🐔 Terms of Service

1. About The Co-op Coop

The Co-op Coop ("we," "us," or "the Platform") is a cooperative marketplace where artists and makers can list and sell physical and digital goods, form cooperative selling groups ("Co-ops"), and collectively manage storefronts, revenue splits, contribution tracking, and governance. These Terms of Service govern your use of the Platform as a buyer, seller, or Co-op member.

By creating an account or completing a purchase, you agree to these Terms.

2. Accounts and Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. By registering, you represent that all information you provide is accurate and complete.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You may not share accounts, create multiple accounts to evade fees or platform rules, or impersonate another person or entity.

3. Sellers: Listings and Transactions

3.1 Your Responsibilities as a Seller

By listing an item, you represent that you have the legal right to sell it, that the listing accurately describes the item, and that you will fulfill orders in a timely and professional manner. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of your listings, including price, description, condition, and shipping estimates.

3.2 Platform Fee

The Co-op Coop charges a platform fee on each completed sale:

Solo sellers: 5% of the listing price, deducted from your payout. You receive your listing price minus the platform fee.

Verified Co-op members: The platform fee is 3% of the full sale price, deducted from the Co-op’s share — not from your individual payout. As a Co-op member, you always receive your full agreed artist cut.

Payment processing costs (Stripe fees) are passed through to buyers at cost and do not affect your payout.

3.3 Membership and Buy-in Products

Co-ops may offer recurring membership fees and one-time buy-ins in addition to or instead of product listings. The platform fee of 3% applies to these transactions and is deducted from the Co-op’s incoming payment at the time of transaction.

3.4 Payouts

Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect. You must complete Stripe’s identity verification process to receive payouts. The Co-op Coop does not hold seller funds beyond what is required for payment processing and dispute resolution windows.

3.5 Disputes and Chargebacks

Chargebacks initiated by buyers are governed by Stripe’s dispute process. In the event of a chargeback, funds may be withheld from your connected account during the dispute period. The Co-op Coop will provide reasonable assistance in dispute resolution but cannot guarantee outcomes. Sellers are encouraged to document item condition, shipping, and buyer communications.

4. Buyers: Purchases and Refunds

All purchases are transactions between you and the individual seller or Co-op. The Co-op Coop facilitates payment but is not the seller of record. Refund and return policies are set by individual sellers and displayed on their listing pages.

If a seller fails to fulfill an order or an item is materially not as described, contact us at support@thecoopcoop.com. We will assist in mediating the dispute and may issue refunds at our discretion in cases of clear seller fault.

The Stripe payment processing fee displayed at checkout is passed through at cost with no markup.

5. Co-ops: Formation and Membership

5.1 Forming a Co-op

Any verified seller may apply to form a Co-op. Co-op formation requires approval by The Co-op Coop during our early access period. We reserve the right to decline or revoke Co-op status for any reason, including but not limited to: misrepresentation, fee manipulation, or violation of these Terms.

5.2 Co-op Split Structure

Each Co-op sets its own artist/co-op split (e.g. 80% to artist, 20% to co-op fund). This split applies to all sales made by Co-op members through the shared storefront. The platform fee is always deducted from the Co-op’s portion — never from the artist’s individual cut.

5.3 Co-op Membership

Co-op membership is by invitation from a Co-op organizer. Members agree to the Co-op’s stated split structure and governance rules. Disputes between Co-op members are the responsibility of the Co-op to resolve internally. The Co-op Coop may intervene in cases of fraud or significant harm.

5.4 Co-op Fund

Co-ops accumulate a shared fund from the co-op portion of each sale, after the platform fee is deducted. This fund is managed by the Co-op organizer and tracked within the Platform. The Co-op Coop does not hold or guarantee Co-op fund balances and is not responsible for how Co-op funds are allocated internally.

5.5 Scratch Contribution Tokens

Co-ops may configure a contribution tracking system called Scratch (or a co-op-defined name). Scratch tokens are earned through member contributions — purchases, volunteer hours, donated goods, governance participation, or other organizer-defined activities. Scratch has no cash value, cannot be redeemed for money, and is non-transferable between Co-ops. Scratch may optionally influence governance vote weighting within a Co-op as configured by the organizer.

5.6 Membership and Buy-in Products

Co-ops may offer recurring membership fees and one-time buy-in products. These grant members access to Co-op benefits (groceries, tool access, shared resources, etc.) and do not represent a financial investment. Membership interests have no expectation of financial return and are not transferable unless explicitly stated by the Co-op.

5.7 Prohibited Co-op Structures

Co-ops may not be formed for the primary purpose of reducing platform fees without genuine cooperative activity. The following are prohibited:

• Single individuals operating multiple accounts within one Co-op

• Sham Co-ops with no genuine shared storefront, membership, or cooperative purpose

• Co-ops formed to launder funds or facilitate fraudulent transactions

• Co-ops that represent membership interests as financial investments or promise returns to members

6. Regulatory Compliance

Co-op organizers are solely responsible for ensuring their Co-op’s activities comply with all applicable laws, including business licensing, food handling permits, childcare regulations, transportation requirements, and any other sector-specific regulations. By forming a Co-op, organizers represent that they hold all required licenses and permits for their activities.

The Co-op Coop does not verify licenses or regulatory compliance. We cooperate with authorities in the event of reported violations and will remove Co-ops found to be operating without required licenses.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• List items prohibited under our Prohibited Items Policy

• Engage in fee manipulation, including creating fake accounts or Co-ops

• Harass, threaten, or deceive other users

• Use automated tools to scrape, spam, or manipulate the Platform

• Interfere with the security or integrity of the Platform

• Sell counterfeit goods or infringe third-party intellectual property

• Use the Platform for money laundering or other illegal financial activity

• Represent membership interests or Scratch tokens as financial investments

8. Taxes

Sellers and Co-op organizers are solely responsible for their own tax obligations. The Co-op Coop will issue 1099-K forms to Co-op entities (not individual members) where required by law. Stripe Connect generates these automatically for connected accounts that meet reporting thresholds.

The Platform provides transaction records and organizer exports to assist with tax preparation but does not provide tax advice. We recommend consulting a cooperative-specialist CPA, particularly regarding patronage dividends and Subchapter T treatment.

9. Intellectual Property

Sellers retain ownership of all content they upload. By listing on The Co-op Coop, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive license to display your content on the Platform for the purpose of operating the marketplace.

If you believe your intellectual property has been infringed, contact us at dmca@thecoopcoop.com with the subject line "DMCA Notice." We will respond within 24 hours and act in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Co-op Coop is not liable for: indirect, incidental, or consequential damages; loss of profits or revenue; disputes between buyers and sellers; Co-op internal disputes; losses resulting from unauthorized account access; or a Co-op’s failure to comply with applicable regulations.

Our total liability for any claim arising from use of the Platform is limited to the greater of (a) the platform fees you paid in the three months preceding the claim, or (b) $100.

11. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms or for conduct that we determine, in our sole discretion, is harmful to the Platform or its users. You may close your account at any time by contacting support@thecoopcoop.com.

Upon termination, any pending payouts will be processed per Stripe’s standard schedule. Co-op memberships will be dissolved. Scratch balances are forfeit upon account termination.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes via email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after that date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the state and federal courts located in Oregon.

14. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Reach us at:

• General: support@thecoopcoop.com

• Legal/IP: dmca@thecoopcoop.com

• Fraud/abuse: safety@thecoopcoop.com