Telling a friend you won't bid on an item, is not to my knowledge, "bid rigging" under the definition of bid rigging in any state. A state might well make it a crime to conspire to rig bids [though it would be a tough job to do it and not create constitutional problems] but absent language that specifically sanctioned agreeing not to bid on non public projects, such conduct would not be criminal--could not be criminal.

Aside from that slant, Jim, it is clear to me that if you want to play on eBay's game board, you play by eBay's rules and if not--you get suspended.