature right there on the screen so you can buy what you see.
Uphill Down USA's product page showing the Sierra travelpack. Note the thumbnail shots of the different packs along the left of the screen, including the Sierra. |
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A very pleasant plus for Travelite readers, their Sierra travelpack is available this way and still at their discounted $46.56 (retail price is $60.50). They are rather generous with their color selections, by the way. You can choose from ebony, navy, smoke, sherwood (which I assume is a kind of green), burgundy, khaki, sandstone, forest green and olive. If you have a huge wallet or can actually resell these somewhere, you have even a larger color selection. Order 24 or more of the Sierra, and you get to also choose from chocolate, sunflower (bright orange-yellow), red, royal blue, teal and purple.
The shopping bag is secure. They have a special message on the order form screen stating that online orders get special priority. If they honor this message, it is nice to know your request won't end up getting dusty in some third-party server somewhere.
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