Are they cheaper at Farnell than at RS?, often things are - but not always, and sometimes they are more expensive?. It's also worth checking CPC (a division of Farnell) as they are often considerably cheaper.
For example, last week I was re-ordering some LED mounting clips, which we normally source from Farnell, they were £6.50 odd for 25, but out of stock, expected delivery date 10 weeks.
So I checked RS, in stock, but similar price for
only FIVE!! - so I googled the manufacturers (Kingbright) part number, and up popped CPC, in stock, and only £4 for 25 - happy days!
On a similar theme, we use a
LOT of four core cable, originally from RS, but it was always out of stock, then the P/N changed, more out of stock, and going from the number in stock when it was, we were the only people buying it
Eventually they discontinued it entirely, and we ended up using a slightly inferior American cable from Farnell.
It's available on 100ft or 1000ft drums (because it's American), and rather bizarrely it was considerably cheaper to buy 10x100ft drums, than one 1000 foot drum (no problem, because we cut it into short lengths) - which made no sense. Anyway, we've been happily buying the little drums. But the other week I had to order more, so (as always) I checked the 1000ft drums - it was now cheaper than ten 100ft drums - so I ordered five drums, as there's a price break at five, they only had three in stock, but you get the price break anyway, and the other two will arrive later (they haven't yet).
It's often an adventure ordering parts!