Mr. Madden doesn't seem to be able to challenge a point on SOT without being a rude and obnoxious character. In the office we refer to him as "Sheldon", in other words it's his way or you're wrong and he can never seem to find a polite way of saying it.

Your determination of "Underhanded" is completely unfair as any client is expected to do their own homework as to county costs and if they don't then they are bad business people.  

I agree with Robert, some clients don't want all of those copies and would benefit from a fee that keeps us and them competitive. Others require us to spend time pulling documents from microfiche one page at a time or ordering documents from offsite storage that may or may not come in sometime within a week, that warrants a mark up. Lastly, purchasing these copies and waiting 30 days or more to get paid while taking the risk that the company doesn't close their doors and stiff you  all warrant a surcharge for copies if you choose that avenue.

Technically by your own logic, you are being underhanded. The practice of inflating your search fee to cover copies that a client may or may not want or that may or may not exist but will be paying for anyway, could be considered deceptive. But in all honesty it's not, either choice is fair, a matter of personal and competitive choice and are practices that are acceptable and profitable if managed properly.