Fair Price, Warm Hands: A 5‑Minute Guide to Markets, Bargains, and Supporting Artisans

I open in a bustling Hunza bazaar: wool shawls fanned across a stall, a vendor arranging copper cups, and the tiny choreography that turns a price into a story. In five minutes this episode gives a compact, practical kit for market shopping across northern Pakistan: a 60‑second pre‑shop checklist (observe turnover, ask origin, check materials), three polite bargaining scripts (friendly open, gentle counter, graceful walk‑away) with transliterations, a simple test to spot artisan‑made vs. factory goods, and two clear decision rules—when to bargain and when to pay asking price to support craftmakers. I include one short story of a purchase that helped a family and one quick etiquette line for handling children and photos at stalls. Tone: conversational, entertaining, and deeply practical—listeners finish ready to shop fairly and head to Travel Dairy for a printable Market Bargain Card with phrases, sample price ranges, and artisan resources.