If you are new to the sneaker game, it isn’t uncommon to be overwhelmed by the many available marketplaces. Because of the wide variety of options available, all of which claim to be the best, choosing where to buy your favorite pair of sneakers could prove to be quite a daunting task.
Today, we look at one of the fastest growing online marketplaces–GOAT. From allowing users to purchase and sell new and used kicks to having a stringent authentication policy, GOAT is your go-to online retailer for all your sneaker needs.
But what happens if your shoes fail to pass the authentication process? Read on to discover more.
What Happens If Your Shoes Don’t Pass Authentication on GOAT?
If you ship your items to GOAT warehouses and the company finds them unsellable or inauthentic in their sole and reasonable discretion, they will refund the buyer the total amount they had paid for the product. After that, you may decide to have GOAT return your items to you or ask their staff to dispose of them.
If you opt for the former, GOAT sends you an invoice for the shipping costs back to you.
After receiving the notice that your goods are unsellable or inauthentic, you need to respond within 14 days, failure to which GOAT will dispose of your items at their reasonable discretion.
The same will happen if you fail to pay the shipping costs within 14 days of receipt.
To learn more about GOAT’s authenticity test and what to expect, keep reading…
How Strict Is GOAT Authentication?
GOAT’s authentication process guarantees 100% accuracy on all items. It is evident that with the multitude of shoe listings on this marketplace, tracking down each piece is close to impossible.
Fortunately, GOAT anticipated this, which is why it employs its AI technology to filter out fake deals. The company boasts an expert-rained AI image recognition system that helps screen out all the fake items in an instant. This system’s design features a massive rundown of signs that is capable of prompting detections.
The internet marketplace also has in its possession several Amazon services tools designed to verify the products’ authenticity. For instance, these tools digitally replicate every item’s key features and specifications.
As you can see, GOAT has in place an all-assisted process that makes sure to point out fake sneakers before they eve reach the experts. This way, buyers can have peace of mind as they pace their orders, knowing that they will receive exactly what they ordered.
Once you start shopping via GOAT, it is time to say goodbye to the frustrations that come with having to check seller pictures yourself to ascertain authenticity.
Does GOAT Pass Fake Shoes?
If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of this site, it is time to put your fears to rest as GOAT is a genuine site. Thanks to the strict authentication process in place, the chances of getting scammed on this platform are very minimal. Besides, GOAT has a no-tolerance policy for the sale of illegal/fake goods.
Not only does GOAT provide a platform for vendors and buyers to transact, but it also verifies the authenticity of all the items passing through their many warehouses to ascertain their authenticity.
This measure goes a long way to prevent the entry of counterfeits into this resale marketplace.
With that being said, it is important to remember that, just like any marketplace, any verified sellers can merchandise their items on GOAT. Therefore, you should always be on the lookout for scammers.
How To Become a Sneaker Authenticator At GOAT
When looking for an individual to take up the position of an authenticator, GOAT has a checklist that helps guide their choice. The company goes for detail-obsessed persons passionate about sneaker quality. Candidates should also demonstrate a willingness for continuous learning.
The section process is quite rigorous as candidates need to establish their bona fides before consideration. Beyond that, GOAT offers training guides, a list of SKUs, and a “sneaker bible.” All these are constantly updated. Selected candidates undergo lengthy months of training before their first solo authentication.
To help their authenticators understand the unique markers of authenticity for various styles and SKUs, GOAT ensures they inspect hundreds of shoes daily.
As the program ends, authenticators undergo a set of tests and need to pass by 100%. Even after they have passed the test, they can only handle one SKU at a time to develop expert skills.
How Does the GOAT Team Execute Quality Control?
For starters, GOAT has had a ship-to-verify model right from its early stages. This infers that after you have made a purchase, your items do not go directly to the buyer. Instead, they first find their way into GOAT’s warehouses.
At the warehouses, they encounter a dedicated team of footwear specialists who inspect every item and confirm two things: their condition and authenticity. Once the specialists ascertain that the items are in good condition and are authentic, they ship them to the buyer.
If it happens that the shoes are fake or aren’t in the condition promised by the vendor, GOAT will not dispatch the item. Instead, they will refund the buyer fully and send the product back to the seller.
Does GOAT Have Retail Locations?
Of course, yes. Following its acquisition of Flight Club–the famous sneaker marketplace–in 2018, GOAT has since established its roots in New York and Los Angeles.
How Do You Buy On GOAT?
From a user’s experience, purchasing sneakers via GOAT is a straightforward process. The first step is selecting your desired sneakers from the wide range available.
Next, you will need to decide whether you wish to get a used or new pair. It would help if you remembered that new pairs would look exactly like those from retail stores, while used ones vary in condition and often come with images.
Now that you’ve made your choice, it is time to select your size. Once you’ve done so, the GOAT website will display the price for you.
You will also come across various options such as “pre-verified,” which means the kicks are already at GOAT’S warehouse, ready for shipment. If you are told that your pair needs verification, it is because the vendor needs to ship it to GOAT for authentication.
Want to learn more about GOAT? Click here to learn if GOAT is a legit website, what Does ‘No Lid’ Mean on GOAT, and how long does GOAT take to ship
Conclusion
For years, sneaker enthusiasts have bought and sold legit kicks on the GOAT marketplace. This kind of brand loyalty shows only one thing–GOAT never compromises when it comes to quality.
The team at GOAT is there to ensure that all items pass the authenticity check. When shoes fail this test, buyers get a full refund, and the GOAT team returns the items to the seller.
