ManiacQuilter 2 if you bear in mind most cottons are produced in the far east, the shipping cost wont vary much from country to country, certainly not in the amounts that manufacturers ship around the world, the same container ship calling in several countries. In the UK its the duty and the sales tax that causes the higher price. Our sales tax is 20% and duty is a killer too.. if we order from shops in US, any parcel with a value higher than £20 (approx $32) is then subject to tax and duty on arrival in the uk.