The supposed price advantage of buying in the United States is usually swallowed up by the import charges. As of 2005 you had to reckon on some 25 to 30 per cent on top of the value of the goods. Importantly, the charges are levied not only on the value of the goods but on the postage as well. Nor is the exchange rate applied the current market rate, but an officially fixed conversion rate, set monthly, which may diverge from the market rate by a few per cent for a while before it is corrected.
On top of that come the higher transatlantic shipping costs and the cost of transferring the money; an ordinary international bank transfer is usually a good deal cheaper here than paying through a payment service. Anyone importing from the United States should add all these items up before bidding and set the total against the price in the shops at home. The rates quoted are an order of magnitude from 2005; duty rates, thresholds and procedures change, so the rules in force at the time should be checked before any purchase.