I know you defend Mesa pricing over here on that basis.
But pretty much ALL other US manufacturers manage to get their product to UK customers at broadly the £ equivalent of the $ price. Which given that works out at about 30% more than the $ price accounts for VAT, shipping, customs handling, distributor margins etc.
Mesa products currently seem to then add another 25% to 30% on top, which kind sticks in the throat! And I say that as a huge Mesa fan. The WD-800 is a classic case in point and this issue was discussed at length on another thread: $999 /£785 in the US and $1,649 / £1,299 in the UK. A whopping 65% price differential!! Unsurprisingly there have been very few takers at that price, certainly here on basschat where folk are not averse to spending £££ provided they feel they are getting fair value.