Pet stores are retailers and have to mark up the animals for business. Nothing wrong with this, but you will get a better deal from a breeder. I would never buy a normal ball python online, because shipping is around $50.
You can find normal ball pythons on Craigslist, but you never know what health they are in, and often people are selling them with their entire terrarium as a package.
Your best bet is a good breeder. I know I myself would sell normal hatchlings for $50 just to move them.
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