Donald, I know you're splitting hairs-ish.
It was a sale, once the auction was over.
However, this auction had unique, non-standard rules that were carefully crafted so that only one bidder would win. And that same bidder also hinted to others to 'stand down'.
It's like writing a RFQ (Request for Quotation) for a new cabinet.
While any cabinet would probably do, you want to make sure that your friendly company, "Mr. Cabinet", gets the job.
So you make sure that the RFQ specifies certain wood, certain assembly techniques, and certain chemical composition of the stain, etc. Stuff that only "Mr. Cabinet" provides on a regular basis, and while other cabinet companies could provide, it would cost them more to match those specs, than their normal, just as good, cabinets.
So while the other cabinet companies "bid", (and a few cabinet companies don't bid because of conversations with "Mr. Cabinet"), nobody's bid matches the RFQ like "Mr. Cabinet".
And you buy that cabinet from "Mr. Cabinet". And that's a sale then.
Rigged. Sure.
...Catz
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