You may be familiar with the high-quality stroller and car seat products offered by UPPAbaby, but you may not understand the full extent of the experience that comes with their products.
The after-sale support, warranties, and immersive maintenance support programs really take the whole experience of using UPPAbaby gear to a whole new level.
As a result, UPPAbaby has established itself as the luxury brand of choice in North America. And continue to build on that reputation overseas.
In this article, we will look at all of these elements that make up the full experience.
Why Has UPPAbaby Become so Popular
UPPAbaby has become popular by developing into a premium stroller and infant car seat brand that has become somewhat aspirational for new parents. Many just want to own one of their products regardless of price.
The higher than average cost of their baby gear will raise eyebrows. But the sustained growth in reputation (and sales!) would suggest that there are thousands of satisfied parents out there regardless of the higher upfront investment.
Below we have summarised some of the key elements that have contributed to that success and made their products such a popular choice.
High Performance
The designs are sleek, and the functionality is broad and user-friendly. You will get an amazingly smooth ride with an UPPAbaby stroller which will not deteriorate over time.
The convertible stroller designs are easy to work with and even the most non-mechanical moms will have an easy time clipping in an extra seat to accommodate a baby and a toddler at the same time.
The infant car seats are also a breeze to clip in and out of your car. They are compatible with each stroller model such as the Vista or Cruz so you can move your baby with a minimum of fuss.
Various models of UPPAbaby strollers appear in our market category reviews. Check out the following posts for some more info on how they measure up
Longevity of Use
Some UPPAbaby products are designed in a way that allows you to expand capacity through additional purchases as your family grows.
For example, the Vista V2 stroller comes with a bassinet that is great for a newborn. As they get older they transition to the stroller seat.
You then have the option to add an additional rumble seat if you need to accommodate a second child – turning this into a double stroller – you also have the option for this to be rear-facing.
There is a range of other accessories you can buy to further increase the capacity of your stroller (we have already mentioned the bassinet and rumble seat):
- MESA Infant Car Seat – Compatible with UPPAbaby strollers if you want to use as a travel system.
- Piggyback Board – Stroller board that allows you to use as a sit and stand stroller with one child standing up.
Generous Warranties
A two-year warranty is offered as standard, and an additional one year if you register the product on the company website within three months of purchase.
This is well in excess of the one year offered by most other manufacturers and is a strong signal that UPPAbaby will stand behind the quality of its products.
The Travelsafe program is an additional insurance guarantee that applies to anyone transporting a stroller, Rumbleseat, or carrycot inside an UPPAbaby travel bag.
If your items are damaged in transit when traveling by air you will be entitled to your full warranty protection (you must pre-register your items of course).
Note: The warranty will not cover secondary owners. So if you are planning to buy a second-hand UPPAbaby stroller or car seat you will not be covered.
After-Sale Service
Fashioned in a style more aligned with car manufacturers than a stroller, the UPPAbaby service center hubs offer complimentary stroller maintenance and car seat checks.
This goes above and beyond what any overseas manufacturer could offer in the US market. Again this is a significant investment the company makes to stand behind its products and promote their longevity of use.
If you cannot make it to one of the service centers (there are only three of them) then there are detailed DIY instructions for maintenance on the website.
The content covers everything from cleaning wheels and fabrics to installing add-ons.
For the Dad (or mom) who really likes to tinker there are detailed Tune Up Gear Up events – a traveling road show for a more immersive experience… If you’re into that.
JPMA and ASTM Certified
The quality aspect is further supported by these important external certifications:
- All products are certified by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association).
- Car seats and strollers also exceed the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) compliance standards.
Is UPPAbaby Worth the Cost
A UPPAbaby product is worth the cost if you plan on using it frequently and plan on having multiple children in the future.
The products are built to last and if well looked after could last you the best part of a decade.
However, value and the utility you gain from a product are entirely subjective. So three questions to answer (and be honest with yourself) is:
- How often you will use it – if you love to walk with your child and will use it daily then absolutely!
- Whether the purchase price will stretch your budget or not – there are plenty of great value alternatives that perform well for limited compromise.
- Do you plan on having multiple children?
Has UPPAbaby Become A Status Symbol
The company has a very interesting origin story – if interested it is worth reading this deep dive on slate.com.
One of the more interesting points mentioned in the article is that strollers are a walking billboard for a company. When you see everyone using a certain type of stroller it feels like a safe choice to make.
As UPPAbaby established itself as a premium, but attainable brand, there was a tipping point where expecting parents start seeing UPPAbaby products everywhere, and gravitate towards it.
While this doesn’t make it a status symbol as such, it does center on basic marketing fundamentals of social proof.
This kind of brand equity is slow to establish, and fast to lose – especially in the era of social media where poor product experiences spread fast! The reliable track record that has been built only further reinforces that UPPAbaby is in fact a safe choice.
Final Word
The comprehensive ecosystem that has been built around the UPPAbaby brand goes above and beyond what most other brands aspire to be.
So it is easy to understand why UPPAbaby has become so popular.
The products themselves are packed full of features and are a pleasure to use.
So while the price are higher than your average stroller or car seat you are really buying into a support system that almost guarantees a positive experience over many years.
