Hamish as I might have mentioned Sarah deals quite a bit with the US both buying and selling and has never had to pay tax and a friend of mine bought an Amerikilt and didn't pay any tax either.
I know Sarahs things are quite cheap but the kilt was around the £60 mark.
Any views why you seem to have pay Hamish Added Tax.
Is it perhaps items over a certain value.
Cheers Rhino