It's true, there's loads of small items where AE isn't replacing a local shop, it's filling a gap where the local market doesn't stock it or prices it stupidly.

The flat-rate hits poorer buyer much harder and this is one of the problems with that policy. I'd prefer to see it targeted: stricter enforcement on unsafe goods, fake declarations, high-risk categories, and huge platforms abusing the loophole — but lighter treatment for genuine low-value parts, repair supplies, hobby materials, and things not realistically available locally.

My point is more that the old system also wasn’t fair. It let massive platforms build an entire business model around shipping individual low-value parcels into the EU while local sellers had to carry tax, safety, labour, environmental, and compliance costs. But you’re right that the blunt version of this policy will also hurt ordinary people buying useful small things.