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Meh. I get by just fine without Amazon. Probably order about twice a year from them, and feel kinda bad for doing so... I instead support different businesses for different needs. (Novel, I know...) Newegg for hardware bits, element 14 and adaFruit for more interesting computer bits, Sweetwater for synthesizer bits, local shops and AK Press for books.

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Just wait until you have to return something on NewEgg. It's a dice-roll. It's so bad, that you have to "purchase" the "premium" return policy. Compared to Amazon's customer experience, it doesn't even come close. I "feel bad" for buying as much from Amazon as I do, as I wish I could support these local shops and businesses, but at the end of the day, Amazon is winning for a reason: superior customer service and typically the lowest price and convenience. With local shops or other online retailer, convenience is out the window -- you are paying exorbitant shipping and handling, and customer service and returns is the wild west of varying experiences. Maybe you will get the nice rep, maybe you will get the automated "no" with no chance of following up. In any case, I am not willing to make the risk anymore. Stuff just costs too much damn money these days for me to take risks. I know what I am getting with Amazon.

I have never in five years of using NewEgg had a single issue that couldn't be solved by their customer support issue. I also have never paid a single restocking fee in all of the banged up kicked boxes I've gotten through Fedex.

Don't have to go through that hassle with Amazon.

They really nailed it: a big roadblock to people shopping online was returns. It's easier to return something to amazon than it is to a local department store now. A few clicks, print label, take to UPS store.

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