To update my previous, and maybe clarify the comment -
Called Pep Boys to confirm availability of the Group 34, Champion 48 month battery with 25% discount. They had ‘em in stock. Went to pick up, confirmed it was as described, paid the $157.xx plus $12 something Texas tax and brought her home.
I didn’t really look for the date code until I went to install it - the round label on the side said “07/19”. “Dang it” I said to myself - thought for a minute, and installed. My thinking is, it’s 48 months from date of purchase, not date of manufacture.
Was surprised, thinking Pep Boys must not be moving inventory very fast - could explain the deep discount. But it’s still a deal when compared to everyone else’s price (Napa, Oreilly’s, AutoZone, Advance Auto). All I could find from those guys were 36 month with the cheapest being Napa at ~$162.xx.
YMMV