My thoughts are that they may have outsourced mass production of one piece they made. When you asked for a custom item that should be fairly easy to accommodate it ends up being expensive because they have to alter a finished product. Much harder than wrapping something in bubble wrap and boxing it. Sometimes I think “glass blower” gets thrown around a little loosely when some of these resellers advertise their mass produced glass. Helps sell $5-$10 pieces for $50-$60, etch it or put some color on it, $100. Another day in the state of scam.
Ask for a practical piece you get ghosted.