Just wanted to check if I am the only one who hides equipment, try to blend it into my current system etc etc hoping my wife will not find out. Lets hear yours..LOL
I am thinking about upgrading my speaker cables. In order to justify my potential purchase, I told my wife that someone posted a wanted ad for my current speaker cables at $100 more than I paid for them. Can't turn it down.
Emailists - I got this model long time ago when it was very attractive. Unfortunately usage became very expensive recently and I need money for new speakers so I' selling in 2 for 1 deal (I will toss in mother-in-low as a bonus).
It's ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. That's a credo to live by for married men (ha ha ha). Don't lie, just wait until it's a done deal. Most times my wife doesn't notice a different piece of equipment. When she does, honesty is the best policy for me. It is a combination of don't ask, don't tell, and asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
Just word of the advice - when your wife says "Go Ahead and do it" it is a dare and NOT a permission - you don't want to do it, believe me. Also be very sensitive to words like: NOTHING, WHATEVER, THANKS A LOT.
Honey, if I buy this then I will spend days and weeks in the basement and leave you in peace. Not even the postman ringing twice would make me leave my cave.
This works for me. Honey, this is the latest greatest thing and I'm in in it so cheap that by time I'm tired of it I'll sell it for a wash and move onto the next latest greatest. In other words honey none of this stuff ever cost us anything! LOL! Yea, if you believe that it always goes that smooth. I've got some beach front in Tennesse for sale! LOL!
Honey because of the complaints we have got. I thought it best if we move to a panel type speaker. You see honey open baffle bass is very nice but it doesn't bother the custy old fart next door.
Several times I've sold equipment to guys who insisted I send the gear to their office so they could sneak the loot into the home. I'm always happy to oblige.
I'll quit smoking. She was smart enough to say, "Wonderful, after you've quit long enough to have saved enough money for the piece, go for it." Been buying stuff that way ever since. Thank goodness the price of cigs keeps going up. This was after sliding in a home trial cdp that within 30 secs of firing up she asked from another part of the house, "What's different about the stereo and how much did it cost?" She was happy about the difference and the unit stayed there for awhile.
I think it is wrong to lie about buying equipment to your spouse. If we lie to our spouses how can we feel good about our hobby or even this forum. Would you want to buy from another audiogoner who is lying to his wife? I tell my wife everything I buy and what each upgrade cost as well as any added benefits of each upgrade*.
* The following items are excluded: any power cords, cables, interconnects, upgrades and any other purchases that are not noticeable or discernible in a dimly lit room. Besides if you did tell them they would not be interested anyway.
I keep my wife in the upgrade loop, she hears the improvements and sees the old gear go out the door at close to what I paid for it!!!!! The Gon is a wife saver!!!!
No, not at all, helps me get the best prices. Infact, she is always happy for me and willing to help me carry up my heavy boxes, dust off my equipment and rack, wipe off finger prints, climb up a ladder to wipe off dust on top of my speakers, and unpack new purchases. Selects furniture, carpets, dressings etc for my listening room. Insist I install a plasma between my planars, thinks that will look sweet.
Oh wow great thread! I wish I had started it... a typical scenario in our house goes like this... Wife: "ah, what was that diesel truck sound I heard from what seemed like the driveway just now?" me: "ah, I didn't hear nothin" wife, a couple of days later: "hey is that a different box on your audio rack downstairs? I don't remember seeing that box before!" me: "oh that? nah I've had that for a while" wife: "year right! how much did THIS ONE cost?" me: "what are you talking about?"
Man I snuck in a phono preamp last week. The seller decided the original boxes weren't enough and he double boxed everything which made the boxes about the size of a VW bug. Luckily my wife took the kids to bed and fell asleep with the last one. I was out in the garage for an hour cutting up boxes and sweeping peanuts. She still hasn't noticed but eventually she's going to try to play a record and then I'm in for it. Hopefully by then it'll be worth it!
Oh well at least we're not out sneaking girl freinds/hookers or using drugs (except Viridian- what a dirt bag!).
Nope no reason. I do ask for her opinion on all the equipment I look to buy...as far look and feel or coolness. As I write this response she is sitting next to me listening to 480East.
Actually my wife is pretty cool with my components. But like John (Jmcgrogan2)said I don't ask about the 100 pair of shoes in closet.
My wife likes to use the "don't you remember" trick on me as well. It is not limited to clothes she is a compulsive shopper and generally ends up to buying anything in sight. I don't lie but she says nothing. I mean nothing -it tends to wear you down. My stuff is generally too large to just slip in, except the tubes. I get those and hide them immediately. I don't lie but also don't announce my latest acquisition every time.
I don't need to lie. My Wife of 21 years and I have a deal. All my overtime money is mine, which in turn is spent on stereo related equipment. She's a keeper!
I don't lie, I only tell the truth, ....but not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
One good tactic is to tell her you buy stuff and sell stuff so it all evens out in the end moneywise. In reality, it doesn't if you're upgrading.
If you can get away with having a separate bank account, for internet transactions, not only can this provide some financial protection, it can be used to to quietly process other transctions.
Of course, this is all hypothetical. I would NEVER do these things. At least, I don't think I would. As I get older my memory isn't what it used to be.
I never lie, but I do not claim full disclosure either. After 25 years of marriage we have come to the old "don't ask, don't tell" routine. She doesn't ask about my audio habit, and I don't ask her where all of the clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc comes from....
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