This is normal practice. Change is rapid. There is often a continuous stream of product upgrades in the line and attempting to cherry pick a product, through specifying a specific date code limit, simply adds cost to the procurement, stocking and order fulfillment processes at the ordering location, at the point of sale and at the manufacturer. By employing a FIFO system, and by turning inventory frequently, today's distributor continuously replenishes stock with recently manufactured product. In today's competitive environment, a distributor's desire is to provide high quality parts to a customer at a reasonable price and to provide whatever other services that the OEM desires.
Service tends to differentiate otherwise similar distributors.
OEM's should not consider date codes as a necessary criteria during the ordering process. Distributors can service OEM's best when the order calls for a standard product that can be instantly picked off the shelf. The fact is that when a date code restriction is specified in a purchase order, special handling is required, box by box inspections may be needed, the whole order filling process is slowed down and costs are increased. The customer's order may not be filled if stock does not exist to satisfy the date code requirement. The overall benefit to the OEM and the distributor is zero.