For there to be defamation, there has to be published statements that cause a "reasonable person" to think worse of the defamed person. eBay did not publish any

For there to be defamation, there has to be published statements that cause a "reasonable person" to think worse of the defamed person. eBay did not publish any statements where any third party could read them; these statements were a private exchange. Only by recounting the story do we even know that supposed exchange of words took place.