I teach mandolin to a guy who has one of these. They are playable, although the intonation on this one is iffy, and the fixed bridge makes it hard to adjust. The main problem is using the Crafter as an acoustic mandolin. Most mandolin players play with others, typically guitars, fiddles, banjoes, squeezeboxes etc., and the Crafter just doesn't have the acoustic volume to 'cut through' in this situation, and this often leads to bad habits when a beginner tries to force more volume out of the instrument. Ok if you can use a small amp, but many acoustic sessions frown on this. The Crafter is really designed as an electro-acoustic, in the same way the thin-bodied Ovations are; not really meant for acoustic playing.
There are better options; Ozark make a nice range of solid top, back and sides A and F style mandolins (Chris Leslie from Fairport Convention uses an Ozark F as his main mandolin), and these are generally loud, sweet and easy to play. Spending a bit more gets you into the bottom end of the Eastman range; these are serious instruments, made in China in the traditional 'luthier' way. A budget of £500 would get you a very good instrument.
Tim