I've had this question posed to me before and also seen it asked around the web. Obviously there is no right answer to this question, the answer lies in the mind of the purchaser. But in my opinion Huffy brand bicycles are a bad purchase. I believe buying a bicycle from any big box retailer, like a Walmart or Target is a bad idea.
Big Box Retailers are great for a lot of things. The things that are best to purchase at these stores are the products that are found at many shopping locations but are always less at the Big Box Retailer. But I don't mean a shirt, I mean specific products. So, for example Tide Laundry Detergent which is the same Tide found at your grocery store but is less expensive at Walmart. If Walmart sells a Sony TV but the product specs are different than the Sony TV found at a Local TV Store, there is a reason Walmart is selling it for less and it is probably because it doesn't work as well or is a lower quality.
This principal holds exactly true for purchasing a bicycle at a Big Box Retailer.
Walmart and Target carry Schwinn bicycles but those are not the same Schwinn models you would find at a local bike shop. Also, the motto, "You get what you pay for," is definitely a true statement especially when it comes to bicycles. Huffy Bicycles nowadays are just about the least expensive bike money can buy. Buying the least expensive bicycle say in the range of $99 - $115 for a single speed bike, is going to get you the worst bike with one gear that money can buy. I don't know about you but I don't want to buy the worst product money can buy for anything. It truly is not possible to own the best of anything when you spend the least amount of money. Sometimes we can get a "good deal" but is it a good deal when it is the worst bicycle money can buy? Another question to pose is what classifies a good deal, is it the price? Is it a good deal if you paid $99 but the bike falls apart in one week? I can answer this, the answer is no.
I'm not saying all products from these Big Box Retailers will fall apart but I do know their bicycles are made with low quality components and very little concern for the long term performance of the bike. The driving factor behind the bicycles sold at Walmart is price, everything has to fit within a certain price range or they will not stock their shelves with it.
When buying a bicycle I don't necessarily suggest buying the most expensive model because that won't be the best value either. The truly best "value" will fall somewhere in the middle. Just like how Diving is scored in the Olympics with the judges always throwing out the lowest and highest scores, when next shopping for a bike try eliminating the least expensive and most expensive bike models and look more closely at the ones in the middle, they will be the bikes that provide the best bang for the buck.
Dustin Gyger
Chief Beachbiker
I Ride a sixthreezero
Beachbikes
Move Free, Have Fun
Big Box Retailers are great for a lot of things. The things that are best to purchase at these stores are the products that are found at many shopping locations but are always less at the Big Box Retailer. But I don't mean a shirt, I mean specific products. So, for example Tide Laundry Detergent which is the same Tide found at your grocery store but is less expensive at Walmart. If Walmart sells a Sony TV but the product specs are different than the Sony TV found at a Local TV Store, there is a reason Walmart is selling it for less and it is probably because it doesn't work as well or is a lower quality.
This principal holds exactly true for purchasing a bicycle at a Big Box Retailer.
Walmart and Target carry Schwinn bicycles but those are not the same Schwinn models you would find at a local bike shop. Also, the motto, "You get what you pay for," is definitely a true statement especially when it comes to bicycles. Huffy Bicycles nowadays are just about the least expensive bike money can buy. Buying the least expensive bicycle say in the range of $99 - $115 for a single speed bike, is going to get you the worst bike with one gear that money can buy. I don't know about you but I don't want to buy the worst product money can buy for anything. It truly is not possible to own the best of anything when you spend the least amount of money. Sometimes we can get a "good deal" but is it a good deal when it is the worst bicycle money can buy? Another question to pose is what classifies a good deal, is it the price? Is it a good deal if you paid $99 but the bike falls apart in one week? I can answer this, the answer is no.
I'm not saying all products from these Big Box Retailers will fall apart but I do know their bicycles are made with low quality components and very little concern for the long term performance of the bike. The driving factor behind the bicycles sold at Walmart is price, everything has to fit within a certain price range or they will not stock their shelves with it.
When buying a bicycle I don't necessarily suggest buying the most expensive model because that won't be the best value either. The truly best "value" will fall somewhere in the middle. Just like how Diving is scored in the Olympics with the judges always throwing out the lowest and highest scores, when next shopping for a bike try eliminating the least expensive and most expensive bike models and look more closely at the ones in the middle, they will be the bikes that provide the best bang for the buck.
Dustin Gyger
Chief Beachbiker
I Ride a sixthreezero
Beachbikes
Move Free, Have Fun
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