Thanks for the research. Stokie is right I would also LOVE to order much more US stuff. If only we wouldn't get knocked over our heads with the surcharges. I don't think US sellers realise what it's like... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I ordered a surefire flashlight once which was about 100 EUR +15 EUR shiping by USPC (BTW good and fast service).

The customs charged me with 3% import duties over the price of the torch, 21% VAT over the torch transport and duties and added an extra 8 EUR handling costs to that. Total real cost was sth like 150 EUR. while transport was only 15 EUR. That's why we don't buy US-goods.

So maybe if we could find somebody in the US who is willing to send us these things on a now and then basis -- as a private person and as a gift with a declared value of less than 45 EUR.... we wouldn't have to pay all these surcharges, be able to sponsor the US economy and indulge our geardo yearnings <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.

Maybe we could start a group buy for our fellow Europeans?

Any candidates, please feel free to contact me, I'm willing to compensate your cost and effort. I&#8217;m also willing &#8211; provided we find someone to ship the items to me - to do the further distribution within the EU. (This is serious)

Luca