Good points Lisa. I resisted the demands of some clients to pay only what we paid for copies. They are in fact receiving a value added product. I remember one discussion with a VM questioning my fee $1.50 per page fee. She informed me that she knew for a fact the county only charged one dollar. I asked her why she didn't just order it direct from the county, but I already knew the answer.

Using Donna's request as an example here is an example of what her client might expect to pay for a similar order placed directly with the county.
Fedex search request and check to prepay for searches............$   11.45
County search fee for mortgage $10.00 X 18 ...........................$ 180.00
County search fee for assignment $10.00 X 18 .........................$ 180.00
Statutory county fee for copies $1.00 per page X 145...............$ 145.00
Fedex check to prepay for copies  ...........................................$    11.45
Fedex Charge to deliver 145 pages (appx) ...............................$   30.50

TOTAL cost from County ........................................................$   558.40

Most counties here in Texas will not do this type of search so these fees are based on fees charged for UCC searches. Also most counties will expect payment prior to delivery of either search results or copies. If the county offers a fax service the last Fedex fee could be avoided but in it's place put a county fax charge of $75 to $145.