XXV WINS!!!

Formally posted, "Advice needed, harmon advance vs XXV." Well my wife and I have decided to go with the XXV. We both enjoy the old wood stove look and after researching both the stoves (thanks largely to this site), I'm confident with this choice. I met with my dealer yesterday to confirm the deal and to ask any last minute questions. I think the owner was taken back by my knowledge of the product and the questions that were comming at him! He said it was a nice change, refreshing to have a customer quizzing him on his knowledge! He said it was the first time in a little over twenty years of selling pellet stoves that somebody asked him if he did a draft test with a magnahelics when setting up the stove (which he does)! In terms of servicing the unit, he said that the greatest thing about Harmon is their warenty and how they stand by their product. He said for him as a dealer, it's great, because he just has to work on the unit and replace/fix what ever may be wrong. He added that it's usually user errer and with Harmon when it's not user errer (as Harmon takes a lot of neglect before they stop working), they just fix/replace the item or unit, no questions asked!
My dealer said to me, "you must be the guy that was here the other week talking to (the other owner) and mentioned the problem occurring with the Enviro Maxx." He said that when I left that day, they called their sales rep. who confirmed the issue that has been coming up with some of the Maxx's. I was also glad to hear him praise other companies and their product, as well as other local dealers. When I added that I was aware of Harmon's problem with smoke in the hopper with the Accentras, he just looked at me with amazement that I knew this! I told him all about this site and he said he'll be checking it out for sure (so if you're reading this Pete or Francis, welcome to your newest addiction!).
So the stove will be here on Friday, can't wait to cut down on burning oil and sit by the fire and enjoy! Thanks for everyone's help and encouragement, I will be sure to keep yas updated on the install and finished product!

The dealer that I bought the stove from sells Eastern Embers. The bag says it is premium 100% wood with less than 0.5% ash with no glues or binders. We'll see! There are a few other dealers that sell pellet stoves along with pellets, not to mention Home Depot and Kent building and the other building centers.
Hard Woods, too bad about the Harmon dealers in your area! I guess it's true what everyone has been saying: it's the dealer that matters the most over everything else. The dealer I decided to go with also sells other brands and really didn't try to push one over the other. He just answered any questions I had and went through the different stoves, without focussing on brand name. A nice change! Not something we see here on the Island very often!

Good to hear on the pellet topic! I spoke to a recent customer of a pellet stove bought at the same dealer that I'm getting mine. I asked him what kind of job the installers did and said they couldn't have been more professional. Two guys, both certified. They did all the lifting etc. They even came with a long rug to trail from the door to the location of the stove so they could walk in and out of the house without talking their shoes off and/or making any mess! This is a big relieve to me as the XXV weighs just over 350lbs!
Anyway, I'll keep you posted on my installation. Thanks for the review on the Eastern Embers.