For fermenters, take a good look at the "Better Bottle". It's a plastic carboy which comes in at least a couple sizes. I have a 6 gal and a 5 gal. The six is good for primary fermentation (it has more of a head-space for vigorous fermentations). The five is good for secondary fermentation.
Advantages:
- won't shatter (like a glass carboy)
- not as heavy as glass (or as slippery when wet)
- you can watch the fermentation process (it's more fun than looking at a bucket)
- it cleans quite easily (not quite as easy as an open bucket - but easy enough)
Disadvantages:
- more expensive than a bucket
- it can melt if you pour really hot water in it (so don't do it - hot tap water and a good cleaner is all you need)
- since it's plastic, it can scratch internally if you are dumb enough to scrub inside with something abrasive (as mentioned above, you won't need to do this so it's a non-issue)
I went with better bottles, but you can have great results with any of the three options. If you search the forum, there are tons of threads debating if glass, buckets, or better bottles are superior.
In terms of where to buy - check out the major retailers, and do some comparison shopping. What I did (and others do) is load up the shopping cart with the same items in each store, add the shipping, tax, etc., and see which is the best deal. Or split the order between two or three vendors if there are local deals to be had.
Some retailers have great deals on shipping, but slightly higher prices. Others may offer lower prices and you may spend more even with higher shipping.
Good luck - selecting your equipment is fun, but as many people here can attest, it becomes an addiction.