I read this post a couple of times. I just want to add my opinion. No matter what the price, why buy a puppy from someone you don't know or know people that know them? I have seen people pay a lot of money for puppies/dogs that didn't turn out for them and they bash the breeder. Bottom line, if you don't know the person or know of them, don't be bothered. Some of my best dogs were free. Not because I like them that way, it was that I only deal with a certain group of people. JMHO