REI is head and shoulders above the others on that list. That chain offers higher end production bikes that are selected for value at a much higher price point than the others. Bike area employees are actual riders and the mechanics are reasonably good. Your lumping them together belies your not appreciating that point...

For the others, all of which have a store within four miles of my house, they rank (from the bottom):

WalMart - consistently poor assembly and lowest price point
Target - similar quality bikes to WalMart, floor is cleaner
Dicks - marginally higher quality, higher priced, assembly and repair stand/workbench in view, mechanic on duty


I wouldn't hesitate to buy a bike from REI, if I were in the market for a retail purchase. The other three...not so much.