Hey guys, I've been lurking around here for the past month just reading some reviews of luggage since I travel for a living (consulting). I was out last Saturday at Costco and picked up one of the pseudo Tumi bags that Air Pirate posted. When I got home and checked the forum I started laughing because Air Pirate posted those pics around the same time I made the purchase.

While I examined the bag at the store, I narrated to a friend the striking similarities to Tumi and quality reviews I had read about the Kirkland bags online. Across the aisle an elderly couple was checking out a Samsonite luggage set and upon hearing my speech the gentleman started to listen in on our conversation. We left to go shop while I decided whether to buy it and as we walked away and looked back, the couple had shifted their sights on to the Kirkland "Tumi."

After about half an hour we returned and I asked my friend if it would be silly to purchase this bag while I have a Tumi Alpha Frequent Traveler in transit to the house. At the same time we both noticed one of the bags was now missing, I guess my speech did the trick. Nearby, a lady was on the floor checking out a brown version of the $69 26" Kirkland suitcase and tossed it in her cart. Overhearing our conversation, she stopped by and said that she works at Costco Corporate and that these bags are made on the same assembly line as the Tumi. I was sold.

Today I brought the bag on its first trip in my usual 737 from Houston to NYC. The quality is fantastic and the bag holds quite a bit more than my 20" Victorinox, however, the unfortunate part is the bag will NOT fit wheels in or wheels out in the overhead compartment. The bag has to be positioned lengthwise for the compartment to close

Once my Tumi comes in I'll compare the bags head to head.