We found ours at WalMart for 1/3 the cost that the pet stores wanted... have you checked there? We found them in their pet food aisles. Might be worth a shot.
I would also check your local classifieds... those things are so expensive, people surely try to resell to get some of their money back.
I got mine at Petsmart and I think I paid around $150 for it. It is the plastic kind with the metal cage door. It was expensive but is very well made. I couldn't have survived this long with a Lab without it!