Helmut pointed out that some purchases in other
countries make sense even though there may be
conveyance fees attached.
"350 USD are still a high price, compared
to the 230 USD you have to pay in Germany
for same items. Add shipping and handling,
you're still below."

I recently sent a professional microphone to
someone in Germany, and the parcel weighed 4
pounds.  I found a price on the
United States Mail service rate page:
Http://postcalc.usps.gov/itds/owa/calculator.home
showing this to be possible for $9.95 in the US.
The local Post Office kept telling me it was going
to cost a lot more, but I insisted that I had
found it on their I-net rate page.   After several
minutes, one of them found some numbers to punch
into their computer and suddenly their machine
spit out a quote of $9.95, so I sent it.  I just
got  confirmation today that it arrived.  It must
be 6 to 8 weeks ago that I sent it.  But it
arrived safely and cheaply.  I don't know what
import duty charge he had to pay.  If the sender
declares a higher price, the duty will be higher.

I agree that for some parts, and perhaps even for
a motor or transmission, ordering from abroad and
shopping  for the lowest cost transport can save a
lot of cents, or is that make a lot of sense?
John