What are you guys using for your generic IT supplies?

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iPlayKeys@reddit

I haven’t tried them myself yet, but has anyone tried the LTT cables?

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pdp10@reddit

I can't see the TCO working out, unless no cables ever mysteriously disappear.

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I'll clarify to say that I'm not opposed to Amazon as a merchant, but rather trying to avoid the weird brands that almost sound like a word but aren't and are written in all caps, like AOHI, JSAUX or MAILESI

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pdp10@reddit

AOHI is not bottom of the barrel. We haven't bought any, but throwing that out there.

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ZAFJB@reddit

You will only buy those if you add them to your basket. Where's the problem?

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TheLexikitty@reddit

JSAUX does have some ridiculously sturdy USB-C cables. I bought 4 of their braided 100W ones that got super abused and are still running great. Decent if there’s not a sale on Anker at the moment.

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Generico300@reddit

StarTech has been solid for me. Don't think I've ever got anything from them that didn't do the job it was intended for. Lots of obscure adapters and such available from them too.

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tdressel@reddit

My guys use digikey for lots of sundry tidbits, their shipping is outstanding.

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natefrogg1@reddit

Ordering from Amazon specific brands, not Amazon branded stuff but brands like Logitech and Anker and CableMatters often

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robotbeatrally@reddit

I use cablematters as well. monoprice cable is better quality but cablematters is "good enough"

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natefrogg1@reddit

Monoprice is nice, I like them for cat 5e patch cables!

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pdp10@reddit

Category 5E is sufficient for 90% of uses or more, but I can't imagine buying new 5E cables when Category 6 is surely the same price by now.

Category 6A is a different story, since it requires a lot more shielding, thickness, material cost, and potentially labor cost.

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BeanSticky@reddit

There’s plenty of relatively well-known names on Amazon. CableMatters, Monoprice, Anker, UGREEN, Baseus, even AmazonBasics is good enough for most things.

As long as you’re not buying “10-pack 20w USB-C charger wall plug power adapter” from the brand “IILWPXYTNELS”, you’ll be fine.

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pdp10@reddit

random supplies, like cables, chargers, hubs

While these are small and individually inexpensive, we don't regard them as generic. The closest thing to generic are fiber and UTP patch cables, though we still like name brand when pricing and availability lines up.

USB-C cables above a certain baseline level have e-markers that encode their capabilities: amperage past 3A, voltage levels past 20V. Chargers have capabilities, multiport chargers typically renegotiate when any cable is plugged or unplugged, making them less suitable for non-battery devices. Chargers today often max out their thermal sinks and rather quickly stop charging at full power.

For USB Type A hubs, this Pluggable is high quality and has Per-Port Power Switching (PPPS) controllable from the host. Any device using 500-2400 mA @5V USB, can be controlled in software with such a smart USB hub. Great investment.

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itskdog@reddit

Our AV supplier these days is Purple Cat, other cables such as power and charging cables we either get direct from HP or from our laptop supplier.

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ExceptionEX@reddit

We still use Amazon just selective of brands, the overhead of disributors just isn't worth the reduced service at this point.

I would love a distributor like CDW was in the early 2000s. But now it's just sales reps who don't know much about the industry and having a new point of contact every 3 weeks gets old.

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Sweet-Sale-7303@reddit

Try somebody else. We use Govconnection which is an offshoot of Pcconnection. Their reps know a lot and have answered questions fopr me not many other people have been able too. They are smaller than CDW but much better. CDWG actually changed my rep and decided they didn't want to do business with us until I got rid of our Adobe licenses with them.Insight was the same way.

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bythepowerofboobs@reddit

I used PC Connection as an alternate VAR for awhile. They used to be okay, but they went downhill pretty fast. They went away from including proof of receipts documentation with their delivery and started printing it on labels applied to the outside of the box, and those labels would rip over 50% of time which made turning stuff into accounting terrible. They also decided to just switch my rep after 10 years for no reason, even though she was still working there and still wanted to work with me. I don't them to fuck off then and haven't used them since. I wasn't about to spend that much time establishing a relationship with another rep just for them to pull that shit on me again, at least not with their pricing and shitty service.

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ExceptionEX@reddit

we have other vendors, and generally don't find a lot of them much better (including insight) but when you compare the premium overhead they want, vs what they offer, I can get things like cables, chargers, and the like from amazon in less time, with less hassle, at a lower cost.

Doesn't mean I don't miss the old white glove treatment you know. (I'll check out GovConnection though)

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Jealous-Bit4872@reddit

FYI, ordering from specific brands doesn’t do anything. You get the SKU you order, but the fulfillment centers don’t separate stock.

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ExceptionEX@reddit

With that said, when contacting a vendor about the product is where that difference is made clear.

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Affectionate-Cat-975@reddit

Logitech MK5## or higher for the unifying adapter

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pnutjam@reddit

monoprice is usually my go to

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robotbeatrally@reddit

I miss the old days of monoprice though. they used to be at the top of the game.....

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Flashy_Resolution500@reddit

Wonder if they were acquired by private equity

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bythepowerofboobs@reddit

I agree. I used to use them for everything I could, but I haven't ordered monoprice in about 10 years now. They started selling crap and their pricing just doesn't hold up.

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anxiousinfotech@reddit

The number of faulty patch cables from Monoprice steadily crept up. Once we started getting several per order we just switched to Amazon. If we're going to get crap quality we might as well get it faster...

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not_so_wierd@reddit

Deltaco have worked well for us. They aren't pretty, not always great, bu they are definitely "good enough" for most things.

I've typically bought through markit.eu. I like how they let you pick which supplier will ship the item and how that affects delivery time and price. Essentially, a 5m patch cable could have like 5 different prices and delivery dates. So I can pick if I want it fast, or if I want it cheap.
They also let you input the amount you're buying and show the bulk prices right away. 1 cable? €16 each. 50 cables? €1,54 each.

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statikuz@reddit

I'm usually a Taco Bell guy but I will start thinking more about Deltaco!

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RedGobboRebel@reddit

It's whomever you have a rapid purchasing relationship with.... these aren't the things to stress over.

I've used Newegg and Monoprice in the past. But my current place had minor issues with those vendors in our accounting dept. So now it's just Amazon for the little things. Stick with established brands, it's a little more, but worth it. You don't want a bench of tickets clocking up your ques for issues with nonname mice and keyboards.

Belkin, Anker, Logitech, Microsoft, CableMaters, StarTech. With an Amazon biz account you can often order these things in bulk too.

Our IT team is a bunch of mechanical keyboard nerds, so we've bounced around between a couple different affordable mech keyboard brands. We definitely give our users too much choice here. But it's a fun morale thing for the staff and for our IT team. And it keeps HR happy because they feel like we get fewer formal ergonomic requests now that we give users some choice. Low Profile Mechanicals seem to be the favorite around here with non IT staff. (Primarily Keychron)

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Doublestack00@reddit

Sadly Amazon most most things.

I buy our network cable from Unifi. If needing a ton of patch cables, sometimes Cables and kits will have a good price.

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19610taw3@reddit

The jungle store for sure

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davidm2232@reddit

We don't keep a stock of any of that. Maybe one or two spare chargers or keyboard/mice. Everything else has to be requisitioned through Purchasing as needed. Usually Staples. We can't order from Amazon because they require a credit card rather than sending us a bill

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StarkillerWindu@reddit

Monoprice for bulk cables, chargers, USB hubs

And, honestly, usually Amazon for anything small we can't get at Monoprice

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Nandulal@reddit

I use paper clips and things I find under desks. Oh you meant...

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Confident_Guide_3866@reddit

Amazon

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ZAFJB@reddit

Amazon, and Ebay.

Buy names you recognise.

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HumbleSpend8716@reddit

should probably stop using the term hub

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pdp10@reddit

They seem to mean USB hub, not Ethernet hub.

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Financial-Act-665@reddit (OP)

Correct

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lumpkin2013@reddit

We use CDW for bulk and expensive items.

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Probably_Lobster@reddit

Anker mostly. Cable matters and StarTech for more obscure cables and adapters.

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anonymouse589@reddit

Amazon business, CPC-Farnell & RS take care of almost all these bits.

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iowanerdette@reddit

For bulk ordering, Monoprice Business https://www.monoprice.com/pages/business

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blairtm1977@reddit

Amazon really is the best. Things like usb c laptop chargers and docks have the best price. Patch cables, random IT tools, adapters, etc. Chargers and docks are really made in the same factory just different branding. I only go for name brand for something like thunderbolt 4 cables and docking stations. Keyboards and mice I stay with Logitech with the bolt receiver

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FnGGnF@reddit

Amazon for non bulk items. Dell for bulks (they normally have bulk discounts; however no refunds)

Rarely but sometimes from cdw

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Or sometimes Amazon, frankly. There are some reliable brands on Amazon, such as Anker.

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eaglevision93@reddit

Anker on Amazon or AmazonBasics

So, yes, Amazon

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fieroloki@reddit

Amazon

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NH_shitbags@reddit

Amazon