rona said:Personally I don't like the appearance that much but I have found them very dependable. and once you understand them they are very easy to operate.
You can buy parts from the factory unlike other companies where you are forced to go through a dealer. Company support is good in that if you do need a part they have very good easy to understand directions on how to remove and replace any part on the stove. You can hook it to your computer and perform what is called Bixcheck that will trouble shoot the whole stove for you.
You can also change the software to make it run better for your conditions as a example if you live in high altitude as Colorado or low altitude.
There is a learning curve with it versus a simpler stove but isn't any harder to get used to then driving a different model car then what you are used too.
As far as dependable I am close friends with a dealer that sells Harman and St Croix and he has as many service calls with them as anything I experienced using a Bixby. Try a Quadra Fire AE when they first came out if you want problems. They still will act up with corn.
Truthfully they do have more parts but any self start will have igniters and any self dump will have mechanisms to do that for you. These will eventually wear out.
I owned a Harman PC45 for two seasons then switched to a Quad AE then bought a Bixby in E-Bay and even though a Bixby is more complicated it is far more dependable and throws more heat then either one of the others.
As far as parts goes you can buy SKF bearings for the distribution fan for 10.00 and do that yourself, If a igniter goes they cost 110.00 about the same as a igniter for a Harman PC45. A igniter for the Quadrafire AE costs 45.00 and you will be lucky to get one season out of it. That is a big problem for that stove.
I like a stove that doesn't need to be played with and I don't want to have to call a dealer and wait on his busy schedule. How many stoves can be started once and run for 28 days nonstop just add corn and empty ash drawer?
that is just the ebay pricing strategy of a good seller, you list the first one cheap to get intrest and bidding going, then after people notice you and bookmark, watch, or bid, you set each auction higher hoping that word of mouth will bring more bidders/buyers.SnowZilla said:Now I am seeing hes listing tons of them ( Bixbys ) and different pricing.. one for $1500 one for $1700 and one for $1995 and he has 10 total. I wonder whats the difference for him to charge $500 more than the $1500 Bixby ones and its the same thing too.