In recent years, multiple sneaker marketplaces have become a dominant presence in the sneaker world. With the sneaker hype in full force even after decades, limited drops are getting harder and harder to find.
You don’t have to camp outside the Nike flagship to snag a new pair of Jordans; you can find them all in a single marketplace. These popular sneaker resale sites include GOAT, Flight Club, StockX, and others.
GOAT and Flight Club have proven to be significant players among sneaker resale market platforms. But what is the difference? Is one resale site better than the other? What about how they work? Which platform is the best for you? Read on to know more and get answers.
Are GOAT and Flight Club the Same?
No, GOAT (established 2015) and Flight Club (established 2005) are different brands, but Flight Club was acquired by GOAT in 2018.
Despite being acquired by GOAT, Flight Club still operates using its own business model, and GOAT does the same. This is to make use of their different marketing methods collaboratively.
History of GOAT
GOAT (short for “Greatest of All Time”) is currently the parent company of Flight Club. Established in 2015 by founder Eddy Lu and Daishin Sugano, GOAT has grown into a vast online marketplace for sneakerheads to get authentic shoes from trustworthy sources.
GOAT primarily resells sneakers through its mobile and web applications, building a trusted online network of over 20 million users worldwide.
History of Flight Club
On the other hand, Flight Club is a little more old school. Flight Club was founded by Damany Weir in 2005, and their brick-and-mortar stores shape the identity of this popular sneaker marketplace.
They operate via their website for sellers and buyers alike, but they do not have a mobile application like GOAT.
The Merger Between GOAT and Flight Club
In 2018, GOAT announced that they had acquired Flight Club despite being a relatively young company. This acquisition plays into the strengths of either company, with GOAT being a digital powerhouse and Flight Club having the stability of a traditional brick-and-mortar business.
Key Differences between GOAT and Flight Club
While GOAT and Flight Club have the same target audience: sneakerheads, the way they operate is different. The merger covers all the bases each marketplace lacked to create a sneaker empire. So what separates GOAT from Flight Club?
Sourcing of Sneakers
While they both source their sneakers from resellers, the degree to which either company sources their items is different. GOAT primarily obtains their stock from boutiques and other retailers and has its own list of trusted resellers. They also have an internal authentication team to verify the inventory.
Flight Club is known for its rare items and limited goods. They operate using a consignment system, which sources from independent resellers while Flight Club functions as the mediator.
All of the shoes submitted to Flight Club are then rigorously checked by their team before being listed. Flight Club then takes a 9.5% commission fee on the shoes, with extra fees on the side.
This means that stock is rarely consistent, and users should frequently check for rare items.
Platform and Location
GOAT is the brainchild of the digital age. It started out as an application and recently launched its website, catering to the young, the tech-savvy, and the faraway.
GOAT ships to over 20 million users in 164 countries worldwide using its online platform. GOAT also has partnerships with multiple luxury brands, ensuring they get the latest collections and collaborations.
Flight Club is a little more localized. While they do ship internationally, they never announced which countries they specifically ship to. This has led many to speculate that Flight’s Clubs orders, or at least a large portion of them, may come from other countries rather than their US stores.
The real merit of Flight Club lies in its brick-and-mortar stores in New York, LA, and Miami. Sneakerheads from all over the country visit the stores to appraise and appreciate their impressive displays.
Conclusion…
GOAT and Flight Club began at entirely different points in time. Along the way, they have merged under GOAT and now operate separately to cater to different segments of the sneaker-collecting market.
While they share some fundamental similarities, as most sneaker marketplaces do, they are also fundamentally different.
Want to learn more about GOAT? You may be interested in the following articles:
- Is GOAT a Legit Website? (Everything To Know!)
- How Long Does GOAT Take To Ship? (What To Know!)
- What Does ‘No Lid’ Mean on GOAT? (Everything To Know!)
- How To Use GOAT Credit (Full Guide!)
- How Long Does GOAT Take To Verify? (Everything To Know!)
- What Happens if Your Shoes Don’t Pass Authentication On GOAT? (Updated 2022!)
What is your experience with GOAT and Flight Club? Which do you think is better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!