It's good if you're buying like-items...I've done co-ops for yarn and stuff and it's worked out well. The "hostess" has to be very organized though and have it figured out ahead of time. You know, cost of discounted item, estimated shipping cost, when the payments are due, when they should expect their item, etc. Not to mention there's got to be some history of SUCCESSFUL co-ops. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, but I don't wanna be the one burned for a couple hundred bucks...