Amazon private label brands are quietly taking over Amazon.com
Reading so many "frustrated shopper" posts is... frustrating.• Search problems?Also use Google to search Amazon. And clicking through to similar products in Amazon's comparison section is one of the best ways to find things. Of course don't ONLY search Amazon...or any other online vendor. I've listed some extensions that do a lot of heavy lifting. Yes, manipulating placement in search result is sub-optimal for the end user, but with some browser extensions and an overall strategy, Amazon will always have a place in my overall search strategy.• Quality problems?Install the Fakespot Chrome browser extension. Avoid products with few reviews initially. Read the 1-star reviews to see if there's a problem you can live with (e.g. complex installation). And Amazon is NOT right for some kinds of products.• Price?Check WalMart and local stores online first. Many stores make in-store pickup painless, e.g. Home Depots lobby lockers. Enter code, grab your stuff and go.Install the WikiBuy and official Amazon Chrome extension. WikiBuy often shows you the same product cheaper on eBay, and Amazon will sometimes give you a coupon if you follow it's link back to Amazon it when you are shopping elsewhere (e.g. Walmart).I like to always look for a used fulfilled by Amazon product. There is often no significant issue, and small issues can be overlooked. But even if you get a backwards or missing part the return is pretty painless.For simple stuff, of course check AliExpress and Ebay first.• Overall experience?Amazon should not of course be relied for everything, by anyone, ever. Microcenter (as several have pointed out) is currently great and reliable for computer parts.• Shipping speed?Yeah, don't trust the two-day shipping. But the (sometimes) free one-day shipping option is awesome. And complain from time-to-time and get discounts on your Prime. Sure, some people are dropped for complaining too much, which really sucks. But it's pretty rare.