Pricing dilemma ethics - what to do?

Don't mention it  295 is still a good price just feel lucky you have a mate that is willing to buy you these non-essentail things

You're on the right track.  $70 bucks is $70 bucks, but I always try to honor my LHS commitments.

The only real dilemma here IMO is how you get the wife to tip her hat so that you pick up the OTHER engine at the sweet price

Jerry

Two good (written) answers and a classic song to boot. Not bad. Thanks guys.

I'm groovin'!

Add a new train from trainworld to the list.  Then, due to the really good price, it may be another train you get! 

The die was cast when you gave her the list and where the items can be procured at the best price. Your wife has to be special for wanting to get you what you REALLY want and I would do nothing to change a good deed on her part. The last thing you want to do is place doubt in her mind in the future when you give her lists again.

Let her enjoy the moment as I am sure it gives her great pleasure to buy a wonderful Christmas gift for you.

Yeah, I am definitely going to let this pass. Thanks all for your comments.

Pick the second one up the next time Trainworld has a sale... they've done it a few times now.

What I do for my wife is to give her the mfr, part number, description, price range and some suggested sources.  I also tell her that there are potentially advertisers in my train mags that might have it if she is having trouble finding one or have it cheaper.  Then I let go.  Heck, Charlie Ro now sends *HER* the catalog!

You are the one who has to make the call about whether it will "rock the boat" too much to tell her about the sale.  If this happened to me, I'd send her an e-mail and stress that I was just passing on the info in case it would be helpful.  Again, what she would do with it would be totally up to her.

I'll tell you what: if I could get my wife to tell me what she wanted, price would be no object.  I do not have a clue, and that means she has to make an extra trip to return it.  Better to do these things together, and make the surprise a box of chocolates or something.

On the other hand, some have a knack for giving gifts.  I envy them.

My holiday wish is that we return the holiday to the Christians, and make it a holy day, not a gift day.  Commercialzing Christmas has hit an extreme, in my opinion.

$70 bucks is pretty small change when it comes to trains. Let her be and move on to next time.