Badly made long bow

[ubbrd]

g'day to all. I'm an Australian and, although I read the topics on this site regularly, this is my first post. I'm not even sure if I have the correct forum. It was suggested to me (by a USA bowyer) that I post on this and a number of other Intl. sites in order to convey a story (non fiction) about a recent very disappointing experience I had buying a longbow from a USA bowyer. The following narrative is not an opinion of USA bowyers in general as I have seen magnificent bows come to Australia from the USA.
Recently I bid on eBay & won a longbow from from an American eBay seller with a user name blue_ridge_traditional_archery.
I was stupid enough to bid successfully for one (the only bidder) and got it for US$189.00. I should have clued up to the possibility that the bow was a piece of junk when I saw the low price.
Although I know nothing about the making of a longbow I do know several Australian bowyers who make truly magnificent longbows & have seen beautiful bows that have been made in the USA & UK. A well known Australian bowyers is fixing the bow I bought & tillering it correctly as it was tillered all wrong and is cutting it back, reshaping the riser, sanding it properly & applying a descent finish for me.
The bow I am talking about is a A terrible longbow. The USA maker doesn't appear to know much about bows or how to complete them. The riser was gouged into shape & gouge marks were left, very little sanding is apparent & a coat of gloss was slapped on which highlights the rasp gouging marks & scratches & the disgraceful shaping job.
The limbs are upside down (tiller-reverse), he obviously knows nothing about the need to correctly tiller a longbow so it fires arrows properly.
I also specified 47lb draw at 28 inches & it has been measured at 43lb, before re-tillering on both my bow scales and the bowyers more accurate Easton digital bow scales.
Maybe he should seek advise on correct bowmaking as he is lowering the fine reputation of other American bowyers who produce beautiful longbows that shoot smoothly and as accurately as the skill of the archer allows.
I gave blue_ridge_traditional_archery, the blokes name is Adam Daug from Rocky Mount, Virginia, negative eBay feedback as I'm not afraid to cop a retaliatory negative in return. Of course he did fire in a retaliatory neg & claimed there is no such thing as reverse tillering and made other claims about me trying to steal money & keep the bow. I know the truth & I only asked that he compensate me the cost (A$60) that it is costing me to have the bow fixed.
This is a pretty long winded story but I think it is worth telling in case any others are thinking of buying a bow from this seller. Also, I was advised that American bowyers & overseas Trad archers might be interested. It's a shame to think that a sub-standard bow like the one I was sent would denigrate the high standard & reputation shared by many USA bowyers.
My regards to all you overseas Trad archers & bowyers
ubbrd.