My son spent his own money on this bike, he is 8, even paid the extra $'s to get it overnighted. Below is my "experience" out of the box.
PACKAGING (External) - ceived the box today, and YEP, SHIPPING/Packaging issues. The rear axel was poking out the side of the box. All box staples were ripped out, but really bad tape had replaced them, box in bad shape, etc. The WORST was that on every surface of the box in big letters it says DO NOT LAY FLAT... well our FEDEX guy clearly cannot read, cause it was laying outside our garage door FLAT. Immediately went online to amazon and reported packaging issues on the Orders page, hope to hear SOMETHING from Amazon on this...
Packaging (Internal) - Some heavy paper/light cardboard partially wrapped and taped around. Zip tie holding front wheel to the frame. Bad part is that some of the "misc"/shipping parts (like a green platic "cover" that goes over the axel nuts to protect them during shipping) were not in place but laying in the bottom of the box. Handlebar not secured to anything, and the cables were not appropriately secured, so when I took the frame out, the handlebar was stuck in the box and kinked/pulled one of the cables OFF (and this was just gently lifting the frame out, not tugging involved). Maybe the cable was already off. I was able to fix it, but still...
Instructions - No "how to unpackage"/Start Here/Read this first packaging at all. Owners manual is generic for ALL MONGOOSE BICYCLES and is nearly impossible to use/read. Tried to go to the Pacific Cycle website for specific/more detailed instructions. It led me to mongoose.com, which doesn't even show this bike as this year or last years model :(
Building - Luckily I had built enough bikes over the years that I knew what to do. Our bike DID NOT have a quick release seat clamp indicated in the description (but is not shown in the picture either). One of the handlebar clamp bolts was threaded in bad, but I was able to run a quality steel bolt through the threading in the stem to fix that. Handles bars went on fine. The brakes need a TON of adjustment. Mostly the brakes need tightened the frame as they were both very loose. The rear hub/freewheel is VERY NOISY, there is something wrong internally. Also, freewheel is rough pedaling backwards (i.e. is not very free) I am going to call the support number after we compile a complete "list of issues" and discuss this with them. Also, in checking spokes, which I doubt most people do, I found 10 spokes that were not only not tightened to spec, but where actually so loose the spokes wobbled in the hub holes :( THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I snugged them up so the bike is atleast rideable.
Summary - This is a "get what you pay for" bike, and honestly is a decent value for $100, if it where shipped properly and did not have the quality issues i had with the cables/brakes/stem/freewheel.
Hope this helps anyone trying to make a decision on this bike.