For really common parts (LEDs, resistors, decoupling
caps, IC
sockets, etc) I often go to the quantity to get the first discount
price (often 50 or 100). I use them enough..
A while back I bought a thousand each of some of (what I find to be)
the most useful components (I think the list was 2N3904 and 2N3906
transistors, 1N914 diodes, and 100R, 1K, 3K3, 10K, and 33K resistors).
As compared to low-quantity prices, they were ludicrously cheap; I
think even the transistors were under two cents each.
I've never regretted it.
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