The same is the case in our store and like you ,I get tired of the same old BS of underpaid know nothings,idiots or otherwise unemployable,as many of the Walmart Haters like to call us Walmart employees.
No where in my post did I say I hate Wal Mart. I don't like what they do to their stores after the "Grand Opening", cluttered aisles, pallets of merchandise acting like store displays, dirty parking lots, solicitors outside the store, etc. It's a free country and one can choose to shop where one chooses.
I choose to buy my bikes from a known, reputable source. A local bike shop, where I know that the bike will be assembled by pros. At a Wal Mart, you don't have the luxury of knowing who put it together unless you work there or know someone who knows.
Assumptions can be dangerous as this case may point out. The parents assumed the bike was safe. They didn't check it, it's their fault IMO. As a parent, you are responsible for your childs behavior and actions. I would be very surprised if Pacific Bicycles is held accountable. They ship bikes that are essentially "assembled" with some minor assembly required.
The manuals still state that is important to verify that safety equipment is in good working order prior to riding the bike. For that matter all bike manuals probably state that, I know my $2K mountain bike purchased from my LBS does.
But one has to look at the source and question or verify the mechanical aptitude of those putting these things together.
You're buying a dept. store bike, it's not like there are experts in every dept. When you buy from a LBS, they're supposed to be experts. I could see someone holding an expert accountable if they were the one responsible for assembling the bike.
The same could be said for the big box home improvement stores. I don't trust half those folks as far as I could possibly throw them.
Cheers,
SZ