Go to Canadian Tire's website, ( www.canadiantire.ca ), search for "optima" and you'll see that the Optimas are there, but labelled as "not sold in stores". i.e. web orders only.

Tom.

>Subject: Re: Optima Yellow Top 34/78 Battery found in Canada!
>   From: Bruce Ralphs <bar@ISLANDNET.COM>
>   Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 08:36:00 -0700
>     To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>HEHE, well what happened with can Tire on Sunday when I went to their
>store and inquired right at the parts counter and they told me they had
>no such batteries and further no gel-cells at all.
>
>Hmmm, you in Quebec...a different Canada!  OH OH, DUCK BRUCE!  Now I
>have stirred it up!
>
>Cheers, Bruce
>
>
>On Friday, May 23, 2003, at 04:51  AM, Doug Alcock wrote:
>
>>
>> Shame on you Bruce ---- like any other red-blooded Canadian male you
>> should have gone first to Canadian Tire --- they not only have the
>> yellow top, but if you watch the sale flyers it comes on sale for $179
>> about once a year........... :-)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Doug
>>
>>
>>
>>
><image.tiff>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Well Gang, maybe this will help some:  Doing the Auxillary Battery
>> Dance thing this weekend.
>>
>> I have spent the last few days trying to find a supplier for Optima
>> Battery up here and called our local Interstate and was quoted a 'firm'
>> $299.99!  HOLY SMOKES!  ~$220 US!  Looking at shipping something up
>> from the US and paying for shipping/customs etc..., 'bout $180 US I
>> figured...better by about $70 after taxes than Interstate.  But my
>> 'instant gratification' switch was on so Interstate it would be
>> tomorrow...
>>
>> I went to Costco tonight to pick up some BULK party junk for a big
>> reunion we have this weekend...and walking by the battery shelves there
>> were 3 Yellow-topped batteries...34/78 model....I could not believe it!
>>  $199.99 Can, about $145 US.  And I have it and can install it this
>> weekend!
>>
>> Thought I would pass this on.  I know Costco is a swear-word for many
>> (I own a small business) but what a blessing to find this thing sitting
>> there!
>>
>> Cheers, bruce
>>
>> '85 Westy
>> '02 Snap Beetle
>> Victoria, BC, Canada, truly a Westy ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>>