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Paul Greer first - he went to a shopping centre in Portsmouth:

"If you hate shopping (and I really do) then at all costs avoid getting involved in an item that sees you being given a list of gadgets and being told to walk the un-naturally lit walkways of a shopping centre in December.

Oh and also stop phoning your colleague who's doing the same thing on the internet, gets to sit at home, drink tea, eat toast, and beat your price by about a tenner every time. We all know by now it's cheaper to shop on the internet than it is to go to the shops. It's not news.

Yet millions of us persist in the horror of parking, lugging and hiking miles to seek out the things we desire. Why? We do it because we are social animals. We like getting out the house, gathering in the goods, getting some exercise, fresh air, and yes we even don't mind paying over the odds for the privilege."

Here's how Sarah Ransome got on at Plymouth High Street:

"It was crowded out on the High Street in Plymouth yesterday afternoon. Not on the ground though but in the windows - huge posters vying for space declaring discount after discount to lure people like me in through the doors in the hope we might open the financial floodgates.

As you can see from the photograph I wasn't exactly having to fight my way through the hoards on the hunt for bargains. It might be tough out in the marketplace, but with all the price cuts on offer it's not that easy for shoppers either to make sure they get the best deal.

I spent the afternoon criss-crossing the town centre to check out the prices on my short, but very specific shopping list. I even tried a bit of bartering - but no-one was biting. Inspite of that I managed to track down what I thought were some good deals.

It had taken a good couple of hours, a hike around the High Street and, I confess, some chocolate to keep me going. And with the constant loop of carols still echoing in my ears, and the thought I'd bagged a bargain - albeit just in my head - I left the bright lights of the cold city, lightly bathed in a pre christmas glow."

Here's how Nick Garnett got on shopping online:

1100 I'm going to start looking for the iPod at - it shows me a price of Β£214 with free delivery. Over at the USA version of the store I find the Touch is $299 but it's not worth buying and importing anymore because of the exchange rate. However, in the refurbished items store in the USA, I find the right model at $219 or Β£147. Incredible price but there are hidden costs involved. You'd have to pay Duty on it and postage. It's simply not worth the hassle so the next stop is - just type in the product you want and see what prices come up. The first one looks too good to be true - and it is! An initial price of Β£184 looks fantastic until I realise that it's not in stock and it's the old model.

1300: I'm starting to lose patience. Off to where the MP3 player is available, with free postage, for Β£200.63. I don't think I'll manage to beat that but it's always worth a trip to . It's not for the feint-hearted though - and if you're the type of person who wants nailed down guarantees and the like I'd go with Amazon.

But, I've got a trick up my sleeve: last week I was sent an email by ebay that offered me 15% discount on anything I buy until December 4th 2008. I've found a new iPod for Β£199 including postage and my voucher will take it down to Β£170. Thousands of these emails have been sent out - perhaps you're one of the lucky ones too.

Next up is the portable digital radio. I take a quick look at - a website of other like minded bargain hunters but there's nothing there so I go back to Amazon where they've got a Pure ONE mini DAB radio for Β£34.24.

1500 You've got to admire Amazon's purchasing power - the Sat Nav system we're looking for is the Tom Tom ONE (version 4) and they've got it at Β£92.47. Ebay can't get near it - there's a difference of Β£20 before you even start factoring in postage.

1700 The final item now - a men's nubuck GANT leather jacket. I reckon it's the one item I'm going to struggle with.

1900 I'm about to give in - but, at the last minute I find - and they've got a Gant doubledecker jacket for Β£799! Now if that's what Richard's been after I've managed to save him a whopping five hundred pounds on the list price.

In summing up I'd stress the need to be really careful when you're buying things online. The radio I found could sound atrocious - and I won't find out until I get it out of the box. I know that the iPod and the Tom Tom will be fine but, if you are out to make purchases as cheaply as possible I'd suggest that the only surefire way is to sit down with a mug of coffee and start hitting the keyboard.

I've not missed the queues in the car parks, nor the fighting at the tills, but there's something strangely lonely about Christmas shopping on a computer. Something's missing and I've just realised what it is - Slade.