Sounds like it. I wonder if that applies to biomass stoves however. The picture in the article is a chunk wood stove, one of those 'loss leader' box wood units that are notorious for incomplete combustion and heavy particulate emissions.
Always thought USSC was slightly shady, not that most large companies aren't. I retired from one and they always operated in the 'grey' area. How they made money.
Running a foul of the EPA will eventually land you in hot water, only a matter of time. Was an interesting read, especially how USSC, when they were in New York State, used prison labor in their plants, but moved south to avoid union labor. All about maximum profit with minimum overhead. I know I'd not want to work for them. Sounds pretty cutthroat but then I find TSC to be pretty cut throat as well.
Around here we refer to TSC as Tough Shat (sic) Charlies, where most every thing is either scratched, dented or broken. That applies to wood pellets too, Don't know how many times, I've watched one of the store 'associates' impale a skid of pellets with the hi-lo forks and think nothing of it. Why when I buy my pellets I pick the skids I want and stand right there and watch to see the competence level exhibited. If the hi-lo driver is incompetent, I get another. Usually plenty of warm bodies to choose from.
Was in there the other day and I mentioned to the cashier that their Rotella T6 was a couple bucks higher than Menards and she said, they would match the price to which I said 'with a phone picture of the price and she said no, just ell me the price and we will match.
If I wasn't above board, that could open up an interesting scenario. I don't play that way but obviously the markup on stuff like that is pretty extreme.
bet the markup on biomass stoves at TSC is extreme as well. Certainly opens up the bartering.