Originally Posted by
ottawa_adam
This is likely Walmart's attempt at attracting a new customer base - in this case, the serious cyclist, who can afford to pay such a price. I'm curious at how this model will sell and whether the will decide to keep selling it after this season. I note that it is only available to be shipped and not likely available in their stores. If that's the case, who is responsible for assembly, I wonder?
On the topic of assembly, around here the department stores usually hire young people, between 16 and 18 years of age, to assemble bikes. Minimum wage for that age group is less than for adults. They are usually paid a commission, based on numbers of bikes assembled, which provides incentive for them to crank out the bikes, without observing quality. They are usually hired via classified ads, which state that no experience is required and that people will be trained.
I am curious, though, I wouldn't mind seeing one of these bikes in person.
And from having hung out at a few LBS' don't most of the higher quality bicycles, i.e. Trek, Canondale, Specialized, etc. have stickers/printing on their boxes that say something to the effect of "if this bike isn't assembled by certain people" that the warranty is void?
And given that at the BBS' that most of the assemblers are in the age group that you noted most are also (usually) more interested in "hooking up with the 'hottie' in housewares" rather than making sure that the bike is put together correctly.