When we got our eldest a bike, we purchased him a Specialized 16" with training wheels. That bike went through all three of our boys - two were quite tough on it. We then passed it down to two girl cousins. It came back to me when they were finished and I was able to resale it.

Our True Value currently is selling Huffy bikes. I glanced at them quickly last week only to find multiple things obviously wrong with the build. Please remember, True Value sells hardware products. They aren't in the bike selling business. What warranty will you get from True Value if the bike is assembled incorrectly? Will they replace the stem because they forgot to use grease and it has seized? Will they have the one piece bottom bracket tightened correctly?

I would suggest you continue looking at Craigslist for a quality bike. LBS bikes have replaceable/repairable parts. Walmart/Target/True Value are throw away bikes.

Being the manager in a bike shop, I regularly see department store crap. It is very sad to tell a family that the bike they just purchased was not assembled correctly causing the bike to prematurely fall apart.