wayniac

It was good times. One of those Thruster Fixie rides. Took it on a fifteen mile jaunt and returned it. I might even buy one. Then again I may change my mind after I rent something else from the one on the other side of town next weekend. The price is right on their rentals too

Corben

Free and think of all the interesting people you meet in the customer service lines!

wayniac

I talked to this man in his mid fifties. He was commenting on how he hated coming to this Wal-Mart and was praising the quality of the other one across town, i.e People had their pants pulled up, not covered in tattoos, no guards at the doors etc. etc. etc. Meanwhile he was 350lbs with plumbers crack and a grocery basket full of Hungry Man and Jimmy Dean microwave meals.... LMAO

Still Pedaling

Yep! You want to see people that look like they belong in a circus, just hang out at your local Wal-Mart.

Still Pedaling

I didn't know Wal-Mart rented out bikes. Is that all stores or just a select few?

wayniac

I'm really just trying to figure out if I want a bike with drop bars or stick with flat for my new road bike. This bike had flat baresque bars. They had a slight down angle. Maybe 8 degrees or so. Really comfy for a fifteen mile ride. Though my legs were freaking killing me climbing all the hills around here on a single speed.

wayniac

All stores. There is a large deposit though. The full cost of the bike. Fully refundable when you return the bike in good working order

wphamilton

I think that you have to include your integrity as part of the price though.

wayniac

Integrity? Hahahahahaha. Everyone should take part in the Wal-Mart rental services. Maybe we could cut into their profits and run them out of town. Bastards. It's a really stand up thing to do, and would really help your local economy. This of course includes the LBS.

RoyIII

I like Walmart. Glad they are encouraging bike rides.

Darth Lefty 

I returned the wrong air filter once. The lady gave it a thorough inspection. She said people buy both the good and the cheap one, use the good one, put the cheap one in its box, and return it. This after waiting in the line half an hour. I can think of better ways to make five bucks.

RaleighSport

I know a guy who would actually do that... DVD's too.. but usually he'd put the dvd back in the case after ripping it to his PC, if he really liked the movie he'd complain the disc did not come in the case.... I had my own experience once when I was new to wrenching, I'd put a 26x1 3/8 tube for a 26x1.5 tire/wheel the girl didn't give me any more trouble after I simply explained it was the wrong size.

I-Like-To-Bike

It must feel great to be such a smug perfect specimen!

J.C. Koto

Yeah, because having hundreds of local people suddenly out of work would just be a dandy boon to the local economy

wayniac

Yes, because you know there wouldn't be a need for new jobs at the mom and pops stores which were suddenly much busier. I have no delusions that such acts of consumer disobedience could bring the devil that is Mall-Wart to it's knees anyway. It just sounds good to dream out loud every now and then.

J.C. Koto

Well then, since it doesn't seem to go against your principles (or lack thereof) go right ahead with your "consumer disobedience" of buying, using, then subsequently returning items to your heart's content if it makes you feel like a modern-day Robin Hood. Yeah! Stick it to the man! Right on! You should feel proud.

fietsbob

Wayne missed the joke , I guess

GP

So you're a thief.

wayniac

Thief? Ha. Nope. Pretty sure it's 100% legal to buy something, use it and return it when it's a POS.

I-Like-To-Bike

Sure the high minded sanctimonious POS should "buy" a complete outfit to wear for each "consumer disobedience" cycling trip, and return the sweaty dirty clothes with the bike for a full refund after every trip, preferably after taking a dump in the shorts. That will show those Walmart guys what kind of high minded, class act he is.

Ramona_W

If it's such a piece of sh*t, why would you ride one? Let alone say you "might even buy one"?

At least you brought it back after only test-riding it for 15 miles. Bless you for that and I'm sure the customer service people and especially that store's bike assembler would say the same. You see- I realize this may be news to you- an actual human being put that bike together and another human being sold it to you and another human being handled the return of your "rental". All those humans who, like you, enjoy sleeping indoors and consuming food on a regular basis, did their job for just above minimum wage and, unlike you, they'll be using that minimum wage to contribute to the "local economy" you seem so concerned about.

I said "Bless you" because I'm one of those Walmart bike assemblers and, because Walmart has a 90 day return policy on bicycles, I get to deal with bikes that have been through a lot more than a 15 mile jaunt. I have to figure out what to do with a bike that has been ridden hard all summer, has had the rear brake modified with electrical tape, has the numbers marking the gears on the shifters rubbed off- which matters little because the shifters themselves no longer work- or has been through at least one serious crash. Those riders seem to have considered their bike a rental too because they had no qualms about bringing it back for a full refund or an exchange. (For the record, it's also my job to put together grills which, as it turns out, were purchased so the one broken piece from the new owner's grill could be replaced with one from the box before the product is returned with the notation "Pieces missing. Could not assemble." No kidding.)

Of course, none of that matters to you. Just like it doesn't matter that my Walmart hired 300 people, that they donate to the local food bank using a truck the company bought, or that I'm employed full-time, have the option of non-publicly funded- that means *you* pay for it- health insurance, and may actually be able to retire at some point before I'm 90.

So, by all means, keep enjoying the "free" rental program. It's job security. Gosh... You save money; I live better. Win-win for all of us.

Corben

I been in the grocery business for twenty five yrs and I seen a great industry turn from a happy one to a stressed out industry ever since Walmart started selling groceries. All they want to do is put everyone else out of business. If youre making a living making A,B and selling C you can be sure Walmart has its evil eye on you and your customers. And thier customer service SUCKS!!! and thier loyal customers are freaks!!!
So Wayniac you just go right on taking advantage of that bike rental program at Wally world and be sure to piss on that bike before you return it. Since Walmart had no integrity when it came to putting thousands of mom and pop shops and other small business out of business why the hell should you?
But wait! Stop! Suppose that next bike turns out to be a keeper? It's actually welded well and Ramona put it together very well also. It's not a bad bike and decide to keep it. That's okay because bike shops are expensive. LBS owners are greedy and over charge and only buy thier groceries at Walmart anyway.
So the moral is if you hate Walmart so much why the hell are you buying your groceries there for? Because its cheaper!
Whoa....I got way off topic here! Sorry for ranting. Worlds going crazy.........

wahoonc

Walmart has already taken care of that with their buying practices. Then rehired some of those same people at a fraction of their former wages.

Aaron

wayniac

My point exactly

I-Like-To-Bike

OP would never acknowledge that second possibility.

Wouldn't be surprised if the OP is affiliated with an LBS; bad mouthing Walmart bicycling products on BF is a constant refrain from some of them as well as the true believers in the value of LBS provenance. Playing dirty tricks would be be right in character.