Yup, shipping costs and import duty's a nightmare from the US. Also your scre###d if they don't deliver. I made a purchase from EVO-r's website and never received the goods, they now just ignore my e-mails/calls!
See there is this possibility, you have a friend, so you could have it mailed to him, and he ships to the UK. I'm sure I read somewhere about import duty is different/or voided if the item is a gift/preasent? (clearly marked on the product Gift) Don't hold me to that though, just something I glanced across.