How do locals know which market vendor has better value, not just lower prices?
Cheap is a price; value is a pattern.
Visitors often compare market stalls by price first. Locals usually compare by outcome.
The hidden mechanism is total value assessment. A cheaper product may spoil faster, require more sorting, or come from a vendor with inconsistent quality. A slightly higher price may buy reliability.
Imagine two tomato stalls. One is cheaper but includes bruised fruit. The other costs more but lasts longer at home. The second may be the better value even if the first looks cheaper at the moment of purchase.
A second-order effect develops when customers repeatedly reward reliable vendors. Those vendors gain steadier demand, which can help them maintain better sourcing and service.
People often think market value is negotiated at the stall. Locals know it is tested later at home.
