shipping live rodents is ridiculous. I can fit about 60 live mice in a container, the cheapest I've ever shipped a container was $65 I believe. Plus, the cost of the container at $25. Even the cheapest breeder cannot ship them for a price that is good enough to offset the shipping cost, unless you are buying in huge numbers.

When I breed a new animal, most of the time I end up paying quite a ridiculous price just to get my stock going. $1 a mouse is not bad. $1.50 is doable, if your options are limited.
I just paid $7/each for some breeding hamsters, just to add new blood to my existing stock.... I sell the same hamsters in my store for $5.99! Sometimes you have to do what you have to do....