I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of GOAT until my teenage daughter bought a really cool pair of Nike Blazer Mids recently. It peaked my interest and so I decided to do a thorough investigation of the online shoe selling service to see if GOAT is legit. Being a place that sells rare sneakers online, inevitably there will be some skepticism surrounding if the shoes are actually legit, and thus if it is even safe to buy shoes off the GOAT website. Here’s everything you need to know before dropping your hard-earned cash on a new pair of sneakers.

Is GOAT a Reputable Company?

Yes.

GOAT is a legit and reputable company that helps connect buyers and sellers of high-end sneakers, as well as apparel and accessories.

Essentially, GOAT is like an online marketplace for buying and selling rare sneakers.

Plus, GOAT also offers an authentication service to help ensure the sneakers you are buying are authentic.

How Long Have They Been Around and Where are They Based?

GOAT was founded in July 2015 and is based out of Los Angeles, California in the U.S.

Today, the website has millions of members and sellers from 170-plus countries around the world.

See Also: Nike Student Discount: Here’s How You Get Your 10% Discount

How Does GOAT Work?

Currently, GOAT is one of the largest online marketplaces for the buying and selling of sneakers.

The website essentially connects buyers with sellers of high-end sneakers.

So, buyers can browse the GOAT website looking for sneakers they love. And, if they find a pair they’re interested in, they can contact the seller directly if they have any questions, or make an offer to buy the shoes.

If the buyer and seller can reach an agreement on price, the buyer purchases the shoes and then gets them shipped straight to their home (after being authenticated).

Are Shoes Authenticated by GOAT and How Do They Do It?

Yes.

GOAT ensures shoes on the site are authenticated through a variety of means, such as:

– Digital authentication
– In-hand verification
– Machine Learning technology

When a seller creates a listing, they are required to take multiple pictures of the item.

Then once the item is sold, the seller is required to first mail the shoes or clothing item to GOAT who authenticates it in-house before mailing shoes directly to the buyer.

If the product is found to be “inauthentic or not as described” you will be issued a full refund.

The only exception to this is if you buy a pair of shoes marked as an “Instant” purchase. This means the shoes are pre-verified and ready to ship to you with priority processing.

But keep in mind you’ll pay a premium price for an “instant” purchase, often up to 15% more depending on the popularity of the shoe.

Do They Only Sell Shoes from 3rd Party Sellers?

Yes.

When you buy shoes on GOAT, you are acknowledging you are buying from a 3rd party seller, not GOAT the company.

Do They Only Sell NIKE?

No.

GOAT sells a range of different sneaker brands– not just NIKE.

Therefore, whether you are looking to buy New Balance, Balenciaga, Supreme, or whatever brand you are looking for, you are likely to find it on GOAT.

Are Their Prices Cheaper Than the Competition?

Yes and no.

Since GOAT is a platform with 3rd party sellers, pricing depend on what the sellers sets their price at.

Therefore, you may run into great deals or you may see some very expensive (or overpriced) shoes.

PRO TIP

Check out the Under Retail section of the GOAT website for some really good deals. All the prices are cheaper than you’ll find at your local Footlocker or Dick’s. Deals are in the 20% to 40% “under retail” range and many of the shoes are not found on the open-market. See screenshot below.

Does GOAT Sell Used Shoes as Well?

Yes.

You’ll find both used and new shoes for sale on GOAT.

Their used shoe program is actually called GOAT Clean and it features gently used shoes that have been professionally cleaned and graded.

The GOAT Clean program offers a nice option for “sneaker heads” to pick up used shoes at a reduced price.

Your best bet is to look for “Worn Once” shoes as they’ll still look brand new and save you some cash.

What is the GOAT Return Policy?

You have 3 days to request a return to GOAT once you receive your item(s).

Items you wish to return must be in the same condition as when you bought them.

3 days is not much, so don’t let the shoes sit in the box, get them out and try them on to make sure they are what you want.

See Also: Nike Return Policy: We Got Answers to ALL Your Questions

Do They Stand Behind All the Shoes?

Yes.

GOAT does stand behind all the shoes they sell based on their Assurance of Authenticity policy.
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This ensures all shoes are vetted and genuine.

What Are Their Shipping Charges?

$14.50 for US domestic shipping.

GOAT shoppers can expect to pay quite hefty shipping charges.

Here’s a brief breakdown of GOAT shipping charges by location and speed:

– $14.50 – US domestic shipping (every state but Hawaii and Alaska)
– $15 – Shipping to Hawaii and Alaska
– $27 – For “Instant” items with next-day shipping.

According to the GOAT website, International shipping rates are listed below:

– Canada: $30
– EU (other than Malta and Cyprus): €15
– Hong Kong: 78 HKD
– Malaysia: RM 65
– Malta and Cyprus: €25
– People’s Republic of China: $25
– Singapore: S$7
– United Kingdom: £13
– All other countries: $40

See Also: Is Flight Club a Legit Business? We Answers ALL Your Questions

Are There Any Other Fees or Charges?

Yes.

All “Instant” items have up to an 8% processing fee which is something to keep in mind as a buyer.

GOAT also has seller fees. Click here to learn more about GOAT’s exact seller fees by country.

BONUS: 3 Smart Hacks to Save Money on GOAT:

1. Wait to Buy New Release Shoes

For those crazy enough to pay FULL market price on a new release shoe, more power to ya.

But for the rest of us, show some patience and wait at least a month after a new hot shoe drops and the price will drop significantly in most cases.

2. GOAT is NOT the Only Store in Town

If the price you’re seeing on GOAT is more than you want to spend, fret not, check out some other popular online marketplaces.

Specifically, check out StockX, eBay, and Flight Club. 

3. Always Filter Search by “Price (Low – High)”

This tip seems obvious but GOAT is such a large marketplace that sometimes the REALLY good deals fall through the cracks.

To combat this, always filter your search by “Price (Low – High)” to make sure you don’t miss a screaming deal.

Ask the Reader: Do you have any experience shopping on the GOAT website? Was it a good experience or do you question their legitimacy?

By Kyle James

Known for their tasty nuggets, hamburgers, and fries, McDonald’s provides a wide selection of delicious food at affordable prices to customers. McDonald’s also allows customers to use a variety of payment methods, including Apple Pay, to pay for their orders. Apple Pay is very popular and is offered at a majority of stores and restaurants these days, so it’s no wonder McDonald’s also accepts Apple Pay. In this article, you’ll learn about the ins and outs of how to use Apple Pay the next time you get McDonald’s, including at the drive-thru window WITHOUT having to hand over your iPhone.

How Do You Use Apple Pay at McDonald’s?

As long as you have an iPhone or Apple Watch that has Apple Pay setup, you can use Apple Pay to pay at McDonald’s.

Here’s how to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s:

1. Bring up your Apple Wallet by double-clicking the side button on your iPhone or your Apple Watch.

2. Use the default card on your Apple Pay account, or select another card you want to use inside your App Wallet.

3. Once you have the card you want to use to pay selected, hold your device near the card reader to scan.

4. Your payment will then be confirmed and you’ll see “Done” on your device.

See Also: What Time Does Mickey D’s Start Serving Lunch?

Can I Use Apple Pay at the Drive-thru?

Yes, you can use Apple Pay at the McDonald’s drive-thru.

But, keep in mind that you’ll have to hand over your phone to the drive-thru employee to then scan from the contactless reader.

If you DON’T feel comfortable giving your $1,000 iPhone to the McDonald’s drive-thru employee to scan, you have the following three options.

1. Order via the McDonald’s app and use Apple Pay as your payment method, then select “Drive-Thru” as your pickup method.

2. Use your credit card when using the drive-thru.

3. Go in-store and use the self-service kiosk or pay upfront at the cash register.

Can I Use Apple Pay When I Order via Their App?

Yes, you can use Apple Pay to order on the McDonald’s app.

When you’re making an order on the app, Apple Pay will automatically show up as a payment option on the app.

See Also: Wondering if McDonald’s Serves Breakfast All Day Long?

Is My Payment Information Safe?

Yes.

Apple Pay is not only safe to use at McDonald’s, but Apple Pay is safe to use at virtually any other store that offers Apple Pay as a form of payment.

If anything, using Apple Pay is safer than using a physical card because if you lose/misplace your credit card, any stranger can use your card.

However, with Apple Pay being on your Apple Device, if you lose your phone someone will need to know your passcode to get into your phone to even use Apple Pay.

How About Food Services like Uber Eats and GrubHub?

Yes, you can also use Apple Pay when ordering from McDonald’s off of food delivery services like Uber Eats and GrubHub.

You will need to first add Apple Pay as a payment method on the food service app.

Once you’ve added your Apple Pay to your account, you can go ahead and order your McDonald’s and then select Apple Pay as your form of payment at checkout.

See Also: Hack the McDonald’s Menu and Save Money

Any Fees or Extra Costs for Using Apple Pay?

No.

There are no hidden fees associated with using Apple Pay.

Therefore, no need to worry about any extra costs when it comes to using Apple Pay at McDonald’s (or most stores for that matter).

Can I Use My Apple Watch to Pay In-Store?

Yes, you can use your Apple Watch to pay in-store at McDonald’s.

Just like when you paid with your iPhone, you’ll want to bring up your Apple Wallet on your Apple Watch.

From there, you’ll want to either use your default card or select the card you want to use.

Then, hold your Apple Watch up against the card reader for it to scan and for your payment to go through.

See Also: The 14 Apple Watch Hacks You Wish You Knew Years Ago

Ask the Reader: Do you use Apple Pay at McDonald’s often? Is it as easy as it seems or am I missing something?

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

By Kyle James

Whether you’re looking to buy a toy for your pet, your favorite makeup product, or a doormat for your house, Amazon truly has it all. With so many things to buy on Amazon, this can make racking up a large order balance quite easy. However, Amazon gift cards in conjunction with your credit or debit card can be a great way to split up the payment. Discover exactly how to make an Amazon split payment, and what you’re unable to do with Amazon’s split payment method below.

How to Split a Payment on Amazon?

You can split a payment on Amazon between an accepted credit or debit card and an Amazon.com gift card.

However, you cannot split a payment between multiple debit and/or credit cards.

What Are The Steps?

Here are the simple steps on how to split a payment on Amazon if you want to use a gift card and a credit card at checkout.

1. On your PC or Mac computer, ensure all the items you want to buy are added to your cart on Amazon.

2. Go to your cart and click the “Proceed to checkout” button (should be in the upper-right corner of your screen).

3. Then, in the “Add a gift card, promotion code, or voucher”, you’ll want to enter your Amazon gift card information and click “Apply”.

4. You may already have an outstanding gift card balance previously applied. If so, click the “Use your $X gift card balance” to use the rest of your gift card balance.

5. Select the debit or credit card you’d like to use to pay the rest of your order balance.

6. Review the page to ensure the correct gift card and payment method were selected, and then click “Place your order”.

See Also: The Easy Steps to Hide Your Amazon Orders

Any Minimum Order Size Requirements?

No.

There are NOT any minimum order size requirements to split payments on Amazon between a gift card and a credit, debit, or prepaid credit card.

Therefore, this is a great way to use up the rest of your Amazon gift card balance (even if it’s just a small amount!).

Do I Have to Be a Prime Member to Split a Payment?

No.

You don’t have to be a Prime member to split the payment between a gift card and a credit, debit, or prepaid card.

Any Amazon customer can split a payment on Amazon.

Can I Use 2 Separate Credit or Debit Cards to Pay?

No.

You cannot use 2 separate credit or debit cards to pay on Amazon.

You can only use a gift card along with 1 credit or debit card to pay.

See Also: How Late Does Amazon Deliver? Here’s the Real Dealio

How About Using 3 Credit Cards?

No.

Again, you can only split payments between a single credit card and a gift card.

HACK ALERT

Consider splitting your Amazon order up into different transactions and use a different credit card for each transaction if you want to use 3 separate cards.

Need to Use 2 Debit or Credit Cards?

For financial reasons, you might find yourself needing to use 2 debit or credit cards on a purchase which Amazon prohibits.

But a clever workaround is to use a debit or credit card to buy an Amazon gift card for whatever amount you want, THEN use that gift card with your other debit or credit card.

This is also works as a way to essentially split a purchase with a friend so one of you doesn’t have to put the entire amount on their credit card and get reimbursed later.

Can I Use a Gift Card and a Credit Card to Pay?

Yes.

Amazon’s split payment method encourages customers to use a gift card with a credit or debit card to pay for their order.

This way, if you have a gift card that doesn’t pay for your full order, you can still use it to deduct your total balance and then use your credit card to pay off the remaining balance.

Can I Use a “Prepaid” Credit Card and a Gift Card to Split a Payment?

Yes.

You can use a prepaid credit card along with an Amazon gift card to split your Amazon payment.

Therefore, if you have a Visa, MasterCard, or America Express prepaid credit card lying around, consider using it next time you shop on Amazon.

See Also: Here’s What To Do If Amazon Delivers to the Wrong Address

Ask the Reader: Do you split your Amazon payments often? If so, have you ever ran into any issues?

By Kyle James