we bought all the appliances for our kitchen and laundry in the UK and shipped via sea freight. Saved a fortune. Companies like Miele and Siemens and the like sell using an agency model and they do not permit retailers to discount. Prices are half ours in the UK so if you buy a few items it's worth investigating. I have read of people buying a Natuzzi lounge suite who fly to Italy for a holiday, pick a sofa in Milan (or wherever) and ship it back for less than the price we would pay here.
