Date:         Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:52:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Michelin Tire Sale at Costco - $60-$80 discount per set

Tires at Costco:
The statements in this thread about certain tires not being available at
Costco has struck a cord (bad pun).

Two weeks ago I was in Costco in Twin Falls, Idaho, and inquired about BFG
T/A Ko's, 215/75R15, and was told they had been discontued; Michelins were
offered as a substitute.  Having been reading up on the various tire
options lately, I did not believe that the BFG's were no longer available,
so the conversation went no further.  Upon returning home, I checked the
BFG website for this tire and found it listed, and further confirmed with a
phone call to BFG that it has not been discontinued.

My own experience at Costco, when combined with what I'm reading in this
thread of others' experience, leads me to wonder if Costco perhaps tries to
sell the tires they have in the warehouse (possibly purchased with a volume
discount), as opposed to getting the tires the customer wants (most likely
purchased without a volume discount, and thus a lower-margin sale for
Costco?).  A few anecdotal experiences are insufficient to reach a
conclusion about Costco practice, but maybe there are more of you out there
who have had a similar experience at Costco?

I have yet to buy tires at Costco, since the nearest store is eighty miles
away from me, so even a $15-20 savings per tire would not be worth the
trip, without multiple other reasons for making the drive.

Bill