[UK-CONTEST] To import or not to import?

[Andy Summers]

Hi,

Slightly off topic I suppose, but probably the best place to get opinions...

I'll be 40 in March and have decided to buy myself a present! I've set my
heart on a new TenTec Orion 565AT. I could buy this from TenTec Direct in
the UK for a list price of ?2,789 including VAT & delivery
<http://www.aoruk.com/tentec/price.htm>. Or I could attempt to import one
myself from the US, where it's listed as $3,599
<http://www.tentec.com/pricelis.htm>. At the current exchange rate of 1.89
that's ?1,904. Hell of a difference!

I presume I would be hit for import duty. I don't know what this is, but
I'll guess at 5%. Sods law applying, I would imagine that 17.5% VAT is due
on the total. I'll also guess at ?50 for carriage. The total becomes approx.
?2,400, so I'd be saving ?389. Not a huge amount in the scheme of things,
but still significant to me!

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom regarding any of the above? I so, I'd
be grateful for the info.

Thanks,
Andy, G4KNO.