Something to think about when comparing a mass produced stock to a true custom:
It takes at least 40 hours to make a stock, that's an entire week of effort, but spread over weeks of drying, wait stop, I'm frustrated, with shaping, inletting, checkering, finishing, grip cap, recoil pad, cross bolts, bedding, etc, etc,....
To pay a guy for a week, you have to at least pay him the average income, not just for his time, but for his tools, his efforts, and his knowledge, but to keep him engaged enough to do this the next time.
Median income is about $49,500 or so, about $25 an hour, ....$40 @ $25 is $1,000 plus wood.
This should be the absolute minimum rate for a bespoke stock.
Anything less, well, it's just not sustainable.
And like mechanics and architects, the better they are, the more expensive it gets.
I hear these comments all the time..." You only charged him xx amount of money for that?"....