OSSO BUCCO

COSTCO is not investing any money into a golf ball factory. They are requesting their supplier ramp up production and if that requires additional investment that is their suppliers responsibility. COSTCO has probably guaranteed substantial and continuing orders as an incentive.

Response from COSTCO when I inquired when Kirkland Signature golf balls will return: As you may have read, this is the most asked about item we've carried in quite some time. The unfortunate part of this whole Kirkland Signature golf ball phenomenon is that our supplier isn't equipped to handle the volume of sales the ball is generating right now. The reason we ran out-of-stock so quickly when they were first released, and then again more recently, is because their operation just doesn't have the manpower to produce the ball as quickly as it sells. When it was first introduced, we actually oversold the product by a few thousands cases and it took us awhile to finish fulfilling all those backorders. Currently, we're working with them to try and expand their facility and output capacity, but still don't have a real specific ETA on when we can begin carrying the balls on a very consistent and universal basis. We've been told that it will be soon, but they've not provided a precise time frame just yet. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you in any way.

It is far easier to call any COSTCO to check. It is Item # 1081660. They will also tell you what clubs do have any stock. I got the last box in the Palm Beach, FL club.

Kirkland Signature Golf Balls returned to 40 clubs yesterday.

Note that the "new supplier" is SM Global, LLC rather than Nassau. SM Global, LLC is a South Korean packaging company. More than likely they will box the product and palletize for shipping into the clubs.

Costco President and CEO Craig Jelinek said Costco, which has “supply issues” with the popular Kirkland Signature golf balls that have flown off shelves, hopes to get them back on shelves at some point. “The golf ball was a real coup for us,” Jelinek said Thursday at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. “We hope at some point we’ll get through the issues we have with the manufacturer and get it back in stock at some point. I’m not sure when it’s going to happen. Our goal is to work diligently to get it back in stock.”

You can be assured that COSTCO would never "buy a bunch of balls and slap a box around them" They are very careful in making certain that any product with their Kirkland Signature brand meets the highest standards for the individual product category.

The news of Kirkland Signature Gold Balls demise has been greatly exaggerated. They will return to COSTCO. See: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Costco-says-golf-balls-will-return-10883759.php When COSTCO places their "Kirkland Signature" brand on ANY product they use the most sophisticated QC procedures to insure there are never any issues.

The news of Kirkland Signature Gold Balls demise has been greatly exaggerated. They will return to COSTCO. See: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Costco-says-golf-balls-will-return-10883759.php

Kirkland Signature Golf Balls are expected to be sold in-club by May 2017.

It will be nationally. They may also continue to offer Callaway Hex Softs as they normally offer a national brand and a Kirkland brand on most major categories they sell. It will also come back on-line sooner, but will again be sold out in 1 day

I understand Kirkland golf balls will be back in-club in May 2017

Here's the data: Here is some comparison data. The balls according the USGA Conforming list are made by Nassau Golf Co Kirkland Signature with Signature in red white 4P-SC-3c M-H 360 KOR Nassau Golf Co., Ltd. Tour Performance http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfBall/gball_list.pdf

See https://www.google.com/#q=costco+membership+income

COSTCO NET INCOME: I will give you a "mulligan" on your statement. Note that COSTCO's membership fees as a percentage of their pre-tax income is about 68.8% for the past 5 years