Site review 3

[GUJUm0deL]

Hi folks, need a site review:

http://www.cell2000.us/store/

There aren't that many products in the system, only added a few to get a general theme going. Let me know what everyone thinks.

The checkout process is in test mode now, so if you feel like it add some products to the cart and do a checkout. There's a test CC number already pre-populated in the textfield. If you use a real email address you get a confirmation email, and then I can "process" the order and you get a notification email.

all this is obviously fake, and I will delete the email address from the system

If you don't feel like going through the checkout process, any comments on the site itself is appreciated.

Thanks!!

____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[johnwm]

A clear and open layout, and a good general impression. All the order process seems to work well, as does the order status check.

There are a few questions in my mind:

1. Validate your HTML - no doctype found (

http://validator.w3.org/)

2. CSS doesn't validate (

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/)

3. Cell 2000 image not very readable although it appears to be your brand name
4. Alt attributes missing for some images
5. Big blank panel under menu tabs (or is that for Google ads?)
6. Ditto below Search and Go Back buttons
7. Odd visual effect using subtly different colours for your Phones header background and your other dark blue backgrounds
8. Ditto Detail headers background and button backgrounds
9. Text on Continue shopping button too small
10. I would be happier dealing with a company that has some physical contact details. There are no names, no addresses available at present.
11. Refund/Return Policy needs to be available on-line

________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
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[BillyRayPreachersSon]

Well - these are the first 4 things I noticed:

- You have no DOCYTPE specified - which means many validators will fail your page.

- You use outdated, and non-standard attributes on the body element instead of CSS to control the margins

- You have no heading structure (no H1, H2, etc)

- You're using tables for layout, instead of CSS

Dan

Coedit Limited - Delivering standards compliant, accessible web solutions

[tt]Dan's Page [blue]@[/blue] Code Couch

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[BillyRayPreachersSon]

Also:

- The footer links do not work (in fact, the whole footer is just a big image!)

- It would be nicer to have text saying "Search our site", rather than an image (in fact, this goes for a lot of headings - this way you can make them proper heading elements on the page)

- The "continue shopping" button is far too squashed

- Your use of capitalisation is inconsistent throughout the site. Pick what you are going to use, and stick to it.

Dan



Coedit Limited - Delivering standards compliant, accessible web solutions

[tt]Dan's Page [blue]@[/blue] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/dan/

[/tt]

 

[GUJUm0deL]

johnwm and
BillyRayPreachersSon, thanks for the reviewing the site.

You're comments:
1. Validate your HTML - no doctype found
That was an oversight I belive, I will add that in.

2. CSS doesn't validate (

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/)

That was an oversight I belive, I will add that in.

3. Cell 2000 image not very readable although it appears to be your brand name
I am working on a better logo image. I think i'll use lighter colors and a bolder font. Not sure yet.

4. Alt attributes missing for some images
Hmmm, must have missed some images, will go back and check images.

5. Big blank panel under menu tabs (or is that for Google ads?)
The blank panel will be used for ads

6. Ditto below Search and Go Back buttons

7. Odd visual effect using subtly different colours for your Phones header background and your other dark blue backgrounds
Hmmm, I liked that blue shad I use for the product desription, but I guess I can change to the same bluse shade I use for the site. I tried the dark blue first but that made the site more "blue-ish" feel.

8. Ditto Detail headers background and button backgrounds

9. Text on Continue shopping button too small
Will redo the image

10. I would be happier dealing with a company that has some physical contact details. There are no names, no addresses available at present.
There will be. There is a link on top of the navi bar for contact (

http://www.cell2000.us/store/contact.cfm)

- I just haven't enetred that info in yet. I am also condering doing a 'contact us' form so the user can fill out the form as opposed to clicking on the email link and having their mail client activate.

11. Refund/Return Policy needs to be available on-line
I am going have that as a popup link that will go in the header. I need to take out some texts (as they have now become obsolete).

12. The footer links do not work (in fact, the whole footer is just a big image!)
I created a new footer since some texts have changes and need to upload that.

13. Your use of capitalisation is inconsistent throughout the site. Pick what you are going to use, and stick to it.
I will check for that, must have done so when I was typing fast and didn't realize


I will check the admin tool and any "purchases" I will approve so that you get an email on that. Let me know if the emails look good also.

Thanks guys!

____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[Rieekan]

Some further comments:

[ol]
[li]Using Images instead of buttons: Use style sheets to design your buttons instead of making it an image[/li]
[li]Why use an image for your footer? Is this just filler for now until you create it using HTML/CSS, or is this the goal of your footer?[/li]
[li]The red text on orange background used in the Search section is "painful". Might want to use some softer colors for that section[/li]
[li]Dan's already mentioned this one, but lose the Tables for laying out your pages and use HTML/CSS instead. Here is some supporting information on why not to use tables[/li]
[/ol]

- George

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Rieekan, thanks for the review. No the footer has no "real" purpose then what it was intended to do. I can take out the image and use text instead, might make changes a lot easier. I'll change the red font color but can't change the orange color, those are the colors the client wants. I gave him a much better color schema (lighter color easy on the eyes) but he wanted this color schema instead.

I'll incorporate more of the CSS, I have been moving gradually over to CSS from tables anyways.

____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[johnwm]

Email confirmation came through fine

________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first.
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
Drive a Steam Roller

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Thanks for all the help. I am adding some of the suggestions as we speak, and will let you all know when I publish them.

I changed the front page idea a bit, before I displayed 3 dynamic featured produts but now decided to display three additional manufacturer's (to be consistant with the design flow)

____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[imstillatwork]

One thing i noticed right away from a usability view is that the 'order now' button that puts an item in the cart is sooooo far away from the price and the quantity field. Not everyone knows they can hit enter. An even though I do, I usually click if there are multiple buttons, since so many sites enter 'hits' the cancel button or something lame.

thats it from me

Kevin

http://www.lot-o-nothin.com/cfml/

Phase 1: Read the CFML Reference
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!