The Mechanics of WAF


I understand the basic concept of WAF - different people are affected to different levels and for (potentially) different reasons, but people who co-habitate often have to pay at least some attention to the other residents' aesthetics when acquiring audio gear, especially speakers.

So, I really get this scenario:

"Honey, I'm going to buy these 7-foot, 300lbs/side speakers and put them in the LR"
"Sweetie, you do that and you might as well have them delivered to the apartment you're going to be renting"
"Okay, I'll keep looking"

But there are any number of For Sale ads that say "These speakers are 2 months old but have to go due to WAF"

How does this happen? Is it all rookie mistakes, where the spouse doesn't think about what a given speaker might actually look like until it's literally in their house? Do people who make the purchase just not hear what they're being told before they purchase? Just curious what leads to this frustrating outcome.
kthomas
It's a tradeoff. That's how I ended up with both a HT room and a 2-channel room and FOUR DOGS. At least she can't ask for horses anymore since we've moved. Now, I'm kinda into downsizing and we still have FOUR DOGS. Apparently downsizing only applies to audio.
"Honey, I'm going to buy these 7-foot, 300lbs/side speakers and put them in the LR"

That's EXACTLY what I did (except mine are 7.5 feet :^), only I didn't tell her until my son and I were installing them in the living room.

Her comment:

"Those are sure smaller than your other speakers (Sound-Lab Ultimate 1's) but wish they were a different color."

I replied:

"That's the only color they come in (Alpi) and if they later offer another option I promise to buy another pair."
Installing a walk-in closet (full room-size) for my wife has helped quell any objections she might have re the music system downstairs. And encouraging her to restock the goodies (primarily shoes) on those shelves goes a long way toward keeping her happy and blissfully ignorant of my audio obsession.
>>"You can have either speakers or me. You can't have both, so choose...."<<

How much time do I have?....................