There is no federal sales tax. Does not exist. USA doesn't have anything like EU VAT, or Canadian PST/GST. USA does, however, have a federal income tax.
Sales tax per state varies. Oregon, for example, has no state sales tax. Tennessee sales tax is amongst the highest: 9.25% to 9.75% in most locations. Everbody pays -- just not the same way. If no sales tax, you inevitably have high property taxes, or even state incomes taxes. In TN, there's no state income tax, and property tax is rather low. (Half of what I'd pay in Texas?)
Federal law doesn't requires state-to-state sales tax. However states can insist on it. In TN, it's actually against the law to not pay sales tax voluntarily, if the store doesn't collect it. It's called the "Use Tax".
However, nobody pays it, which is why TN is amongst the states that sued Amazon. TN shipments will have sales tax starting in 2014 or 2015. Texas starting have sales tax added in July 2012. California fell sometime last year. Tax is charged based on shipping destination at Amazon, if the state requires it.
The brick-and-mortar (B&M) retail stores always charged sales tax. So you'd have to pay in-person.
Essentially, all stores and states have taxes -- though you can get away with tax evasion on certain sites, in certain states.
It would almost be cheaper to import that to UK, than buy to in CA. Or be a wash, or close.
Same for DVDs, etc.
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