I only use PayPal for everything (it isolates your bank info from vendors you have never done business with) that does not come from a LHO and an occasional order from Brodak (I would buy more from them but they don't take PayPal. Almost everything coming from EBay takes it, Amazon doesn't. That is all Tom Morris (Stunt Hangar Hobby tab) takes and he carries appropriate stunt ESC's and Timers and a few motors. Tower Hobby does and they get my business for what Tom doesn't carry. My source for the other electric stuff, mostly batteries, is the RC community. Except for timers, we use the same stuff they do. I will leave the "what to buy" to those who have been at it longer.
Good Luck - Ken