Robbie

[CustomRCmodels]

some places deduct the VAT right away others don't , you have to ask for .
Legally they only should do that if you have your own business over here and then you have to give them your tax-ID . To be able to ship to the US without charging the German VAT these dealers have to do some tax-paper-work within Germany . Some do it some don't .
As for shipping , since all international shipping out of Germany has been taken over by DHL ( or UPS , if you ask for ) , the rates have sky-rocket . small 1 pond packet is already 30+ something Euros = the 40+something or even 50 US $ . If you do order small stuff you should ask to have it send as a letter , which can be around 10-15 US $ .

I usually contact the German dealers / manufactures directly and do NOT use there shopping-cart systems