Originally Posted by filtersweep
That is the most stupid business model I have ever heard. I wouldn't buy from any company that dumb. They really should use a different name for their higher end offering after ruining the Mongoose name.
This is a very good point and it raises another important question/point. RESALE
If you intend to buy a bike and use it for many years and not move to a better bike, then no problem, go with the Mongoose. But, if you think you will want to upgrade to a better bike in three or four years, it's tough to sell a Mongoose because most people will associate the bike with the box store version and pay only a fraction of what it is worth. This is something to consider because old Treks, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Giant, etc that are five or six years old will resell for 30 to 50% (sometimes more) of their original selling price. Short term, it would be better to go with the LBS only brand names.