What are the best alternatives aside from Amazon to buy PC hardware?
For some other stuff I turn to the manufacturer directly, like I will typically buy Microsoft equipment directly from Microsoft. I also check Costco, but they have exceptionally limited options.
Walking into my local PC repair shop, I found knowledgeable staff but prices that couldn't compete with B&H.
Did you ask them to price match? My local store is willing to match, or if they can't fully match at least offer partial discount.
This was in very early 2020 just right before everything got crazy so I'm not sure how it is now.
Though, with Brexit, my purchasing from Scan has dropped - less hassle ordering from Germany.
Plus we've got our own local version of https://au.pcpartpicker.com/ though I've had mixed success with that the past few years. Supply chains are still really screwy domestically.
There's a bunch of highly dubious vendors in AU, no one quite knows how they stay in business. Best bet is to search whirlpool.net.au for horror stories if you're about to make your first transaction with a new vendor.
After threatening them with the ACCC (and CC'ing the ACCC IN the email to prove I was serious) they "generously" offered to send the CPU back to AMD to be "repaired"