Pre-Order from US?

I was able to order thru the Newark site earlier this morning. Part number is  83T1943. But, as mentioned above, they are adding a $20 handling fee. Arrrgh. Not nice, especially since Neward claims never to add handling fees when ordering online. No mention of shipping costs, either.

Yes really not nice, what are we paying extra $20 for ?

ON canadian site there is no charge like that, but for us there is.... Really not fair !!!!!!

Here is a log of a chat I just had with support:

You are now chatting with 'Sylven'

Sylven: hello how can i help

Mark DePalma: Hello

Mark DePalma: I was looking into buying the Raspberry Pi and I was wondering why there is a $20 charge on the item

Sylven: Hi Mark...the $20 is a handling fee from the UK which includes shipping

Mark DePalma: Is that price ever going down considering that there is distribution in the US?

Sylven: We order it from Farnell Uk so that $20 will always apply...unless they decide to start stocking them in our warehouse in the US

Mark DePalma: ok Thank you

Sylven: sure

Here is a log of a chat I just had with support:

You are now chatting with 'Sylven'

Sylven: hello how can i help

Mark DePalma: Hello

Mark DePalma: I was looking into buying the Raspberry Pi and I was wondering why there is a $20 charge on the item

Sylven: Hi Mark...the $20 is a handling fee from the UK which includes shipping

Mark DePalma: Is that price ever going down considering that there is distribution in the US?

Sylven: We order it from Farnell Uk so that $20 will always apply...unless they decide to start stocking them in our warehouse in the US

Mark DePalma: ok Thank you

Sylven: sure

Farnell didn't give a shipping cost, only "TBA".  It does list the price as $42.30, not sure why.

Not trying to be greedy but trying to justify the 20.00 fee so I asked this question? Also some insight on they are not taking bulk orders yet? FYI

Sylven: hello how can i help

Eric : Just wondering if I can order multiple Raspberry pi now?

Sylven: Hi Eric...you can try but it has caused our servers to go down

Sylven: once back up you can pre-order

Sylven: using part# 83T1943

Eric : or is there still a limit on pre orders?

Sylven: I believe there is

Sylven: 1 qty

Eric : so if I put multiple in my cart it still will only give me one?

Sylven: from what I'm hearing it will let you proceed but at the end it will give you error and say you can only get 1

Eric : ok I will wait until the 20 handling fee comes down a bit

Eric : or buy a few at a time

Sylven: it probably won't because we buy from the UK

Eric : thanks

Still contemplating ordering though. Eric

Same. I ordered from http://export.farnell.com/ instead of http://newark.com/. It was 26.55 pounds (about $42) and shipping is TBA (through UPS).

I wonder if export.farnell.com will turn out to be either faster or cheaper than newark.com. Anyone have any insights?

Farnell Export have told me delivery is week commencing 16 April.