Leighthesim,, get yourself off to one of the fluteshops over here,,either london or one of the other's dotted about,, at least you will be able to try them out. Also what happens if you buy one from abroad and it develops a fault/problem?? It might end up costing you a lot more.. stick to getting one from this country if i was you..
Just my thoughts..

Mark.

thanks for the advice i am actually going to visit the just flutes shop as they have alot of different ones in stock i am also going to check for some others close by but just flutes is probably the main one as i can get there quite easily (it is a short walk and two short trains away and i visit croydon anyway)
That would also be my main concern actually (claiming on the waranty if it was completely broken) but as i have a music shop quite close that has a woodwind echnition things like getting it ajusted are quite easily, my mum doen't like buying big expensive thigns from abroad anyway so i will end up getting it from the uk

yeah, getting it from your country is a safe way, consider the customs tax, freight, and warranty abd service, also u can't try it out.

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but if you ever come to AZN country, especially Japan, buy one here and carry back to UK is also good, the money u save still worth the serice risk. ;)