Rube, retailers sometimes will hand stick a month/year sticker on it or it will come from the manufacturer with a tag containing all the digits needed to indicate the month and year.

However, this is usually the month and date of INSTALL for Warranty purposes. The battery could be much older. I think that date is often stamped into the plastic case of the battery itself.

 

Not true, derf. Having worked at both the Zone and Advance, the batteries came in with those stickers on them. Usually on one side or the other. Walmart batteries are the same. They'll sit on the rack for months. The fresh ones are in the back and the older ones are pushed to the front. Test my theory. Go to the closest place that sells batteries and check the rack. We were told to keep the older batteries up front and the new ones in the back of the rack.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

I defer to your real life experience, sir.

I musta got lost
I musta got lost
I musta got lost
​​​​​​​Somewhere down the line

 

Check my theory out the next time you're in a parts store or Walmart. Just for the heck of it. If I'm wrong, I apologize in advance. Of course, it will depend on the brand, too, I THINK. Some of the brands I never sold have a tag on top with a spot to "pick out" a little spot for the month and year. I think Interstate and Everready batteries use that method.