Finding and Borrowing Items

One of the best parts of CO-OP is being able to borrow things you need from people you trust. Here’s how to find items and request loans.

Browsing catalogs

There are several ways to discover items available for borrowing:

Search

Use the Search feature to find specific items across all your friends’ catalogs. Search looks at item names and descriptions, so try different terms if you don’t find what you’re looking for right away.

Browse by friend

Visit a specific friend’s catalog to see everything they have available:

  1. Go to Friends in the navigation
  2. Click on a friend’s name
  3. Browse their catalog

Browse all catalogs

The Catalogs page shows items from everyone you’re connected to, giving you a full view of what’s available in your network.

Requesting a loan

When you find an item you’d like to borrow:

  1. Click on the item to view its details
  2. Click Request to Borrow
  3. Add a message to the owner (optional but recommended)
  4. Submit your request

Writing a good request

While a message is optional, it helps the owner understand:

  • What you need the item for
  • When you’d like to borrow it
  • How long you’ll need it
  • When and how you can pick it up

Example message:

“Hi! I’m building some shelves this weekend and could really use your drill. Would Saturday morning work for pickup? I can return it Monday evening.”

What happens next

After you submit a request:

  1. The owner is notified — They’ll receive an email and see the request in CO-OP
  2. They review your request — They can approve or decline
  3. You’re notified of their decision — You’ll get an email either way

If approved, you’ll coordinate the handoff directly with the owner. CO-OP doesn’t handle the physical exchange—that’s between you and your friend.

Request status

Your loan requests can have these statuses:

  • Pending — Waiting for the owner to respond
  • Approved — Ready for pickup
  • Active — You have the item
  • Declined — The owner couldn’t lend it this time

You can view all your requests in the Loans section of CO-OP.

Tips for borrowing

  • Be specific about timing — Let the owner know when you need the item and for how long
  • Respect their response — If they decline, they may have a good reason
  • Communicate changes — If your plans change, let them know promptly
  • Return items on time — And in the condition you received them