My brother bought this bike from Bikes Direct:
Save up to 60% off Shimano equipped Road Bikes - Windsor Fens Shimano Equipped Bicycles Save up to 60% off List price
Cheaper than what I paid for my Fuji and better in every respect.
The difference, of course, is that he had to do a little bit of wrenching to get it going (i think he had to put the handlebars or the front fork on and the wheels). It didn't take too long, he rode it around for a month or so to stretch the cables and brought it into a local bike shop for a $100 full tuneup (he probably only needed the $50 tuneup, if that) and still came out ahead.
He has ridden several centuries with me and he has not voiced any complaints to me yet.