Originally Posted by
palu
This has got to be a joke. Next time you're in Wal-Mart shopping for a bike, get the "bike specialist" and ask him if he can tune a derailleur. Or adjust a brake cable.
I'm not even going to get into Wal-Mart's business scummy business tactics (both internally and externally) and what they're doing to your local economy.
When I started riding about 3 years ago, my first bike was a Walmart bike. I actually really liked it and used it with no problems. I found it to be a lot more comfortable than the bike I had as a kid. I ended up putting about 500 miles on it. Once I became a more serious rider, I eventually upgraded to a Trek hybrid, and then to a road bike. My only complaint with the Walmart bike was that it was heavy and slow. However it worked just fine and would be fine for a casual cyclist. Obviously a serious cyclist will want something more.
The Walmart out here in Charles Town WV is one of the most popular places in town, selling comparable goods for less than other places in the area. I personally support their business practices and will continue to shop there. They do indeed have low prices on items people need like food and medicine. It's easy for someone with a lot of money to scoff at their "business practices", but if you're on a limited budget you don't have that luxury. As for the employees who are forced at gunpoint to work there for low wages and no healthcare, something tells me that if they are very sneaky they could seek employment elsewhere if there are truly better jobs to be found for which they are qualified.
Our Walmart also made a generous contribution to our Tour de Cure team, and assists our church with our mortgage payment by contributing a certain percentage of what parishioners purchase using prepaid cards that are for sale there.