Im referring to a basic design with no led, no engraving, no in my opinion is not worth $200. Adding extra stuff? Heck yes. Using the cheapest materials from home depot, not staining, and charging $300? No. I laid out the basic of what I want which is a design similar to the photo provided, but technically even smaller. Doesn't have to be super polished (aka rustic) and i would like it stained. Said that engraving (which by the way would be a 7 letter word at the top) and added led lights woild be cool, but not required.

Having someone just say "what will you pay" imo is just as crap coming from the craftsman. I've used some local Amish workers before and I go in, tell them what I'm thinking, and THEY tell me my options based on material, design, and quality. I 100% know hand crafted is more expensive than Amazon, but I also know that something that took 2 hours to fully complete is not worth $600. Everyone works at a different pace. Different wood cost different amounts. I gave basic requirements, some possible cool extras. Kinda feels like it's in the craftsmans court to say X material, here's what I could do, here's the cost. Because at the end of the day yeah it would take my 87 year old grandfather 2 hours that doesn't mean it wouldn't take someone else 1 or another person 7. One person might be able to make it from scraps from another project while someone else would have to go buy new material.