Learn from my mistakes...
... and when it comes to nutritional supplementation, I've made plenty.
I've spend UNTOLD $$$ on damn near every new supplement that's hit the market, promising that I would be stronger than the Hulk, in less than 2 minutes, without working out, etc...
None of them worked. Unless their only goal was to part this fool with his money, and in that case they performed flawlessly. Bottom line (IMHO): Keep It Stupid, Simple. Protein, a good multivitamin, maybe a joint support formula (if you're a broken-down old S.O.B. like me), Fish Oil, and an amino acid complex and I think you're in good shape. If you're married to the idea of creatine... that's cool, just make sure you're piggybacking it with a simple sugar.
What companies are good/not so good/crap? Again... K.I.S.S. If it comes from a large and reputable company (like G.N.C., Vitamin Shoppe, Puritan's Pride, etc.) it's probably good stuff. So many smaller companies engage in shady practices (like "fairy dusting" and masking their ingredients by calling them simply "proprietary formulas"), you'd be shocked. The bigger companies pay lots of people lots of money to ensure quality control.
Best prices I've found are on the net. Wholsale Superstore is pretty good.
Hope it helps.