Final answer:
In "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, the pearl buyers in the story engage in dishonest practices to cheat Kino out of a fair price for his valuable pearl.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the book "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck, the pearl buyers are individuals who purchase pearls from the local fishermen. When Kino comes to sell his pearl, the buyers engage in a series of shady tactics to try and cheat him out of a fair price for his valuable gem. They lie about the quality of the pearl and collude to keep the prices low. This highlights the corrupt and exploitative nature of the pearl buyers in the story.