Of course prices are better now then they were a year ago... because I bought mine a year ago and that's my luck!!!

I found my cost to be rather absurd. For one $450 kilt and 2 add'l yards of fabric, my total import costs through FedEx was $102, on top of the initial shipping cost. But what can you do? As long as we import they can charge the fees. I've worked for DHL and honestly don't see them being any better here. If the cost does wind up around the same as the VAT, then maybe look at the VAT cost of the product to determine what the "true cost" will be.