Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style : Body poorly manufactured with patchy attempted repairs

Bought this as a Christmas present for my 13YO lad, for his first woodwork project. Shipping to UK was quick and efficient, but a quick look at it, before putting it away for the big day, led to serious disappointment.

I've rated sound as okay, giving it the benefit of the doubt, as we've not assembled it yet.

Let me start by saying I know this kit is cheap - however, it should surely be manufactured to a minimum standard that it could actually be used as a guitar when completed....

Neck pocket was routed way too big, then a bit of balsa wood (?) glued part way down the side in a pathetic attempt to stop the neck from slopping around.

Bridge screw alignment all over the place, sending strings to one side of the neck.

Pickup routing has broken out in places and trem spring cut out is broken out and split.

Overall not terribly impressed.

I will temper the boy's expectations when he opens it, but this is going to turn into a lesson on how to repair others' shoddy workmanship rather than a nice Father-Son project resulting in the lad having an instrument he put together himself and finished how he wanted it.

The next one we buy WON'T be a Harley Benton.