"How much did that cost?"

In your shoes my father, said simply with a simle
"well, if anyone asks you, tell them you don't know". That usually got the message across.

Ian

Equate it to a vice/pastime/hobby/obsession they have eg how many green fees or how many pints at the pub or packets of cigarettes.

Sorry Derek, he doesn't play golf, drink, smoke - no vices or hobbies really. He has been known to 'waste money' on clapped out cars that have cost him a few bob in the long run and caravans that have never been used. That's about it really. I think it's more the fact he's just a nosey so and so!!

mind yer own business.
you'll only need to say it once.

"Money and fair words" my old mum used to say.

James

“Shhhh, it knock off”

quote:

Originally posted by markah:
I have a close relative who always asks, whenever he notices something new we have bought (especially Hi-Fi or AV!), "How much did that cost, if you don't mind me asking?". The obvious reply is "Yes, I do mind you asking" but if anyone has any suggestions (either polite or witty) they would be gratefully received.

Mark

And it's not the misses

quote:

Originally posted by PJT:

quote:

Originally posted by markah:
I have a close relative who always asks, whenever he notices something new we have bought (especially Hi-Fi or AV!), "How much did that cost, if you don't mind me asking?". The obvious reply is "Yes, I do mind you asking" but if anyone has any suggestions (either polite or witty) they would be gratefully received.

Mark

And it's not the misses

No, that's why I said "we". She just says "seize the moment" - mind you, she hasn't seen how much a CD555 costs!!

quote:

Originally posted by PJT:

And it's not the misses

Strikes me there is a world of difference between the missus and the misses.

Politely tell them you didn't go over your budget.

Or' It was a bargain...Twenty five uncaught birds for a penny!

The last one is an Afghani proverb, which an Afghani friend of mine used in response when he found himself in a similar dilemma.

They will look at you as if you're barmy and then move on to another topic.

Beano

Here's an interesting related phenomena that I (and other friends with good systems) can attest to.

Non Hi-Fi owning friends are generally pretty animated and vocal about what a great sound they are hearing at your place, with cries of 'Wow - that is an amazing sound' and the like.

The inevitable question of 'How much was it then'? pops up sooner or later, and when you tell them, they completely lose interest - because things have slid into fantasy land.

They would happily spend this amount of money on a car of course.

Humans eh? Rum buggers.

John.

"How much did it cost?"

"Enough"

"Yeah but how much is enough?"
"enough" then

diccus

Tell him everything you get is stolen.

Why would you not tell him? Are you embarrassed to admit it?

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
Why would you not tell him? Are you embarrassed to admit it?

No, I just find it rude.

Mark

I usually express the cost as a percentage of the value of the car/mortgage/house just to confuse the issue.

Jono

A friend of the "hunt around to find the cheapest deal on a DVD player that only costs £40 anyway" brigade recently confessed that he had bought a VHS machine in the very early times when they costed £500, or more (at that time you could probably get two LP12's for that kind of money, what had you choosen?). Then it was my time to laugh and call him a maniac!

JohanR

Why don't you just leave the price tags on everything

quote:

Originally posted by markah:

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
Why would you not tell him? Are you embarrassed to admit it?

No, I just find it rude.

Mark

What's rude about it? What are you ashamed of?

I am with Mark on this. It is damned rude to ask such a question, and I would never ask it of anyone else! It seems not so different in rudeness to asking a lady her age! Equally I would pull such an old fashioned expression if I were asked what something I owned cost, that my opinion of the question would be clear. I would not be able to help myself.

For those truly intersted then they can hunt the price out for themselves. "Mine to know and yours to guess," springs to mind as a suitable response.

Kindest regards from Fredrik

What's rude about it? What are you ashamed of?
[/QUOTE]

I'm not ashamed of anything. I think it's just the way I was brought up and a case of 'good manners' - as in the example Fredrik uses of asking a lady her age. Old fashioned values perhaps?

Mark

I must admit, I just tell the truth, even to the missus! If people think I'm mad/can't see the value/don't believe me etc, I don't really care.
I can also say that in terms of depreciation, its better value than cars, golf clubs, computers, or many other hobby purchases.
After all, in the grand scheme of things I only have a lower-mid range Naim set-up.
matt.