What would change your mind about buying a low end bike from Walmart?

Question

We all know that bikes from Walmart are cheap and poorly assembled, but is there anything- except the quality of the bike itself- that would convince you to buy a bike from Walmart.. perhaps for a new or occasional rider?

Answer 1

The one thing that has kept me from department store bikes is lack of knowledge from the staff.  

"Which is better for faster riding on pavement, the road bike or mountain bike?

"The mountain bike."  Wrong answer.  

The frame on these bikes are terrible also.  If you're a larger rider like I am, the frames get longer, not larger, so you're stretched out on the handlebars.  And if the bike is large enough, its frame doesn't allow effective pedaling, and the range of sizes is limited.  You can only raise the handlebar stem and seatpost so far.  

And sometimes your knees are still hitting you in the chin or you are hunched over the handlebars which is neither comfortable or safe.  

I bought a Trek 3700 that now has over 3,500 comfortable miles on it.   It was only $280 at the local small bike shop.  

Answer 2

Don't buy from wall mart...they get their bikes made in poor countries and their employees don't get treated fair...( I have seen a documentary on this)

if you buy from them you are helping them get richer..yea your bike will be cheaper...but it might not even work properly...i'd say buy a used one from ebay or look in the paper..

Answer 3

On a personal note, I'm 16 and work as a mechanic in a bike shop so I know everything (well almost) I need to about bikes.  When you make a comparison between a Wal-mart brand bike and then a higher end brand bike such as a specialized or orbea, trek, planet x, etc.  the differences are not hard to tell.  Take a full-suspension all mountain bike from the higher end companies then put it next to a wal-mart special what stands out are the components and frame designs.  you can see that with the top end models, there is actually some type of thought thats put into the design, not just a cheap steel coil spring attached in between poorly crafted and welded aluminum frame.  and it goes on from there.  Summing it all up, my answer is that there is nothing that would change my mind about buying a bike from wal-mart or for that matter any store that does not specialize in bikes.  I mean, even if you through on a full Dura-ace or Sram Red component set (which would cost you around $1400-1800 alone) you're already spending that much money on components alone, why not just spend more to get GUARANTEED quality, sometimes even a lifetime guarantee.  And then on top of that, with a bike store you get special service from people that actually no what they're talking about.  not just some stalk-person from the back room.  If you understand what I'm saying, then the point is clear and to me, seems completely reasonable.

@ Friend's Response:  You defiantly do not pay $30-40 at your LBS for a tube change unless of course you live in the middle of Africa.  At my shop, you pay the cost of the quality tube which is $5 then $5 for labor.  But with that $10 you wont get a pinch flat the first time you put weight on the tire, or walk out with an un-tru rim.  If you were referring to a tire change, then well yeah, tires cost $$ esepcialliy for road bikes because most of them are top of the line race tires.  and labor is a fair charge at a bike shop.  If you would ever have to go through the trouble of trying to change a Tubular tire on a wheel such as a Zipp 900 disc, then you most defiantly understand that it's not an easy task at all.

Answer 4

I bought my first MTB from Walmart 8 years before and since then Break Cable to Tire Replacement I paid nothing, whenever I took it to Walmart. You might feel hard to believe that but it is true! Walmart did it for free for my son's MTB, even I wanted to pay for the material at least.

Sometimes I wish Walmart would care branded Road Bikes like TREK, FELT, GT etc. when I pay $53 for a Bearing replacement in my Road Bike at local bike store for my Road TREK bike.

If you want my suggestion, buy from Walmart (closing your eyes) because for a flat tire you pay nothing at Walmart where as you pay at least $30-40 at your Local Bike Store!

In addition, you bike will need servicing for Break, Tire, Bearing, Wheel True etc. etc. since after you purchase. All Local Bike Store are ready to RIP you off with an average $50 per visit!. Remember you get it free labor (or cost of the material only for $5-10 max) without the killing labor charge like LBS. Trust me.

Answer 5

Nothing!  Wal mart is a trashy store.  They sell inferior products as well as treat their workers poorly.  They sell stuff that was made by children in the poorest countries sweat shops.

Answer 6

I personally wouldn't advocate a new rider to buy a bicycle from a large department store. Aside from the often inferior bike components, they lack something a newbie really needs - customer service.

Looking at my local budget department stores (like Big W, Target & K-mart in Australia), that's the image I see anyway.

Buying from a proper bike shop might not be the cheapest option, but the staff will put the bike together properly, fit the bike to suit your body & will offer after-sales sevice.

For someone who's not that good with mechanical things, having a shop where bicycle parts can be adjusted (often for free) by qualified mechanics, questions can be asked & where knowledgable answers are given is definitely worth the extra money!

So my answer is that having an area in the department store, dedicated to cycling (with a work-shop), with qualified mechanics always on duty, might alter my views a little bit.

Answer 7

A lack of negative publicity from 'expert-know-it-alls' would assist bike sales in these stores!

The frames and components are made in the same Far East factories that makes higher end bikes! So the difference?? - a lower end bike that's maybe not put together so well.

These bikes are, in retail terms, 'units' and in this type of store(fast turnover) they will always be known as such. The care of assembly is not usually to a higher standard of a LBS because there is usually a lack of experienced staff to put them together (again,- High turnover)

If you want to find a parallel Mirage, look what Halfords have done in the UK!  They still have a little 'Don't-buy-a-bike-from-them' image but they have come on in leaps and bounds.

Hope my little input helps.

EDIT: Forgot to mention aftersales! Perhaps a more proactive response in this area may be of some benefit!

FURTHER EDIT: I tend to act on impulse and repent at leisure! . .as a result - I have given this question some extra thought!

The 'Pile them high and sell them cheap' strategy that companies such a Walmart employ, works for them- that's what they do! Some people buy Cervélo others buy Trek or  . . .ahem!  . . Pinnacle!

I will use a phrase I have used before 'Horses for courses!' based on budget or intended use.  And the market will always accommodate this!

Just to clarify, - what Halfords have done is set up a pseudo 'consession' (ie.BikeHut at Halfords) and pretty much run this as a separate entity, using a cycling celebrity (ie. Chris Boardman) they have propelled their image far forward than in the past!

Ideally, -  Walmart could of course, actively seek to employ German technicians to take care of maintenance and assembly and Asian Customer Service staff to look after consumer needs! (this, as you know, would be Illegal!)

Basically, an answer to this question would entail a corporate 're-think', rather than a simple marketing exercise!

Still!  . . Another contributor has given you an idea of how to size your bike and take it for a test ride . . can't be bad eh?

EDIT: MIRAGE ! - The Pinnacle reference was bait and you swallowed it ! - No offence mate!

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Answer 8

There is NOTHING wrong with shopping at Wal Mart.

If one likes the Wal Mart bikes - feel free to buy them.

Answer 9

Weight weight weight.  And usually, the lowest end components made by component manufacturers.

Answer 10

walmart bikes arent that bad the schwins nd mongooses are decent they just might need to tinkered with a little a friend of mine bought a shcwin from wal mart for 150 bucks nd the chain came off continusly and it wouldnt shift right        im not that great with bikes but i was able to fix it with ease now it works great

Answer 11

The fact that Wal-Mart uses the money to repress the employees ?

Answer 12

For a new or occasional rider, for short range transportation, it might be OK, and I've generally expressed that in my answers.  

What would cause ME to buy a bike from Walmart?  Quite simply a different selection of bikes.  I haven't seen anything there that would stand up to my riding.  

Answer 13

You may get a bike whose components/etc. may not work as well as if you shopped from a local bike store.  Be sure to size the bike, by standing over it, make sure your 'area' doesn't hit! Ride it around the store, see how it feels.  

Answer 14

Maybe if someone wanted a single speed beach cruiser to ride around the block once a week and it was on sale and if I completely disassembled the bike and rebuilt it  ... maybe ... just maybe ...

Remember, back in the day, that Atala Pro with the dayglo redish orange burn your eyes out paint job. That was one of the most ugly good bikes I've ever seen. lol.

Betta184 ... back when I was still using tubulars I would never trust someone else to glue up my Del Mondos. No way!

Answer 15

If Wal-Mart employees made airplanes, would you fly in them?

Seriously, ANY bike purchased at a "-Mart" store is so poorly made, of such sub-standard quality, and so incredibly heavy an inefficient that there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING that would EVER convince me to purchase one or even recommend it, even to a welfare family!

Yes, they are that bad.  We did read the entire question, you're just not understanding that just because our answers aren't what you WANT to hear doesn't mean that they aren't completely correct.

Answer 16

Don't buy from Wal-Mart. It insults the global market. They're poorly assembled because they're assembled for pennies and shipped across the world. Wal-Mart knows exactly the profit margins they can make with "poorly assembled" bikes and make them such on purpose, for the same reason Big Brother intentionally gives the Outer Government less consumer goods than they could if they wanted to...so that the upper class feels more special, while pocketing insane profit for themselves. Wal-Mart is the global consumer retailer...yet is the #1 Fortune 500 company. Coincidence? How could a company that cares about its customers have the highest profit margin relative to investment? They can't. They mistreat employees, manufacturers, truckers, and are responsible for the inevitable collapse of global economy.

Buy from a small business, the extra pennies are worth quality workmanship and support of more local economy.