Shopping around for PC components I discovered this excellent business based in Germany. They easily beat the best UK prices I could find even taking the tax and shipping charges into account. For example, the Zalman 7000A-AlCu cooler is 35 euros which works out to under £24 while Quiet PC charges £29 and Dabs charges £26. If you're buying quite a few components, the savings add up. Service was friendly and quick over email. The components arrived reasonably well packed and in excellent condition.
I tried to find a cheap supplier of a broad range of PC components based in Europe rather than the UK. No luck. At least none with an English language website. Absolutely no one approaches the low prices you get in the United States. Just why a component manufactured in Asia is cheaper in the US than in Europe, I have no idea. The Zalman cooler on newegg.com is $36 which works out to less than £20! The Western Digital 74Gb Raptor drive is £30 cheaper in the US (comparing Dabs and newegg). It's not just exchange rates.