even though this could be deemed as an inexpedient exercise for both parties to use time deciphering manipulated numbers and statistics, both buyers and suppliers would remark that this was simply a part of the negotiation setting in arm's length relationships. that is, it was not offending to either party, as they both were aware that these "tricks" would be used in order to argue for the best possible price for both parties. As such, both parties described this negotiation strategy as a ritual to be performed during negotiations. as one purchaser remarked, it would almost be offending if the suppliers would not in some way try to manipulate the purchaser during negotiations in arm's length relationships. As such, both parties would deem the distributive negotiation approach to aim's length relationships as expedient and part of everyday negotiation transactions between buyers and suppliers