We can’t answer the question is GOAT legit, but we know that GOAT was founded in 2015 as an online store and marketplace focusing on second-hand and resale fashion, primarily sneakers, and it’s based in Los Angeles.
Did you know that you can find many of the same items that are available on GOAT as second-hand goods, on italist, brand-new?
Is GOAT Legit?
GOAT is a peer-to-peer fashion reseller, meaning that all of the products are considered second-hand, having been owned by another consumer before being listed on GOAT. GOAT accepts returns on some products, but not on any that are marked FINAL SALE.
italist sells only new, unused merchandise, and verifies its product sourcing with strict contractual agreements and individual invoices that prove the authenticity of any single item. Any item listed on italist is backed by a contract and an invoice with the brand.
italist is legit and has been since 2014, operating from offices in Los Angeles and with extensive documentation of its legitimacy, including a 50-point partner checklist and good standing with the Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles.
italist is rooted in deep relationships with the best independent Italian luxury boutiques and has many Italian team members. Additionally, italist offers free express shipping on every order, a broad catalog of over 1,500 brands, a strong social media following, and two-way communication with all our shoppers, even when there’s a problem.
Is GOAT a good deal?
Many product prices on GOAT are actually higher, for a second-hand item, than they are on italist for a brand new one. For trending brands like Bottega Veneta and Rick Owens, you can frequently find better deals on italist than you can on GOAT.
For example, as of this publishing, Bottega Veneta’s newest handbag “The Mini Sardine” is listed for $3,100. On GOAT, it is listed for $3,107. On italist, where we have a guaranteed and certified sourcing process, the same bag is listed for $2,534, a nearly $570 savings vs. GOAT and vs. full retail price.
Another example is Rick Owens’ Black Milk Geobasket Sneakers: $1,125 from Rick Owens directly, $626 on GOAT (not necessarily brand new), and $720 on italist. A $400 savings vs. retail. Buy brand new and save on italist!
So is GOAT legit? We cannot say, but here is a quick comparison of italist vs. GOAT:
italist vs. GOAT
| italist | GOAT | |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
| Based In | U.S.A. 🇺🇸 | U.S.A. 🇺🇸 |
| Brand-New, In-Season | Yes | No |
| Free Express Shipping | 4 business days, always | $14.50 or more |
| Sourcing | Official retailers + brands | Individuals |
| Certification | From the brand (contract + invoice) | Internal GOAT team |
| Rating on Trustpilot.com | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Rating on Sitejabber.com | 4.5 | 1.0 |
| Rating on BBB.org | 4.8 | 1.1 |
Ready to start shopping and saving with confidence? Shop italist now!
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.