THE PROS AND CONS OF BUYING MOUNTAIN BIKES AT WALMART AND COSTCO INSTEAD OF BIKE SHOPS

The first thought from most riders when they hear “box store” is a cheap, brittle bike that would barely survive jumping off of a curb, but that is no longer necessarily the case. Some of the bikes offered by the likes of Walmart are beginning to move in the right direction, such as the Ozark Trail that we reviewed in a recent issue (here’s that review) and Costco offering the carbon-framed Intense 951 Series. Obviously, these types of bikes have their limits, but there are a couple of positives if you’re a beginner to the world of mountain bikes and are looking for something to help you find your feet.

 

 

PROS

One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about buying a mountain bike from a box store is the price point. On average, the bikes available from department and box stores or club warehouses are offered at a lower price point than those from a local bike shop. You can walk into one of these stores, spend under $1,000, and walk out with a fully assembled hardtail mountain bike, most of the time with a 1x drivetrain. Some of the options are even under $600. One of the main entry barriers to mountain biking is the significant upfront cost, but bikes like the Ozark Trail 29-inch Ridge and the Cannondale Trail 5 are ready to go out of the box and retail for under $700. There are even higher-end options, like the Intense 951 series at Costco, that we reviewed and loved for its hard-hitting value.

Another pro of buying a bike from a box store is the convenience and accessibility of these stores for most people. Not everybody lives in a city or suburb where there is a local bike shop within a 10- or 15-minute drive, but chances are there is a Walmart, Costco or another big-box store that isn’t too far away. Bike shops also often have more restrictive hours and non-traditional operating schedules compared to a box or chain store that is open early in the morning to late at night. Many bike shops are closed one or two days during the week, but are open on the weekends, and they might not start their work day until 10 or 11 in the morning.

Places like Walmart and REI have a plethora of bikes and brands to choose from at a variety of price points, as we mentioned above. Local bike shops are bound to stricter contracts and distribution agreements with bike brands when it comes to what they can sell, whereas big chain stores have much more leverage and can offer their customers a wider range of bikes and brands to choose from. Box stores also usually have much more generous return policies. We find it hard to imagine a local bike shop giving a customer their money back after they’ve used the bike they bought from them, but places like Costco might be more generous.

 

 

CONS

The first and most obvious drawback when it comes to buying a mountain bike from a box store is the quality. Places like Walmart, Target and Costco (with the exception of their Intense 951 Series) simply don’t carry the same high-end and top-spec offerings that a local bike shop would have. Most of their inventory is taken up by low-end, beginner and children’s bikes, because that is what the majority of their customers are looking to buy. If you’re looking for something a bit more high-end or for the more advanced rider, then going to a chain store may not be for you.

Another con with buying a mountain bike from a box store—and something that relates to our first point—is the build quality, or lack thereof, on the mountain bikes that they offer. For example, the Ozark Trail 29-inch Ridge that we tested in Mountain Bike Action needed an extensive once-over and bolt check before taking it out on the trail for the first time. The headset was loose, both quick-release skewers needed to be tightened, and there were several bolts that were not torqued to spec.

If you’re new to mountain bikes or not the most mechanically inclined, then taking the bike to a bike shop after you purchase it will be an additional cost that you’ll have to bear. Make sure you take this into consideration if you do end up buying a bike from a box store. Bike shops mainly employ bicycle mechanics who specialize in working with and servicing all types of bikes, so you can buy with the confidence that the bike will be built mechanically sound.

Your final and perhaps most important drawback when going into a box store to buy a mountain bike is the level of service that you’re going to receive. Places like Walmart aren’t going to employ people who specialize in the vast range of riding disciplines, styles and types of bikes that are out there today.

If you know the exact bike you want and it’s just a matter of going to pick it up, then a box store may work just fine. However, if you’re going in with a blank slate and are looking for a tailored buying experience to find something that suits you just right, then going to your local bike shop will be much more effective in getting you on the right bike.

It’s easy to get lost in today’s world of n+1 and having a different type of bike for every situation, so having a knowledgeable guide at your local shop can be a huge benefit.