I got very lucky and scored a new open box one on eBay from a small lighting studio - $85 shipped if I remember correctly. Having used it for a while now, I'd say it's well worth the full price but you may get lucky as I did and find a discounted one like new. I doubt you'd get many people willing to sell theirs here, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
For a bag / case, DigiGal recommended that I get
this lacrosse bag, and it's absolutely perfect, like it was made for this stand. It also has room to slide in my 24" followinbob mic bar, which goes into
this pool cue sleeve to keep everything from getting scratched.