Another reason NOT to buy a Wal Mart bike..

[teigyr]

While I think that we all know logically why the LBS is better and why a $200 bike from Wal-Mart isn't as good as a $400-$500 bike from the LBS, many people don't think that way.

I took a friend bike shopping a while ago. He's a heavier person and was told that riding a bike would be good for him because walking (or running) puts a lot of strain on his feet and legs. He had concerns as to whether a bike could handle his weight.

We went around to the local shops and found one that would sell him a bike for $400. They would rebuild the rear wheel to handle additional strain due to weight and that would be around $80. They were willing to swap out some parts that he didn't like and they were going to upgrade some other things. The bike and frame would have a 10 year warranty (I believe), the wheel build would be a lifetime warranty. They would handle all the initial tune-ups, etc., at no cost. The total price was under $500.

He didn't go for it. Instead, he lamented about how "when we were kids, bikes were cheap and we rode them everywhere". He also was put off by the whole array of clothes, gloves, and helmets because "when we were kids, we didn't wear any of that stuff". After all of it and even though he had concerns about a bike being able to handle his weight, he decided he really didn't want to spend that much money even though he had the money and his doctor really urged him to do this.

I went over everything with him, about how the first few months the bike'll go out of adjustment, about how you need someone to help you build it up if you don't know what you're doing, and about how warranty (and lifetime warranty of that wheel build...the warranty included truing) were nothing compared to what he'd pay for by buying a Wal-Mart type bike.

So I guess I'm saying it makes sense to us. We can list it out and from experience, we know what it's like and what to expect. There are people, however, that have the "when I was a kid" mentality and think a bike is just a bike and quality (or lack thereof) is just an excuse to raise the price. I think it's wise to have examples though for those people who are open to discussion. Pictures or a cost comparison might appeal to some.

Shopping with that guy made me want to bang my head on the wall.

[Flybye]

Let me start out by saying that I agree with posts #1-17.

Also, let me add that I have purchased 9 bikes from Wal-Mart for my kids. They have literally ridden these bikes until there is no tread left on the tires. First, I purchased three bikes with training wheels, one for each of my kids, then I purchased three bikes, again one for each kid, that were a size up, and then again, three bikes, one for each kid that were one more step up in size. No problems with assembly, brakes, bike function, etc.

Also, in college, both my DH and I rode Huffy Mountain Bikes EVERYWHERE- including the mountains. I am baffled when I think of the trails that we had these bikes on.

Of those 11 bikes, I only had to make repairs to one of them (other than fixing a flat) and that is because my DH backed over it with the truck. We called the MFG of the bike (Next) and they sent us, completely free, a new wheel and two new tubes for this bike.

Let me state again that I agree with the posts prior to this. However - there's the kicker- not all Wal-Mart bikes are put together wrong, and not all riders need a bike from the LBS.

Now that my kids are older (10 and 11) I will most likely not purchase a Wal-Bike. I think they will be on their next bikes longer because they aren't growing quite as fast as they used to and so I can appreciate spending a little more money on a bike that will be rode for more than 2 summers.

I do think that it would be a great idea as others have mentioned, to take some shots of poorly assembled bikes and have them in a binder for customers to look at.

Oh, and for whatever it is worth, I know the LBS has made a (ahem) mistake or two themselves on an assembled bike in the showroom..................

We have one place to shop here for anything other than groceries - Wal-Mart. (Unless you want ranch and farm supplies) As much as I hate to admit it, they do get a large portion of our monthly wages, along with the rest of the towns wages. Sad, but true.

[SandyLS]

My teenage granddaughter's uncle purchased a Wal-Mart bike for her last summer. The bike's brakes were not installed properly and she crashed into the side of a car in a driveway going down a steep hill as she was on her way to work. Luckily she only ended up with some road rash and bruises. If you must buy a bike from a big box store make sure to look it over or have it looked over by someone who knows about bikes before you ride . Probably good advice where ever you buy a bike!
Hubby and I each own bike shop bikes and enjoy them (Bianchi Veloce for me, EZ Racer Goldrush recumbent for hubby.) But, last year we spent several weeks in Hawaii and bought Wal-Mart mountian bikes to use while we were there. These worked for our needs there mostly because hubby is a pretty good wrench and was able to make adjustments which were needed often. We were very glad to get back on our 'good' bikes when we got home from vacation.

[Mr. Bloom]

RM: I'm hoping I can meet ya'll next time I'm in Phoenix.

I encourage you to stay focused on YOUR value proposition and what YOU offer.

My experience is that when someone gets too empassioned in their criticism of the competition, I get suspicious of them and delay my decision. The trick is 'being right' but not having them think bad about you.

To some, price will be THE issue...they often won't tell you that they can't afford anything better and you don't want them feeling bad about themselves.

[missymaya]

Now, I believe (don't have back up informartion) that there was a lawsuit towards one of the big box stores because a little girl was riding her bike and the quill stem was not properly tightened, it dropped and she went head over the handle bars, cutting her face pretty bad and had to get stiches. Now, this is what I was told by one of the guys I work with at the LBS, I could be wrong and please correct me if so.
Now that it's after January, we've gotten a ton of bikes that need to be fixed and unfortunately, most of them coming from big box stores. It saddens me because these people are buying the bikes and then putting more $$ into them just so they can run.

[Mr. Bloom]

Another reason to focus on your value:

http://www.bike-eu.com/news/2485/wal...ke-market.html

But, here's one of the lawsuits missy was referring to:

http://walmartwatch.com/blog/archive...back_pedaling/

[Running Mommy]

Yeah mr. silver. I do recognize that some people just can't afford anything else. Or like one of the other posters said, they don't think bikes should cost more than a hundred bucks, because "back in the day....."
Yeah, well BACK IN THE DAY car's were much less expensive too. As was everything else. Those people are just going to be the way they are going to be.
But I really don't want anyone to feel bad about what they ride. I just want to see people riding and having fun- no matter what the ride is!
My concern is the safety issue. Flybye is lucky. She must have a decent mechanic up there. But being in a farm community perhaps the bike assembler has been working on farm equipment all their life, so are mechanical by nature. Of course that's just a guess...
But I can say that the wal mart in Rohnert Park CA were I used to work used kids, and we had A LOT of incidents of people getting hurt.
And here in Goodyear I see the same sort of thing.
BTW- I did take a pic on my phone of the backwards fork. Now I just have to figure out how to get it OUT of my phone! lol
But yeah, good exchange here, good ideas!

[teigyr]

I wonder if there's a way to have someone test-ride a really really heavy low-end bike (that you wouldn't really carry anyway) and then a better one?

I know that for some people, there's a budget. I guess everyone should learn that buying something cheap several times because it breaks is not more cost efficient than buying something a bit more expensive that lasts. Heck, I learned that with shoes ages ago

I honestly think that some people still see bikes as toys. And you're right, back in the day other things were cheaper too but I bet if you compared the price to income, the bike wasn't THAT cheap. I'm lucky. When my parents bought me a bike, they went to the local bike shop and got me a decent one.

[Tuckervill]

Big box stores sometimes hire contractors to put together all kinds of things in their stores. The guy who sells the contract to the big box store hires out the actual assembly to whomever they can get for ten bucks an hour. The assembler is a subcontractor, meaning he is not an employee, so no taxes are paid on his behalf, and he's probably not "bonded and insured", either. He's probably young, someone who needed a job and would be doing something else if he didn't "know a guy".

I know all this because my son did it for a time. He was the kid who "knew a guy", but he didn't assemble bikes. He assembled furniture and other stuff for Target.

Karen

[Melalvai]

I have purchased 9 bikes from Wal-Mart for my kids...
Now that my kids are older (10 and 11) I will most likely not purchase a Wal-Bike.

I believe Walmart bikes have gotten a lot worse in the past couple years. Walmart in general has deteriorated since Sam died.

[Tuckervill]

I have to say my son bought a WM bike with his own money when he was 6 ($40). A 20" bike, he still rides it (he's 14) to the pool in the summer. It has held up fine, especially for the way it's been treated. It's the bike that stays out in the rain when he forgets it. It's the one he leaves in the front yard when he goes to the neighbor kid's house, etc. He treats his mountain and road bikes like gold, though. I'd much rather he have a bike to neglect like that one, than have his expensive bikes stolen or misused in his youthful carelessness. Just having that bike has been a good learning experience for him.

What's funny is he's ridden it since he was 6 and the seat has never been raised!

Karen

[Grog]

I'm with Mr. Silver. Focus on what YOU have to offer: bikes that are guaranteed to be properly assembled, customer care and service, good tips, etc.

I also find it dubious when a store operator takes too much time and energy criticizing the competition.

[Mr. SR500]

I'm with Mr. Silver. Focus on what YOU have to offer: bikes that are guaranteed to be properly assembled, customer care and service, good tips, etc.

I also find it dubious when a store operator takes too much time and energy criticizing the competition.

+1, also +1 on the Sam comment above (I sure he is rolling over...)

[Eden]

+1, also +1 on the Sam comment above (I sure he is rolling over...)

I'm sure!

I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart, I think the way they are running the business is wrong on so many levels.... but I also live in a large city where I have plenty of options.

I do however remember when Wal-Mart first opened and there were many large signs proclaiming "Proudly made in the USA", so sad that the company did not continue with its founder's philosophies.

[Flybye]

I believe Walmart bikes have gotten a lot worse in the past couple years. Walmart in general has deteriorated since Sam died.

That's funny that you should mention that because I was thinking the same thing last night as I was TRYING to sleep

I don't think that we can blame Wal-Mart for the deteriorating bikes, just the manufacturers - Next, Huffy, etc. for cutting costs on the bikes they produce.

Are any of the second rate brands sold off-shoots of bigger companies - for example, does Trek also mfgr. brand X??

Another thing that really blows me out of the water is that a company that wants a reputation as being quality like Shimano would allow low end bikes to have their components. I guess it is all about the buck for them, too.