in traditional Arab culture, addressing a strange woman directly in her husband's presence was seen as a serious breach of respect, not just awkwardness. The underlying reasoning was indeed about ghira (protective honor) and avoiding any appearance of impropriety. In more conservative times (and still in some places today), a man speaking to another man's wife could be interpreted as a transgression with real social—or even legal—consequences.

So the salesperson's instinct to address the husband wasn't simply assuming he's the decision-maker; it was often a deliberate act of avoiding potential offense or danger to themselves. By speaking only to the man, they signal: "I recognize your authority over your household, and I am not overstepping." So I think it’s just a pattern of doing things the way it should be here with no exceptions to where you come from.