ring uk customs and excise, its the best way
there are varying tarrifs
i know when i brought in a guitar, whcih cost me $800 of ebay (£400)
it actually worked out at £650 inc all shipping and taxes: a whopping 21% or thereabouts inc. duty
*however* this still represented a £200 saving off off uk prices (not that I could even source this model in the Uk, hence USA route..so it was fine for me and I was in the know before hand about costs and could work it out)