Sellers:
1) Don't bother with the boycott. In fact, I bet the unmentionable auction website gives all kinds of strike-breaking specials like cheap listing fees. No more than 10% of sellers will participate I am guessing; probably less than 5%. In fact, if more sellers boycott then buyers (doubt it though), you will have less competition and, therefore, higher prices!!!
2) If you participate, do it right. Put your stores on hold (the site has ways to do this) for the week. Stop listing the week before so that you have nothing on sale during that week. However, again, I just would ignore the boycott.
3) I do not know if this is within the rules, but when that new buyer-get-positive-only feedback system starts, maybe start offering a $2- or $3- rebate by Paypal after receiving a positive first. Obviously, tweak it based on the amount you are listing the given item for (and also increase the starting/buy-it-now price up to cover this amount plus enough to cover the new fee increases). This would give buyers more incentive to work things out before whacking you for things beyond your control such as shipping service delays. No big deal to you as you jack up prices to cover this. And, if buyers don't bother leaving you feedback, you are ahead two or three dollars!
Buyers:
1) Start licking your chops! Come May, you will get to leave HONEST FEEDBACK!!! If a seller did not get your item to the post office for over a week, ding them! If a seller did not respond to your emails, negative first and then you will negotiate to remove the feedback! Be reasonable and fair, but now you can stand up to slow or uncommunicative sellers without fear!!!
2) Look for all kinds of low prices during boycott week! I bet a higher percentage of buyers boycott then sellers; which means savings for you!!!
3) Sellers are going to be mighty nervous in the next couple of months, the whole thing might go down the drain after all.... Buyers might start drifting off to other websites. Try to get better deals. If someone is listing a 15C for $150, would it hurt to ask to cut the price to $100?? If they want to keep prices high, heck, you don't need this stuff after all. It's just a hobby. Just wait them out.
Edited: 11 Feb 2008, 1:20 a.m.