Around this time of the year I tend to buy all the major items for the next 12 months.

I don't shop - I buy. I know exactly what I want and have a pretty good idea of the price I'm going to pay. Two hours maximum and the job is done.

This year, however, I hit an illuminating problem. When working I wear half height spectacles and I needed a new pair.

Being easily seduced by advertising I nipped into Specsavers followed swiftly by a visit to Vision Express.

Both run advertising campaigns promising everything short of second sight.

What they don't offer are competitive prices.

At each place I was quoted exactly the same price, £144, for the finished article. The coincidence made me suspicious so I shopped around.

The result? Moorhouse Opticians at Tadcaster supplied the same specs in a day for £99. Top quality product and service at two thirds the price.

David Drury,

Mayfield House,

Cat Lane,

Bilbrough,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.