Is GOAT a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of using GOAT, you need to know: Is Goat a scam? 

Below, we explain whether GOAT is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this marketplace. 

What Is GOAT?

GOAT is an online marketplace for buying and selling sneakers, apparel, and accessories. It was founded in 2015. 

When you find the item you’re interested in on GOAT, you can make an offer or ‘Buy Now.’ 

GOAT vets each item for authenticity. 

Sneakers are usually shipped from the seller to GOAT and then to you unless you buy a pre-verified pair, in which case, they’re shipped to you straight away.  

However, GOAT may use other methods to verify the authenticity of items rather than physical inspection. 

Is GOAT a Scam?

No, GOAT is not a scam. It’s a legitimate e-commerce platform for selling and buying sneakers.

Overall, GOAT gets positive reviews from users (with the exception of Sitejabber, where its ratings are very low):

• 4.1 out of 5.0 stars (from 31,006 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 3.9 out of 5.0 stars (from 36,373 reviews) on Google Play.
• 4.9 out of 5.0 stars (from 1,915,222 reviews) on the App Store. 
• 1.1 out of 5.0 stars (from 253 reviews) on Sitejabber.  

People generally report having had good experiences with GOAT on online forums like Reddit.

One person said: “I’ve purchased and sold a ton of shoes through goat and only ever had one issue with authentication. I’ve never had a problem with shipping.” 

However, as is the case with most marketplace platforms, your experience really depends on who you buy from. 

As one Reddit user pointed out: 

“Yes Goat is legit it just depends on who you buying from but for the most part yes they have trusted sellers.”

If you do encounter issues, users claim that GOAT’s customer service isn’t very helpful. 

Users also say that returns are quite costly. 

One person said: “It’s costing me $100 to return them! 15-20% RESTOCKING FEE minus shipping to and from me plus blah blah blah.” 

GOAT explains its return fees on its site. 

According to its terms of service, GOAT reserves the right to extend delivery windows, limit quantities, or cancel orders for any reason. 

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a court order requiring GOAT to pay over $2 million to consumers for violating the Mail Order Rule, which mandates reasonable shipping practices and truthful advertising about shipping times and refund policies. 

Assurance of authenticity 

GOAT vets every item for authenticity. 

It uses a range of methods to achieve this, including digital authentication, in-hand verification (i.e., performed by trained GOAT specialists), and/or machine learning technology. 

Note that GOAT says not every item may receive a physical examination to determine authenticity: “Some products are verified using methods that do not include physical examination of the product.” 

GOAT Buyer Protection 

GOAT has a Buyer Protection policy.

The Buyer Protection policy covers customers if the item they received is:

• Inauthentic. 
• Incorrect. 
• Different from the description/images.
• Missing a key feature.

To be covered by the policy, you must contact GOAT within 14 days of receiving your order. 

GOAT’s Buyer Protection policy doesn’t cover problems with an item that comes from normal use or wear-and-tear. 

It also notes that items labeled as “Vintage” may not be suitable for wear (i.e., they’re more of a collector’s item). 

Also, if you ship the order to a third-party forwarding service (so it can be re-shipped to you internationally), the platform’s protection ends once the package reaches that forwarder.

Returns

You can return an item you bought on GOAT within 14 days of receiving it.

Items must be returned in the same condition as they were when you purchased them. If they’re creased or altered in any other way, GOAT may deny your return. 

You can’t return items marked as “Final Sale.” 

The amount you’ll be refunded for the return depends on which return option you choose.

For example, if you select the ‘Return for Refund’ option, you will receive a refund equal to the item total minus the shipping costs to and from you, minus the return processing fee (15% of the item’s price), and any priority processing fee paid. 

The refund will come in the form of GOAT credit. 

If, for any reason, your return request is not approved by GOAT, it’ll notify you via email and provide you with the option to have the item sent back to you at your expense. Alternatively, you can choose to consign it.

Security

We couldn’t find much information about GOAT’s security measures.

However, in its privacy policy, GOAT says it has “appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data” in place. 

It doesn’t specify what these measures are. 

GOAT states that it uses third-party processors to process payment information and does not retain personally identifiable financial information associated with these payments. 

It also notes that the payment processor’s use of your data is governed by their own privacy policy.

 

The cybersecurity company UpGuard assigns GOAT a security rating of “811” out of “950,” corresponding to an “A” grade. 

Privacy  

GOAT explains the kind of data it collects, why, and with whom it shares it in its privacy policy.

It collects the following information directly from you: 

• Account information, e.g., name, phone number, email address, location, username, and password.
• Buyer information, e.g., shipping and billing address, billing information, and payment card information. 
• Seller information, e.g., shipping and billing address, billing information, and bank information. 
• Identity and compliance information, e.g., name, birthdate, address, bank account information, tax ID number, government ID number, and selfie image. 
• User-generated content, e.g., comments, posts, messages, and the metadata about content and messages. 
• Inquiry and communications information, i.e., any information you submit through GOAT’s customer support form. 
• Newsletter and marketing email information, e.g., email address, interests, and communication preferences.

GOAT may combine the above information with data it receives from third parties, such as social media information (for example, if you interact with GOAT through social media), service providers (including payment processors), and other sources, including publicly available information and brand partnerships. 

If you visit one of GOAT’s in-person locations, they may collect your contact information, transaction information, client profile data, in-store location and movement information, in-store Wi-Fi, and in-store video or images. 

Plus, GOAT automatically collects certain data, such as log data (e.g., your IP address, device type, and version), analytics data, and location data.

It uses your data to set up and manage your account, process purchases and sales, prevent fraud, provide customer service, and comply with laws. It may also use your information for marketing, personalization, analytics, service improvement, and in-store experience enhancements. 

GOAT may share your data with:

• Affiliates (i.e., other companies under GOAT Group).
• Other users (i.e., username, location when interacting through the platform).
• Service providers (e.g., payment processors).
• Third-party referral partners.
• Advertisers. 
• Legal entities (i.e., law enforcement, regulators).
• During M&A. 

It also says it may share aggregated or de-identified data without limitation. 

GOAT notes that when you create an account, other users can view your username and/or location (if turned on) on the platform. 

According to its terms of service, GOAT may request a government-issued ID and selfie at any time through its identity verification partner Persona. Failing the check can freeze your account and any cash-out balance.

When comparing your face in the selfie with the face in your ID, Persona creates a biometric identifier based on your facial features. GOAT does not get this biometric identifier. Only Persona has it, and they delete it once it’s no longer needed (i.e., when GOAT instructs them to do so). 

GOAT only receives your selfie, information pulled from your ID (such as your name and birth date), and the results of whether the selfie and ID match.

GOAT and Persona do not sell or use your biometric information for any other purpose.

When it comes to user content, by uploading or tagging GOAT, you grant GOAT a broad, royalty-free license to use it (including modification and resale) with no compensation.

GOAT retains your personal data only as long as necessary but does not provide specific timelines. 

So, Should You Use GOAT?

Probably.

GOAT is a legitimate marketplace for buying and selling sneakers. 

As is the case with most marketplaces, your experience can depend on the seller. However, GOAT vets sneakers for authenticity. 

How to Use GOAT Safely and Privately 

• Create a strong password for your GOAT account. And don’t reuse it elsewhere on the web. 
• Double-check the item before you buy it. Check the photos and descriptions carefully before you purchase an item. GOAT will not accept returns for certain items.
• Keep all documentation. To avoid potential issues, take a screenshot of your order, tracking information, and receipts. Save all messages in case you need to dispute something.
• Limit what personal information you share. When creating your GOAT account, only share the required information. Don’t use your actual name as your username, as these are visible to other users on the platform. 
• Keep an eye on your account. Periodically check for any unusual changes or orders on your account. 
• Update your profile. You can review, update, correct, or delete certain data in your profile through the GOAT app or site.
• Contact GOAT to delete your data. As per GOAT’s privacy policy, you can email privacy@goat.com to request that they delete your personal information from their database. Note that it may still keep an archived copy of your information as required legally or for legitimate business purposes. 
• Opt out of marketing emails. You can opt out of GOAT’s marketing emails by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of every email from them.
• Opt out of SMS texts and phone calls. You can unsubscribe from receiving GOAT’s texts by replying “STOP” to any text message from them or clicking the “Unsubscribe” link (if available). 
• Exercise your privacy rights. Depending on where you live, you may be able to exercise certain privacy rights, like your right to know or your right to opt out of sales or sharing for targeted advertising. See GOAT’s privacy policy for more information on how to do so. 
• Contact Persona directly. GOAT may use Persona to verify your identity. Though GOAT says it will tell Persona to delete your biometric data when they no longer need it, you can contact Persona directly and ask them to delete your biometric information.