There's another possibility: I don't know if this is the case with bike stuff, but Walmart very often sells merchandise that looks like the same things you see elsewhere and carries the same brand name, but is made to a lower standard. The company has so much clout it can go to manufacturers and say, "We'll take a million of these things you sell for $14.95, but we want to charge 12 bucks for them." To get the sale, the manufacturer will cut costs here and there, using cheaper materials or eliminating features.