True enough, batteries are a really bad example - although companies like Panasonic have started signing on to the 'fulfilled by Amazon' program with good price

True enough, batteries are a really bad example - although companies like Panasonic have started signing on to the 'fulfilled by Amazon' program with good prices - but it is genuinely useful for a wide variety of small parts and electronics that aren't carried in any local stores and which often require high shipping fees from specialty retailers. For the specific parts I mentioned, I'd probably go to Pololu, but you get the idea.