Frequently Asked Questions

Cooe is Australia's free QR code lost and found service designed specifically for families. We help you protect your children's belongings (school bags, lunch boxes, hats, etc.) by generating unique QR codes that can be scanned to notify you when items are found. It's 100% free, requires no app, and keeps your contact information private.

Getting started takes less than 30 seconds! Simply visit our homepage, scroll down to generate your free QR code, download it, and print it out. Then scan it yourself first to claim it with your contact information. That's it!

No! One of the best things about Cooe is that there's no sign-up required. You can generate QR codes instantly without creating an account, remembering passwords, or verifying emails. Just generate, print, and claim.

No! Cooe works entirely through your web browser. Anyone can scan your QR code using their phone's camera app - no special app needed. This makes it incredibly easy for finders to notify you when they find your items.

Unlimited! Generate as many QR codes as you need for all your belongings. There's no limit. School bag, lunch box, water bottle, hat, jacket, sports equipment - protect everything at no cost.

Cooe works in 3 simple steps: 1) Generate your free QR code on our website. 2) Print & Claim it by scanning it yourself first and entering your contact details. 3) Get Notified when someone finds your lost item, scans the code, and reports it through our system. You'll receive an instant email (and optional SMS) with the finder's contact information.

When someone scans your claimed QR code, they're taken to a "Found Item" page where they can enter their name, contact information, location where it was found, and a message. Once they submit the form, you instantly receive an email notification with all their details so you can arrange to get your item back.

The first person to scan a QR code is shown a "Claim" page where you enter your email, phone number (optional), and a description of the item. This links the QR code to you and keeps your information private. Always claim your QR code yourself first before giving items to your children!

While you technically could, we strongly recommend using a unique QR code for each item. This makes it easier to identify which item was found and provides better tracking. Since generating QR codes is free and unlimited, there's no reason not to use separate codes!

After generating your QR code, click the "Download QR Code" button to save it to your device. Then you can print it on regular paper, sticker paper, or send it to a printing service. We recommend printing at actual size (not scaled down) to ensure it scans reliably. You can also save it to your phone and show it at print shops.

Absolutely! Your email and phone number are never visible on the QR code or shared publicly. The QR code only contains a unique ID (like "xAbC123"). Your contact information is stored securely in our database and is only revealed to people who find your item and report it through our system.

No! We never ask for or store your home address. The QR code contains no personal information at all - just a unique identifier. Finders can only contact you through our secure notification system, which shares your email/phone only after they've reported finding your item.

When claiming a QR code, you only need to provide: 1) Your email address (required for notifications), 2) Phone number (optional, for SMS notifications), and 3) Item description (helps identify which item was found). That's it! No name, no address, no payment details.

Yes! Cooe is specifically designed with children's safety in mind. No personal information is visible on the QR code stickers. When someone finds an item, they don't see your child's name, your phone number, or any identifying information. They can only contact you through our secure system after reporting the found item.

We use bank-level encryption to protect your data. Your information is stored on secure servers in Australia, and we never sell or share your data with third parties. We're also GDPR-compliant and follow Australian privacy laws. Your data is only used to facilitate reuniting you with lost items.

Cooe is 100% free forever. There are no subscriptions, no hidden fees, no trial periods that expire, and no catch. You can generate unlimited QR codes, claim as many as you want, and receive unlimited notifications - all at zero cost.

There's no trial because there's nothing to trial! Cooe is free permanently. You're not testing out a service that will later require payment. The core service (QR generation, claiming, and notifications) will always be free for everyone.

No. Our core mission is to help families never lose what matters, and that means keeping Cooe free forever. We may offer optional physical products (like pre-printed stickers or iron-on labels) for purchase, but the digital service will always remain free.

We built Cooe to solve a real problem we experienced as parents. The service runs on cost-efficient cloud infrastructure, and we accept optional donations from users who want to support our mission. We believe in giving back to the community and helping families, not in charging for basic safety features.

Yes, thank you! While Cooe is free to use, we welcome donations to help cover server costs, SMS notifications, and ongoing development. You can find the donation link on our website. Every contribution helps us keep Cooe free for everyone.

You can put Cooe QR codes on anything your children might lose! Popular items include: school bags, lunch boxes, water bottles, hats, jackets, sports equipment, musical instruments, library books, pencil cases, umbrellas, and more. If it can get lost, it can have a Cooe QR code!

QR codes are surprisingly resilient! They can still scan even if parts are damaged or dirty. For best durability, we recommend: 1) Printing on waterproof sticker paper or laminating regular prints, 2) Covering with clear packing tape, or 3) Using a QR code label-making service that uses weather-resistant vinyl.

Currently, you can't edit a claimed QR code (to prevent unauthorized changes). However, if you need to update your email or phone number, simply generate a new QR code and claim it with your updated information. Since QR codes are free and unlimited, this is the safest approach.

That's why it's important to claim your QR code yourself immediately after generating it! The first person to scan and claim a QR code becomes the owner. If someone else claims it first, generate a new QR code and claim it right away.

For privacy reasons, we don't track who scans QR codes unless they submit a "Found Item" report. This prevents potential misuse of tracking data. You'll only be notified when someone actively reports finding your item.

No! Your QR codes never expire. Once you generate and claim a code, it's yours permanently. The QR code will continue working for years to come, even if you don't use it right away.

You'll receive an instant email notification as soon as someone scans your QR code and reports finding your item. If you provided a phone number, you'll also receive an SMS notification. The notification includes the finder's name, contact information, location where it was found, and any message they included.

The finder will not see your personal information! When they scan the QR code, they see a form asking them to report finding an item. They won't see your email, phone number, or name. Only after they submit the form will their information be sent to you, allowing you to contact them.

Once you receive the notification with the finder's contact information, you can reach out to them directly via email or phone (if provided) to arrange a convenient time and place to collect your item. The finder has already done the kind deed of reporting it - now it's up to you to coordinate the reunion!

While contact details are optional in the form, most people include them because they want to help! If someone reports finding your item but doesn't leave contact details, they might include a location where they left it (like "Handed to office at Main Street Primary School"). Check the message field for clues.

No, Cooe doesn't provide GPS tracking. We're a notification system, not a tracking device. You'll be notified when someone finds and reports your item, along with the location they specify in their message, but there's no live location tracking.

Absolutely! Cooe is perfect for schools. It's free for all families, reduces lost property management workload, and makes it easy for parents to protect their children's belongings. We have a dedicated Schools page with resources, templates, and partnership information.

No! Cooe is free for schools just like it's free for families. There are no licensing fees, no per-student costs, no setup charges. Schools can recommend Cooe to all their families at absolutely no cost to the school or parents.

It's simple! School administrators can: 1) Visit our Schools page, 2) Download our parent communication templates, 3) Include information about Cooe in newsletters or emails, and 4) Encourage parents to generate free QR codes. Setup takes about 5 minutes!

Yes! Any organization can recommend Cooe to their members. Sports clubs, childcare centers, after-school programs, camps, and community groups can all benefit from Cooe's free lost and found system. Just direct your members to cooe.au to generate their codes.

All modern smartphones! Any iPhone (iOS 11+) or Android phone can scan QR codes using the built-in camera app. No special app needed. Just open the camera, point it at the QR code, and tap the notification that appears.

Yes. To scan a QR code and access the Cooe website, you need an internet connection (WiFi or mobile data). However, the QR code itself doesn't require internet - it's just a printed image. The internet is needed to load the webpage after scanning.

For best scanning reliability, we recommend printing QR codes at least 2cm x 2cm (about 1 inch x 1 inch). Larger is better for items that might be scanned from a distance. The QR codes we generate are designed to work well at various sizes, but avoid making them smaller than 1.5cm x 1.5cm.

Currently, our QR codes use a standard design to ensure maximum scanning reliability. Adding colors or customizing designs can sometimes make QR codes harder to scan. We prioritize functionality over aesthetics to ensure your QR codes work every time!

We use reliable cloud infrastructure (AWS) with 99.9% uptime. In the unlikely event of downtime, your QR codes remain valid - they'll work as soon as the service is restored. We monitor the system 24/7 to ensure maximum reliability.

Try these solutions: 1) Ensure good lighting (QR codes scan poorly in dim light), 2) Hold your phone steady about 10-15cm from the code, 3) Clean the camera lens, 4) Make sure the QR code isn't wrinkled or damaged, 5) Try a different phone or QR scanning app. If it still doesn't work, generate a new QR code.

Check these things: 1) Check your spam/junk folder, 2) Verify you entered the correct email when claiming, 3) Ensure you claimed the QR code (if unclaimed, it goes to a claim page, not a found page), 4) Wait a few minutes - sometimes email can be delayed. If issues persist, contact us at support@cooe.au.

Once a QR code is claimed, it can't be unclaimed (for security reasons). The best solution is to generate a new QR code and claim it with the correct information. Since QR codes are free and unlimited, just create a fresh one and print it out.

This might happen if: 1) The QR code hasn't been claimed yet (you'll see the claim page), or 2) You're scanning your own claimed code (you'll see the found page). This is normal behavior! If you're seeing something else, please contact us at support@cooe.au.