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While online shopping is not without its problems, it is the most hassle-free - and almost certainly the cheapest - way to go about your festive business. According to Deloitte's annual Christmas shopping report, published recently, the vast majority of Irish adults will use the web in the run-up to Christmas, although just under a third of those polled will spend money online, with most using it for research purposes.

While the deadline for ensuring online orders are delivered ahead of Christmas is coming dangerously close, it has not yet passed on some of the web's biggest, best and best-value sites. Amazon.co.uk and its parent Amazon.com both offer tremendous value when it comes to books, CDs and DVDs, and the sites routinely offer Irish shoppers savings of over 20 per cent even when expensive delivery charges are factored in.