I gave my honest opinion, as you did. Arguing about it might change other's views, but not mine, nor yours.

Besides, neither of our opinions count much compared to the practical experience the OP will gain.

Caroline, if they do just send them to me first. At the risk of raising the ire of the WalMart bashers..... I just ordered 2 of these. Yeah, TWO. One for a winter beater, the other to use as a build bike for an xtracycle. :D It ain't that I couldn't afford a more expensive winter beater OR the $400 for the Big Dummy conversion kit - I'm just not willing to pay all that. So - I'm a cheap skate. :love:

I confess I shop at WalMart . . . frequently. One thing I notice is that the handicapped parking spaces receive heavy usage. This is a reminder to me that WalMart exists for the benefit of consumers. While libs and labor may deride WMT, it is their customers who benefit.

Why be excited about the LBS. It charges $14 for a little bottle of chain lube. :crash:

Yes, you're right.

I'm actually surprised that Walmart sells a commuter-friendly bike that looks decent compared to its $50 mountain bikes that most low-wage commuters use.

Alright...
 

I have a confession...
I...
WORK...
For Wal-Mart.
And honestly... all of you are (Mostly) right. Especially about the bikes. About the only decent bikes they sell are their BMX bikes or Singlespeed Cruisers. And that's only because even name brand BMX bikes usually only cost maybe double what some of the "high end" BMX bikes WM sells.
My Wal-Mart (and it's customers) are lucky in that our assembly crew is competent and also has me to help them out. I regularly walk the bicycle racks to check for things that need to be fixed or looked at or flat out need to be pulled off the shelves (Like a Schwinn Avenue Hybrid with a loose, wobbling headset). I'm pretty sure my WM is one of the only ones that actually has properly assembled and decently looked over bikes and furniture (I'm not assembly, but, I regularly help them out and teach one of them what to look for and what some of the tools he has do - we have an actual park tool set and work stand [I KNOW - WOW!]).
But, when it comes to Wal-Mart as a company... they really could care less what the customer wants any more. They use Sam Walton as an icon to "show" (pretend) that they still care about the customer, and use sayings from him to try and promote some morale and shift our attention from the fact that we work for an american company that sells VERY little that actually says "Made In America" and is of any substantial quality. Yes, I do shop there, and yes some things are actual worth more than 10 cents (if you're willing to look around).
It's a sad state of affairs. And is very depressing as a cyclist that the bikes are 1) Sold in the Toy Department (although sandwiched between toys and sporting goods in my store), and 2) are managed by said Toy Department Manager. How long I plan to work for Wal-Mart? Lately I'm not sure how long I'll have the patience for the place and am really thinking about trying to get a job at one of the local bike shops (actually there's only one - the others are 20+ miles away and I'm car-less).
But... I do agree with the original poster about that bike... it's an ok bike for short trips, I'd just recommend that she keep an eye on important parts and the tension of bolts. And if she likes the frame (and it isn't one that is crap) she possibly could put some ok parts on it to up it's quality.
So... that's my two-cent.
GR

Really? I would have sworn they were trying to make a profit!

And the worst part of it is that most of that profit comes from people who in conversation would tell you they would NEVER put Americans or American business owners out of business, would never buy something made in China, are proud to be Americans, etc...These people will spend $10 to drive their Tahoe to Walmart to save a quarter on a 12 pack of beer.

Can you tell about new production (not custom made) bikes for commuters that are Made in USA and don't cost a fortune?
You go to Walmart and buy a cheap Chinese bike, you go to a bike shop and buy an expensive Chinese bike.

To the OP.....

I just found out that the Target in my area, and district it seems, has an actual Bike Assembly Guy that comes in on couple days a week and assemble bikes for them! I found this out when the Youngest Princess was there tonight and found a nice Mt Bike (Magna I think) in a Pearl Pink! I was just going to take one boxed up, but the manager said they didn't sell them boxed. I asked why and got the answer. I even got the name of the BAG and found out he was moonlighting for Target from a LBS! So, the Princess got her nice Pearl Pink Magna and its ready to ride.

Target had quite a few bikes that were put together quite nicely. Might want to look into them.

To the poster who worked at Wally World.....

Join the crowd! My MIL worked there for over twenty years. My wife worked off and on for five or so, she gets called up for seasonal rushes. My dad and I both pulled security at couple during seasonal times also. Alot of good folks work at these Xmarts. Are they all experts in the guns/sporting goods section? No, but I don't rely on gunshop workers either. I do my own research and then go shopping.

Jerry

you obviously think bmx bikes are toys then... my bmx was 1700 and weighs 22 lbs. and could probably handle being run over by a a tank. wal-mart bikes are cheap crap that are built by people who dont know what they are doing ( you may be the only exception) and just flat out unsafee half of the time... the component will last u no more than a year at max if u take care of it.... f**** walmart... they should all be burned. i wanna see more family owned small stores that were taken over by walmart. what happened to the small town friendly service feel? i feel the same abou all these "box store" or w/e they're called these days... i refuse to even enter these stores.. much less buy anything from them. i'
d rather spend the extra dollar on my tube of toothpaste from the guy that owns the local convinience store that feeds his family then support a mega bloodsucking economy destroyed monster liek wal-mart... i'm done now

Ahhh.. Youth is wasted on the young.

Some day in the future, your dreams will be destroyed. No matter how hard you have tried, you will still ultimately fail in the worst way. You will not become what your teachers said you could have become. You will learn that your whole life means absolutely nothing in the grand spectrum and that you simply exist as a tool. The weight of the world will smash this little rebellion you're currently honing.

In the end, you too.. will learn to love Walmart.

America has two choices, either establish a lifelong career at Walmart or do all of your shopping at Walmart. Very little difference between the Walmart lifer and Walmart shopper.

Try Cannondale.

I recieved my Walmart Varsity on Friday. After assembling it I took it for a quick ride around the apartments and before I made it around I got my first flat. Upon inspection I noticed it was caused by a spoke so I installed some rim tape and swapped out the tubes with some thorn resistent ones and all has been well.

The welds are good but wheels need to be trued and shifting needs some adjusting but for $200 its something good to start out on. I will admit when I was going over 20mph with traffic I was a bit nervous being on a Walmart bike but it handled just fine without any issues.

I am currently saving up for a Trek XO1 but even after I get it I am still going to get some use out of my Varsity as a backup. I would recommend this bike for anyone who has an interest in getting into riding but is not quite ready to make the financial commitment.

This bike is far from perfect but it does what it is supposed to do and I am very happy with my purchase. If you do decide to buy one make sure you get it in the box so you can assemble it yourself though.

Or do things the hard way, accomplish the dreams, and pay more.

Your choice.

Not a thing really if it suits your purpose then by all means get the bike. Not everyone you meet will be a snob to name brand. The majority are not.

This might be a bit off topic, but I POed on the gun forums also......

Wal-Mart did not drive off the small Mom and Pop stores, we did by going to Wally World and buying their stuff cheaper. So, tear at your clothes and gash your teeth. Not everyone can afford, or even want a >$200 bike. Its snobbery. We all are cyclist, its not an elite club. We buy what fits our needs and budget. Personally, I would love a high end road bike, but my kids want fun things like food and clothes. So alot of us are forced to live in real houses, with real bills, with real neads. Our wants is placed low on the totem pole, to be filled when the money jar is full and all the bills are paid, and we hope the kids don't have to go to the ER or the pet gets sick!

I think the OP wanted a $150 bike for a short commute. If you can find a $150 Cannondale, complete ready to go buy it and I'll buy it from you for $200! I've been searching for a <$400 bike for the past three months. One thing I've learned is that ALL brands of frames are made by two or three factories in China, at that price range. It doesn't matter what name they put on it. The only thing different on them are the components, which are better the higher you get to $400. I'm willing to be schooled, but I haven't found anything made in the USA for under $400. Workman's bike, basic version, but by the time you add shipping, its up their past the $400 mark.

Some folks CAN'T pay more for a higher end bike. So I guess they aren't suppose to ride? I think NoblySpoon has the right idea, buy inexpensive now and save up for later. My dream bike is a Surly LHT for touring. I'm pedling a LBS refurbished Schwinn right now. Its slow going, but as a newbie, I'm not going to anything on the LHT that can't be done on the Schwinn.

Jerry

eap!

Mostly true, but there are notable exceptions: Cannondale, Trek above their entry level bikes. Don't forget all of the hand built bikes that are becoming more available around the USA -- Serotta, Rivendell, Zinn, Calfee, ANT, Co Motion, Moots, Ellis, De Salvo, IF, SyCip are some of the bigger names, and there are probably hundreds of local shops that do pretty good work.

My "entry level" recumbent "ActionBent JetStream II" - best price I could find was $695 (previous year's model) - made in China. But I :love: it.

That wasn't the point. The point was giving your money to WalMart, which helps to drive American Businesses out, thus growing the gap in American Wealth, all the while flying the flag of "Proud to be an American".

To answer your question though, YES, in most cases, I can tell the difference.

Exactly. We need to wake up and start investing in our own country.

i never said i my life meant anything to anyone but me. sorry that i'm young and value customer service more than u do. i'm not cheap and i believe u get wut u pay for. did i mention i do go to any major store??? this includes the mall and super markets. i also do support major designer clothing... the under ground is it for me. it's a lifestyle not a phase... and i may be young but i'm not a teenager.. i'm 24 and a college graduate ( i have a degree in marketing of all things ) i think you are the one that needs to grow up and think for yourself instead of buying into corporate america.

made my choice, i've always done things the hard way and do what everyone said i couldnt. i make my dreams coem true no matter what the cost. i appreciate everythign that much more.

Forget them if you don't want to spend umpteen dollars on a commuter bike.

Check back in another 20 years and let us know how you are doing. :rolleyes:

You are welcome Caroline. I know there is a lot of conflicting information in this post. I hope it helped at least a little.

dont need to prove myself to the forum gods. its a shame that you are all prejudice of age difference.

and in 20 years i'll be more set into my ways. in the past 24 i've done more than i thought i would. and still having fun and riding every day