Market Value. The halacha is clear, that is undeniably true.
What is not clear, is the defined market value of this “service”. Clearly some people feel the market value is a candy dish or some other tchachka while others feel it is $1000 or more. I’m sure in some neighborhoods the value is more clearly defined than in others. I’m no expert in choshen mishpat in general or the laws of shadchanus in particular, what does the halacha say one is required to pay when there is no clearly defined market value for a certain service as seems to be the case here? Lets take it one step further, exactly how is this “service” called “shadchan” performed? What services can be reasonably expected? Is there possibly a correlation between services rendered and the value of the service provider? Is it based on time (say $50 an hr and time spent is calculated), is it based on frequency of interaction, the number of services performed (say, intros and phone number swapping, with post date hand holding an added service with gretaer market value)? Perhaps once the fair market value is determined, we can apply the halacha. Until then some maintain market value is a candy dish while others $1000, to avoid all confusion or any potential claims, the shadchan should stipulate their fee up front.