Side note - the above thresholds apply to mail orders as Martin wrote. If you travel to the US (or any other non-EU country) and fly home with some newly acquired items, those purchases are VAT exempt up to €430 - roughly $500 or £375. Will not help in this particular context of course ... Christian
Ouch. I will need to warn UK buyers in the future. Thanks, everyone for your responses. They are helpful and enlightening.