Since Norway is not yet in the European Community, effectively, you can pre-order without VAT at our shop but you'll certainly have to pay the norvegian VAT when it comes in the country.
Yeah when importing goods from a non EU country you pay VAT to your own government at the rate that they set, not to the country where you are buying it from at the rate they set. I don't know about Norway, but importing into the UK you will also be charged import duty and the courier will add their own price for presenting it to customs & VAT is charged on that too.
Goods sold within the EU have VAT applied at source at the rate set where they are sold (which doesn't have to be where they are shipped or invoiced from if you follow amazon's business model). It makes it annoying when you buy something from a country in the EU that has 20% VAT, but at least you don't get stung for the import duty and fee for presenting it to customs.
The VAT system for imports seems to be designed to dissuade individuals from importing as VAT registered companies can claim it back anyway.
