D_W, I feel your pain. If it's any consolation, we get quite a good screwing ordering stuff from the US into the UK, as my bank balance can testify. I've helped pay for a few HM Custom and Excise Christmas parties over the years.
It's the first thing I do when filtering an eBay search - "nearest first" - as to avoid disappointment when I find a nice plane and it's a US seller. I try to source US made vintage Stanley planes when I can (the quality of Stanley UK planes is debate that's been hammered to death), however, some of the best deals are sitting in workshops and homes in the US. Some planes are beautiful examples, but the p&p and customs tax can regularly run into more than the plane is worth.
Like I said, I feel your pain.
Jonny