All City makes a high-quality cromo frameset for $550 or aluminum for $750 (with a Whiskey carbon fork). They're a real bike company, not a "lifestyle brand," like Crew or whatever City Grounds is selling this month. $550 complete bikes cut corners on hubs & wheels and use "house brand," no-name parts. They're good first bikes for casual use, but you get what you pay for. I say buy once, cry once.

Go look at AC's website more closely -- there's tons of info about the company and their bikes. They make nice stuff.