Walmart asked not to sell bikes

[Sven]

Mechanics Ask Walmart, Major Bike Manufacturers to Stop Making and Selling ‘Built-to-Fail’ Bikes

“The problem with budget bikes is everything. They’re literally built to fail.”

www.vice.com

I GUESS THIS IS THE CORRECT PLACE FOR THIS THREAD.. IF NOT MODERATORS PLEASE REASSIGN.

 

[mike j]

I just saw that today also.

 

[catfish]

People who by bikes at walmart don't care. It is sad.

 

[vincev]

I say let them sell bikes.This is still a free country.If consumer doesnt like the quality they will go to higher end stores.Not everybody who wants to take a leisure ride can afford Trek,Specialized,etc.New riders need to be able to afford the bike to see if they like it or not.Wallmart bikes fit that slot. Mc Donalds sells the worse hambergers of any fast food but we dont stop them from selling burgers.

 

[Billythekid]

But but but where will I get tires and tubes from

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I say let them sell bikes. This is still a free country.

The article suggests that the problem is capitalism, (ugh). I might be open to increasing tariffs (with both winners/losers), but then I wonder why prices go up, or what take-off parts or accessories that I used to buy online are now shipped from like Germany.

I don’t believe that confiscating bicycles to redistribute to each according to his needs would be an improvement.

 

[tacochris]

I agree because of two words: plastic stems.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

I agree because of two words: plastic stems.

Say what, now? I guess I haven't looked at a Wal-Mart bike in a while...
I do agree that the quality should be better on lots of things, but you're not going to stop people from selling their crap as long as people "think" they want to buy it.

 

[TRM]

I read the article and the writer really showed his hand (and his ignorance) in this quote in the final line:

“It’s hard to say exactly what the change that we want to happen is,” Bisker said. “The problem here is capitalism, it’s not the bikes.”

So after all of the bellyaching about cheap big box bikes (btw, you can substitute any number of non-repairable consumer products in place of bicycles and it reads the same), the solution is to change the form of government? No thanks.

 

[vincev]

Keep the free market and let people decide for themselves what they want and how much they can spend.