Jeff Bezos called in his chief accountant one day recently on what he said was an important issue.
“It looks like we’re going to have a problem again with that guy from Canada,” said the Amazon boss to his underling. “That guy, Hagarty, I believe his name is.”
“Nooooooo!!!!!”, yelled back the accountant in dismay. “Not that guy. Please.”
“That’s the one,” said Bezos. “What a pain in the behind that guy is. We can’t go through anything with him again, after our last encounter.”
“What is it this time?” asked Mr. Figuresadder, the accountant.
“Same as last time,” sighed the multi trillionaire behind the desk. “He says he has been overcharged again.”
“Omigosh,” exclaimed Figuresadder. “Why does this keep happening? Especially with this jerk.”
“Don’t know,” said Bezos. “But let’s not make a big thing of it this time. Hagarty seems to thrive on conflict.”
“What should we do?” asked the accountant.
“Just pay him out,” ordered Bezos. “Cut him off at the knees. We can afford the hit.”
So, with a heavy heart, Mr. Figuresadder went back to his office and spent the next hour making the arrangements.
And there it was. On Hagarty’s next credit card statement. On Dec. 7, 2023, Amazon Marketplace Canada settled the issue with Hagarty before the cantankerous Canuck could get a head of steam on.
On that day, Hagarty’s credit card statement showed a credit from Amazon of 0.01.
Hagarty smiled contentedly to himself as he read the statement, packed the family in the car and took them out for supper. That’s how it’s done when the little guy stands up to the big guy. When the news got out, Hagarty was placed in the running for his country’s coveted Citizen of the Year award.
But even if he doesn’t win that honour, his satisfied smile these days says it all.
In fact, it’s worth every penny (in U.S. funds).
©2024 Jim Hagarty
