Hi BDH,
As you say,the postage from USA is ridiculous,but the Post Office Service here provides a collection service from both England and America at a very minimal cost. I have used it many times,and I am surprised that Royal Mail do not have something similar to offer.
To give an example,one supplier [who shall be nameless ] gave me a delivery price of £15 for a small order [the value of the goods was £10 ], my Post Office delivered for Euro 3.50,no contest !
Might be worth your while to ask about it!