Buying a Kindle

If you've bought a Kindle recently I'd appreciate your help as I'm getting conflicting information about a couple of things: firstly, I know Amazon UK will direct me to Amazon.com if I don't have access to a UK address - Amazon.com state that they will add VAT but I won't have to pay customs charges. Some people are saying that they ended up paying this. Also some have waited weeks for delivery, others a few days.

So, isIs it better to order the Kindle from Amazon.fr and then buy books from .uk and .com or will I be re-directed back to .fr?

.fr have a good selection of English books but not the authors I'm interested in at the moment.

Thanks !