“ Watch this Gramps, ” he hissed to my Dad, “ Do you know how to get the best price on a taxi? This is how... just watch Mom!” My Dad chuckled, Ez continued his play by play narration: “The cab driver will pull up, and Mom will ask him how much.... see.... okay, now...

It's a well-worn practice the world over: customers and vendors talking price. CNNGo tackled this issue in a post titled How to bargain: the ultimate guide to scoring a deal in the markets of Asia . Many of the tips will be familiar to experienced vagabonders: shop around, be polite, and be ready to walk...

"In the souks, however, the price that is named first is an unfathomable riddle. No one knows in advance what it will be, not even the merchant, because in any case there are many prices. Each one relates to a different situation, a different customer, a different time of day, a different day of the...