Hi Rebuilt, sorry to hear that you were not satisfied with this product. Currently, we have not found a way to bend solid wood at the radius required for a starting tread while keeping the price in a range suitable for most customers. The tread itself is a solid hardwood tread, shaped to match the radius of the riser. However, the riser is made of plywood for several reasons, including strength and stability. The curved end must be plywood, with kerf cuts on the inside, so that it will bend smoothly at a tight radius. We stand behind our workmanship, so if you're not satisfied, and the tread and riser have not been used, cut, or stained, you may return it using the shipping labels enclosed with your shipment. Thank you!