I had read some recent posts about Lowe's starting their 50% off sale on stoves. So I just came back from three local stores here in Massachusetts and spoke to 3 of their store/dept managers. (BTW is it smart business to have 3 stores 2 of which are brand new within a 15 mile radius of one another???). At store 1 they have all fireplace stuff, mantels, heaters, etc at 50% but not the stoves. The manager says "select stoves" are 10% off, but they might be marked down in a few weeks. Store 2 has all fireplace stuff, mantels, heaters, etc at 50%, but no discounts on the stoves. He says that they might be marking them down later in the season. Store 3 has all fireplace stuff, mantels, heaters, etc at 50% but NO discounts on stoves. He tells me that their new "corporate" policy is that stoves are not a seasonal item and are now considered a year round item and they will not be discounting them at all. In fact they are a "carry forward" item and they will inventory them and not put them on clearance. I asked him "If stoves are a year round item could you tell me how many of these you sell in July and August compared to refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances". He responded "Good point, but I don't set the policy". What is interesting is that at all 3 stores they had at least 8 stoves (wood and pellets) in a variety of sizes cluttering the middle of the aisle that is usually reserved for lawn mowers and tractors. Furthermore, in each case all three managers told me it has been "a little while" since they actually sold a stove at their stores. What the hell is going on at Lowe's. Did they get their MBAs from the General Motors school of management???