I've sent HC an email about shipping to the US and a possible discount; I'm awaiting their reply. Stu - 145 GBP sounds like a good price for the set - do you think a similar discount is likely to happen again in the near future? Does anyone have experience asking HC for a discount on an item and getting one? I'd seen that they ship outside the UK, but when I try to purchase the item, I get the message: "Sorry but the following products are not available for sale to your country and will be removed from your basket." Thus I'm not so optimistic they'll ship to me.

So I've got some conflicting opinions: 200 GBP is too much Stu says; Beren could sell it to me for more. Anyone else want to weigh in?

Beren - what's your price?

Perhaps I underestimated shipping costs, but I'm guessing you charge more than the 200 GBP (publisher's price) for the books. On the Tolkien Library site I see they go for 400 GBP (and supposedly don't ship to the US) which is more than I can afford. What's your best estimate for shipping this set to the US? By the way I was very pleased recently to receive the deluxe Tolkien Tapestry (#65) from Amazon.ca.

The books that I've seen separately on ebay, Abebooks, etc. actually seem to be more expensive when put together (plus I would like the box!). Asking HC for a discount is a good idea, but how do I get the books to me in the US? I did email them once and they said they wouldn't ship to the US (and I don't know anyone well in the UK).

I'm quite new to the collecting scene, and I'd really like to add the HarperCollins J.R.R. Tolkien Collection (ISBN: 978-0-00-727356-0) to my shelves. I've tried in vain for months to obtain a set - it seemed that Fishpond.com.au was really going to ship me a set until, alas, they finally cancelled. The problem is that I live in the US and HC will only ship within the UK. It's priced on tolkien.co.uk at £200 and I'd like to get it to me for no more than around £225 ($350) if possible (I'm on a student budget). Any suggestions? Any help is much appreciated.