How Korean Markets Keep Prices Low

My wife’s in a great mood. She’s just back from grocery shopping at the local Korean market, where fresh produce is sold cheaply.

“Guess how much for these,” she says excitedly, holding up a package of eggs.

“How many are there?”

“Twenty.”

I haven’t bought eggs in years so I have no idea how much they cost. I’m thinking of guessing $1.99 but I don’t want to undershoot the real price and take all the fun out of it for her.

“Two ninety-nine,” I say.

“Ninety-nine cents!” She’s now holding up a small carton of fruit. “How much for these?” she asks.

“What are those?”

“Boysenberries.”

“Ninety-nine cents,” I say, since that was the right answer on the eggs.

“Thirty-three cents! How can they sell this stuff so cheap?”

“They sneak around local farms by night, stealing eggs and boysenberries. It’s the only possible explanation.”