Walmart Goes Carbon

[Trek420]

He doesn't explain to the person why, he just refuses. They exit the store. The shop owner explained to me the first time I witnessed this situation that he refuses to have Made in China Walmart bikes in his shop, that he won't condone or enable the ownership of such bikes, and that the liability factor for even touching such a bike for repair is huge.

I agree that box store bikes are meant to break within blocks of the store often dangerously and most can't be fixed. I'm glad that you have a great LBS. But I disagree with his approach. Because most of these riders will never ride again, or leave with the impression that bike shops are snobs.

I've seen my shop tell a rider the bike can't be fixed, and not go into detail. Just can't be done. But one of the reasons I like Chris is he respects all bikes. I remember being in when a guy came in looked around and said "I want a full suspsension MTB for around $400".

Chris gave him a concise 30 second explanation of how he'd pay for the "look of suspension" with poor frame, fit and or components and for what the rider wanted to do (fitness, commute) a bike without suspension-better frame and components.

He explained he has nothing in that range which is true, he hardly has parts in that price but sent the guy to some nearby shops....with an invitation that whatever he buys wherever he gets it to come back for maintenance, service and fit.

Now that's good service.

How many of us have heard "I tried cycling but ____ broke and or ____ hurt"

Well where'd you get the bike?

Have to educate people to get thee to a LBS will save you time and $$$ but the LBS should be a welcome place to go.

[DarcyInOregon]

I agree that box store bikes are meant to break within blocks of the store often dangerously and most can't be fixed. I'm glad that you have a great LBS. But I disagree with his approach. Because most of these riders will never ride again, or leave with the impression that bike shops are snobs.

Trek, I disagree. My LBS said that it is a huge liability issue, and that is why he and other shops won't touch a bike from Walmart. The small shops should not endanger their livelihood and their ability to keep their businesses profitable because of these type of Walmart bikes. If they do a repair, and the Walmart bike breaks down again in a short time, which it will, or the bicyclist is injured or killed, the small shops do not have the funds to pay to defend themselves against the frivolous lawsuits. It is that simple. My LBS is merely a smart and wise businessman.

Darcy

[7rider]

My LBS has a big sign at the front of their service bay, announcing that they will not repair "department store" bikes. I was talking to one of the mechanics when a couple came in with 2 beat up Huffys. One had a bent pedal, the other a flat tire. The mechanic said "I can sell you the parts to fix the bikes, but I cannot do the repair."
You could see that it pained the mechanic, as his primary instinct is to throw the bike on the stand and fix it. He would if he could...but the directive had come down.
It's an insurance and liability issue.
As for me...if I had $1800 to plunk down on a 26 pound "carbon" bike from Wal-Mart, I would hope I would know better to take that $1800 and go to a LBS and get a bike that can be serviced and repaired, if necessary, by someone more knowledgeable than me - or the 17 year old behind the cash register.

[Zen]

Trek, I disagree. My LBS said that it is a huge liability issue, and that is why he and other shops won't touch a bike from Walmart

There's no doubt about that. I think the point is though, don't just summarily show them the door and leave them with a bad opinion about bike shops or they will continue to avoid them. Trek's LBS didn't fix the bike but did take the time to explain why and the advantages of the LBS.

[VeloVT]

Wait... 26 lbs??? I sure hope that includes the box and padding, because I just don't think anyone going to rush out to buy a carbon/ultegra "road race" bike that weighs 26 lbs when they could lose nearly 10 lbs for maybe $200 or $300 more (or for that matter, lose almost as much without spending any more by buying an alu bike. one wonders how the quality of the carbon is anyway).

And I won't defend this point on this board should anyone disagree, because I just don't want to go there, but for many reasons I just can't support Walmart.

It is interesting that they are now carrying $1900 "road race" bikes though -- one wonder 1) what this means about what Walmart perceives to be its target demographic and 2) what this means about how popular perceptions of cycling may be changing...

[Jo-n-NY]

Wait... 26 lbs??? I sure hope that includes the box and padding, because I just don't think anyone going to rush out to buy a carbon/ultegra "road race" bike that weighs 26 lbs when they could lose nearly 10 lbs for maybe $200 or $300 more (or for that matter, lose almost as much without spending any more by buying an alu bike. one wonders how the quality of the carbon is anyway).

And I won't defend this point on this board should anyone disagree, because I just don't want to go there, but for many reasons I just can't support Walmart.

It is interesting that they are now carrying $1900 "road race" bikes though -- one wonder 1) what this means about what Walmart perceives to be its target demographic and 2) what this means about how popular perceptions of cycling may be changing...

I think the average person that shops here does not do their homework. They see the advertisement, see the word carbon and just assume they are getting the deal of a lifetime. I feel like planting myself in the aisle and educate anyone interested in these bikes, but then I would probably get arrested.

However, should the conversation about buying a bike at Walmart, SportsAuthority etc.,come up wherever, there is no stopping my mouth.

~ JoAnn

[Running Mommy]

I was recently reading the NBDA's (national bike dealer association) newsletter and there was a story about a shop owner that buys the broken bikes off of wal mart for pennies on the dollar. He then fixes them up and resells them as used bikes. His take is that he can tell people who call and ask "we have used bikes that start at 75.00". Of course when they hit the shop he's generally able to upsell them. But some folks just don't want to pay more for a bike, so at least they are getting a safe ride.
The bikes would be hitting the landfill otherwise, so at least he's able to "recycle" them...

[singletrackmind]

Must...............restrain............self............from..........crappy............walmart.........

[KnottedYet]

My LBS specializes in used bikes. And they do a roaring business! There are plenty of folks who would rather spend $300 on a good quality used bike than on a less reliable cheap new bike.

But the reverse is also true.

BTW, the LBS has a rack of "free" bikes. Mostly trade-in box-store bikes that they won't resell. And generally they look pretty new...

[KSH]

Trek, I disagree. My LBS said that it is a huge liability issue, and that is why he and other shops won't touch a bike from Walmart. The small shops should not endanger their livelihood and their ability to keep their businesses profitable because of these type of Walmart bikes. If they do a repair, and the Walmart bike breaks down again in a short time, which it will, or the bicyclist is injured or killed, the small shops do not have the funds to pay to defend themselves against the frivolous lawsuits. It is that simple. My LBS is merely a smart and wise businessman.

Darcy

It's a WalMart bike with Shimano 105 on it. So, I'm not really seeing where there would be an issue with working on the derailer, etc. Sure, fixing the framewould be a no-no, but the components are just as nice or nicer than what a lot of us have on our bikes (my Trek 1000 had Tiara and Soroto, my Specialized has Ultegra, but my Cerevelo has 105's.)

And... you know what... my Specialized has "made in Tawain" stamped on it. So I'm not about to get all snooty about a bike that doesn't have "made in the USA" on it.

Honestly though, it's not a good deal the WalMart bike. You can find a full carbon with 105's on it at any LBS for around that price.

[Grog]

It's a WalMart bike with Shimano 105 on it. So, I'm not really seeing where there would be an issue with working on the derailer, etc. Sure, fixing the framewould be a no-no, but the components are just as nice or nicer than what a lot of us have on our bikes (my Trek 1000 had Tiara and Soroto, my Specialized has Ultegra, but my Cerevelo has 105's.)

I think the major problem is not so much that the components are "nice" as how the bike is assembled. High-end parts work well because they are installed properly. I doubt that the staff at Wal-Mart has what it takes in terms of mechanics skills to assemble bikes properly...

And... you know what... my Specialized has "made in Tawain" stamped on it. So I'm not about to get all snooty about a bike that doesn't have "made in the USA" on it.

Taiwan is almost the only place where carbon frames are made. North American factories seldom (if ever) have the equipment to mold them.

I must say that, liability or not, I understand any bike shop's concerns. Last week my sweet partner took his winter bike - a nice Miyata from the 80s, formerly 6-speed turned 8-speed with Durace components - to the bike shop for an overhaul. The poor guys at the shop worked for HOURS on it and could not get the derailer to work quite properly (something we knew from the start would never happen). They felt they had to TRY to make it work. I think the primary impulse in a bike shop mechanics that starts fixing a bike is to do it well. When you start working on a cheap bike, you realize that it's poorly assembled, but by that time it's too late, you've opened the can of worms.... and you feel like you have to do the job.

I agree they should explain why they won't do it, though, but I can be empathic with any shop owner/mechanics who takes the hard decision of saying no to someone's genuine need to get their bike fixed.

[batsheva]

i see the walmart carbon bike is under the 'toys' seection rather than 'sporting goods'....