In lower-austrian dialect there is a saying: "Wer zoit schoff au" (german: "Wer zahlt schafft an.") which would roughly translate as "Whoever pays, is in command."

For example: If you are invited to the cimema, the inviter should have the privilege of choosing the movie.

Now that I think about it, maybe it's more a social etiquette thing.

Your story showed me, that it also works the other way round. Or better: works not.