Once or twice a year Major Surplus has mega-sales at their store in Gardena with some great deals. Parking is a bitch, people line up early to get in when they open, and the checkout lines snake halfway around the store. It's a PITA but worth it for the great deals to be had. The pre-Y2K sale was a madhouse.
They have tables set up where you can sample the MREs, the freeze-dried foods, beef jerky, deep fried turkey, etc. Try before you buy is a good idea. I've spent untold hundreds of dollars there over the years. Their catalogs are mostly the same stuff over and over again but sometimes they get in something new so I always browse the catalog when it comes in the mail.
It's a great store, family owned and operated, and the owner is a heck of a nice guy. Highly recommended.