Layne is 14 days out from shipping but pinks are in stock at 2 of the first 3 places I checked:
https://micedirect.com/index.php?mai...05b12f8157ce54
http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/Pricing.html
And 98 cents from a store isn't rape. Heck for a 10 lot, they are 50 cents
before shipping from Layne. I don't know how many the store might order, but they have to pay for freezer space, electric, waste (freezerburns, etc.), besides the shipping, etc. you are familiar with. It's twice what my store charges, but if I didn't use so many, no WAY I could sell them for 50 cents. When you pay thousands a month in rent for a store front, it has to be spread into everything you sell. Plus employees, your own wages, utilities, credit card processing fees, shrinkage/shoplifting, etc. that goes into the price of everything. Outside of my shop, $1.99 per pink is the next cheapest store price around here. If you can buy only as many as you need for under a dollar from a retail store, you are most certainly NOT being gouged, let alone "raped."