DaasYochid,
Avram, do you have evidence that AZ’s numbers are not correct? If not, you should not be jumping on the OP for inflating them.
You’re right. It was not my intention to accuse AZOI.IS (or his/her relative) of inflating the rate paid to the shadchan. I was primarily responding to the OP’s second and subsequent posts, which gave me the impression that there was a disconnect regarding what the OP thought the rate was and what most people were actually paying. I am not from the tri-state area and do not even know 10 people from the area, so I cannot take a poll as requested; but if the rabbonim in the community hold that the rates are in a range between $500 and $1500, then there is no argument. G-d willing when my children are set to marry, I will not forget to speak to my rav regarding my obligations to the shadchan and I plan to settle things according to halacha.
AZOI.IS,
I apologize for responding so strongly in this thread. I think what really bothered me was this statement:
Just wondering, do poor people feel they dont have to pay Shadchanus
Lo siyeh lo k’noshe – don’t act [towards a poor person] as a creditor.
Your relative definitely deserves compensation for his/her services, but on issues regarding how the Jewish people borrow and repay, it pays to tread carefully.