Up to about a decade ago, buying guitars on ebay from USA worked out much cheaper, even after extortionate courier charges, and customs / Vat / post office impositions...

..but that was when the quid still had much higher value in relation to the dollar,
and before shipping charges increased so much...

Also small items were more attractive, but then the spending limit was reduced by a few crucial quid.

Whoever's idea that was, it was just mean spirited...!!!