I bought most of my switches and dimmers from the link below. They seemed to have the best price and selection. But you'll find like I did that dimmers and switches and GFCI's add up. If you want custom colors theyget really pricey. I found that the Almond color is fairly interchangable between Lutron and Leviton. These can be bought in the big box stores so down the road if you need a replacement they would be readily available. Lutron did not have a dual switch in the Decroa style, I bought a Leviton (or maybe Cooper?) from a big box store and it matches perfectly.

btw, the Meastro dimmers are excellent.

Here is a link that might be useful: Union Lighting

Try contractorlighting.com. They have great prices on all sorts of electical fixtures and gear.

Here is a link that might be useful: Contractor Lighting

I used Mr. Supply. Best prices I could find and my Lutron dimmers and switches arrived the day after I placed the order - with free shipping.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mr Supply

Home Depot will have much better prices than the local hardware store. Returns and finding the switches and plates you forgot will be easier than online.

"Home Depot will have much better prices than the local hardware store."

And they will be glad to sell you bottom of the barrel low quality switches, dimmers, and receptacles.

I think they keep a few higher priced ones around just to take the cheap ones look like a bargain.

Not from what I've seen. Maybe you would care to tell us how you know the Leviton switches and switchplates are bottom of the barrel in other words the worst possible quality.

The local hardware stores sell the same switches and other components with the same sku's as those from Home Depot and Lowes. Maybe you have found that they are selling a lower qualkity line but using the same model and sku numbers. If so I'm sure FTC would like some examples.

I don't know about the big box stores selling cheaper versions of the models they do carry, but they simply did not have the models I needed - LV electronic for example. Their colors were also very limited.

In my area the larger electrical jobbers usually match or beat the big box stores' prices on most items. They also carry many more products. The big box folks will tell you straight out that if an item isn't a top tier popular seller, they won't stock it.

IMO the only reason to go to the big box stores is that they're open evenings and weekends, and most of the jobbers aren't.