Have you ever deceived your wife-audio purchase

I don't think I'd live in the same house with my wife,
if I honestly believed she accepted and understood
me paying over $400. for power cords.
Of course I spare her the actual details of this hobby,
it's my responsibility. Plus, I'd like her to stay
another 12 years.

For me, honesty is the best policy. Besides, it's none of her f*#2@!?< business. Our bills are always paid on time, we have money in the bank, and money in an investment account. Where's the problem? On top of that, I don't go to bars, I don't screw around, and she always knows where I am. Listening to music is about as pure as it gets and I think she probably feels about the same way.

Yes...the policy is to ALWAYS deceive them...since they find out in the end anyway!

It's that period between the installation (at night of course, through the side door) and the 'discovery' that is FREE...by which time I have another deal on the go.

Soooooo...the trick is to keep them in a LAG mode, 'cause if they ever reach LEAD mode the next mode is the 'DIVORCE' mode.

Keep up the good work!

(See also my thread: "Has audio ever caused the 'D' word?")

I have no problem buying non-local items. But local pick-up is a pain on my neck because she would love to pick it up with me. Here is the way I handle local transactions.

Ex: buying a $2000 CD Player, I paypal or send half of the money to the seller ($1000). Then bring her together to pick it up and pay the rest of the money (another $1000). Told her that it was the best deal of the decade. For higher priced items I usually do 70/30 just for my own safety.

Later when I sell the same player (ex. $1500), I show her the money order or eBay page that I can sell it at the higher price. I'd been doing this for about 5 times. Now I'm free to buy or sell anything at will. Never have to lie again!

How was it?


Bob.

I've been there myself. Sometimes the truth hurts but if you can imagine for a moment the pain of witnessing your wife doing you a favor by polishing the acrylic faceplate of the Electrocompaniet CD player (that a long lost Norwegian friend sent you) with a cheap, dry paper towel, pick up the Audio Note speakers you got at a garage sale and set them front-faced-down on the coffee table so she can dust/shop-vac underneath them, then set them back on the stands and shop-vac the dust off of the drivers and tweeters, spray the platter on that old SME20 you purchased at GoodWill with Armor-All getting it all nice and shiny again, putting tie wraps around all your cables to organize things a bit better, pulling those filthy, dusty, metal base GEC KT77 tubes from an estate sale on your amp and sticking them in the dish washer, etc.

Now... this "favor" would make most audiophiles freak out, but try explaining your freaked out behavior (why you aren't thrilled about what she's done for you) without attaching a dollar figure it. Impossible.

It seems best to be honest.