well, I think he paid for hardwood, and should get what he paid for. Im burning softwoods from British Columbia this season....a brand called Quality. So far, so good.....at least as good as most, if not all, hardwoods. Ive also burned Energex, burned fine, excpet I didnt like all the deposits on the glass.....maybe a difference between western softwoods and eastern softwoods...i dunno. Ive burned hardwood pellets for years now, shifting gears here in New England, because i dont think theres enough hardwood pellets to go around, and when folks ask me how these softwoods are, Id like to have an informed opinion, rather than something like " i hear it burns well...."....