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.

Hack alert: 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.

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