I do very little live in real life shopping and typically check prices on needles, rotary blades, etc. when I am getting other things on Amazon and look/wait for sales for my regular brands/items. I prefer to buy multipacks, it isn't as convenient maybe as picking up one of whatever it is when I'm shopping but I don't typically run out
I don't buy much thread anymore a few years back I won an auction on a huge lot/lifetime supply of Superior's So Fine thread, I will look at Amazon but I usually go direct to Superior Threads. Last time when I needed some cotton threads in a relative hurry, I ordered (from Amazon) a set of a brand I didn't know which have been fine -- the main thing was I needed all cotton.