I ordered a set of tires online about a year ago. When they arrived, I checked the date codes and they were all well over a year old already! I contacted the vendor to bring it to their attention and they willing offered to credit me back about 25% of the price paid for the tires. Sounded fair to me.....plus I really needed the tires (winter tires
for a car I drove only in the winter time). They said they don't warehouse tires for very long - blamed the 'old' dates on the manufacturer.
As an aside:
Unfortunately, the age of the tires in my case turned out to be a moot point. Right as wintertime was about over, someone went left of center while I was rolling along, minding my own business........and creamed my car. Bummer. Toast. Totaled. Fortunately, they had enough insurance to cover the value of my car (and the new tires, I might add!) and my banged up shins. I was lucky, to say the least!
Bill