Up here in Canada, we unfortunately have to pay a fair price for quality plants. There are a couple of places where they carry "their brand" of plants at roughly $6.88 each. The quality is fair to good. They also carry the Tropica plants at $11.88 each. Quailty if available is fair.
There is one store I frequent that I consider the best place for plants. The sell just Tropica plants and I have to say that they their quality is excellent. However you're paying top dollar (in excess of $20
) for something spectacular. The plants are in tip top shape and they can usually order you anything you want within a week. Money back garrantee if they die on you within a week or 2.
I've had ok success with the different stores here. Having getting back into the hobby after a 10+ year absence, things have changed.
Find somewhere where you can trust the merchant and if they really care about their customers, they won't sell crap.