The only place I've found that has better prices when comparing the same crop year is Crosby, and then only on a few varieties.
I'm figuring if you have to talk to them to place that order it's to get around the one pound limit, and they announced that weeks ago when the harvest started. Probably should have planned ahead better and not waited for them to get super busy.
I'll cut hopsdirect slack on any service issues because they're a farm first and foremost. The fact that they put up with packaging and shipping one pound at a time is amazing. And how many farms sell direct? Two. So good for them and I'll deal with some delays.