For the modern sneakerhead, shoe-hunting has never been easier. Gone are the days of having to only camp outside consignment stores for a glimpse of your dream pair. There are websites abound with the latest and sometimes the rarest kicks on the market.
Competition is always sky-high, with millions on platforms such as StockX and GOAT looking for the latest drops 24/7. And with online shopping comes some careful planning and thinking on the consumer end.
You’ve probably noticed that GOAT sometimes sells the same shoes for a slightly higher price than what you would usually find on other websites, or in this case, StockX. So why is GOAT more expensive than StockX? Interestingly, it’s not about GOAT being expensive, but more to do with StockX’s business model.
Why is GOAT More Expensive Than StockX?
GOAT is more expensive than StockX because of its quicker shipping times and more thorough quality control. Depending on the shoe, you can pay up to $30 higher on GOAT to get your new kicks sooner.
GOAT vs. StockX Business Model
These two companies exist in the same niche market – sneakers. But the ways they operate to sell are slightly different, and the average sneakerhead may not know these slight differences. Consumers will often just pick the first marketplace they find or the most popular one.
Both GOAT and StockX have a similar business cycle, where they:
- Source sellers.
- List shoes.
- Obtain a buyer.
- Get the shoes shipped by the seller.
- Authenticate shoes.
- Deliver shoes to the buyer after purchase.
It is quite the standard process, one that most shoe resellers adopt. Both marketplaces also charge the seller a commission or percentage fee. The fundamental differences between StockX and GOAT lie in the details.
GOAT Business Model
GOAT essentially follows the standard process quite faithfully. It also has a feature similar to StockX’s bidding process, but this is not available on the desktop website and is only on their mobile application.
So, their buyer bids and asking prices are not accessible unless you use their application. This makes sense since GOAT’s primary business focuses on Gen Z and marketing via mobile platforms.
GOAT usually monitors other sites and shoe selling platforms to gauge the market for the correct prices. They source from independent sellers and retailers.
StockX Business Model
StockX is known for its slightly different approach to shoe reselling. StockX works like a real-time marketplace, offering transparent pricing as one of its selling points. Sellers can set an asking price, but buyers can also bid according to what they feel is fair pricing.
StockX displays all past information regarding a shoe’s selling price, asking price, and previous bids to provide a clearer idea of how much people are paying for a pair of shoes. Meanwhile, GOAT does not offer as much transparency regarding pricing.
The differences between these two can sometimes be in the tens or even the thousands. In this way, StockX cannot control the prices of the shoes they sell.
This leaves you, the seller or buyer, to have a real hand in grabbing a new pair of sneakers. You can check out how much the shoes used to sell to get a good idea of how much you should bid.
This system also means prices on StockX will drop when supply outweighs demand in retail stores. They will most likely opt to sell on StockX instead of going on sale for old inventory.
Why is StockX Cheaper Than GOAT?
While the price difference between the two competitors is arguable, many people have noted StockX to be cheaper than GOAT, and for good reason. First of all, GOAT has slightly higher fees because they ship the shoes faster.
Moreover, GOAT arguably has a better track record for giving you what you paid for their authentication process. They also use machine learning in addition to human authenticators to verify the quality and legitimacy of the shoes sent to them.
StockX also has extensive quality control, but there have been multiple isolated cases of disappointing deliveries on StockX’s end, with the occasional fake pair slipping through the cracks. On top of their no-return policy, this can make things tricky for buyers who feel like they’re playing a game of roulette.
StockX does strive to sell 100% authentic shoes, but the errors, while few, can be glaringly obvious. GOAT’s more favorable history probably justifies the prices they set.
GOAT and StockX Resell Policy
Anyone thinking of selling on StockX cannot have worn these shoes anywhere, not even outside the original retailer. StockX only accepts deadstock, which means they have to look as new as when they reached your hands.
Meanwhile, GOAT accepts lightly worn shoes and will note any defects on the item descriptions. The option to sell lightly worn shoes also increases the pool of items GOAT can sell on their website. They also accept returns within 3 days of purchase – unlike StockX, which does not accept returns at all.
Conclusion…
The price differences between GOAT and StockX aren’t as simple to explain as inflation or brand name. Their fundamentally different ways of operating lead to a wide variety of reasons why some shoes may be cheaper on one site and not another. Reading the FAQ on their respective websites will allow you to become a more careful and responsible buyer because in the end, what you buy should be what it’s worth.
If you want to know more about these resellers and how they work, check out these articles:
- Can You Sell Used Shoes on StockX? (What To Know!)
- How Long Does StockX Take To Authenticate? (Everything To Know!)
- What Does ‘No Lid’ Mean on GOAT? (Everything To Know!)
- How Long Does GOAT Take To Verify? (Everything To Know!)
Leave a comment if you have any more questions!