WebVetted Beta
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Suspicious
Why we think so

goat.com is a global online marketplace specializing in sneakers, apparel, and accessories, attracting over 15 million monthly visits primarily from the United States. It uses reputable technologies for marketing, payment, and hosting, with secure Cloudflare DNS and valid SSL certificates. The domain is well-established since 1995. Despite its legitimacy and size, goat.com faces substantial consumer complaints about shipping delays, counterfeit or defective products, and difficulties with refunds. The FTC fined the platform over $2 million in 2024 for failing to meet shipping promises and mishandling refund policies. Customer support lacks phone contact and often responds slowly. Buyers should exercise caution, reviewing seller feedback and preferring secure payment methods.

Confidence Score
68%

Risk Insights

⚠️

High Complaint Volume Despite Established Brand

More than 1,600 BBB complaints in past 3 years.
Frequent reports of counterfeit or defective goods.
Refunds often denied or delayed by customer support.
🚨

FTC Enforcement Indicates Serious Problems

$2 million+ settlement for violating shipping and refund rules.
Failure to deliver instant or next-day orders on time.
Deceptive buyer protection and refund policies.
🛡️

Strong Technical Setup Reduces Phishing Risk

Uses reputable Cloudflare DNS and valid SSL certificates.
Multiple trusted payment processors integrated.
No presence on phishing or scam blacklists.

Contradictory Signals

While the site infrastructure is solid and the domain well-established, user experiences reveal significant dissatisfaction and regulatory issues.

Signal A: legitimate domain with strong infrastructure and traffic

Signal B: high volume of unresolved complaints and FTC fine for deceptive practices

Category Scores

Identity 85/100
Reputation 40/100
Technical 90/100
Content 75/100
Legal 50/100
Business Validity 60/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • FTC ordered more than $2 million in refunds due to late shipping and refund violations.
  • High volume of complaints (>1,600 in 3 years) about counterfeit items and poor customer service.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain age and registrar reputation

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Established domain age signifies reliability; registrar Cloudflare is well-regarded."

Reason: Domain is registered since 1995 through Cloudflare, a reputable registrar, showing long-term presence.

Technical infrastructure and security

Score: 85/100
Passed

"Robust infrastructure reduces phishing risks and secures transactions."

Reason: Uses valid SSL, Cloudflare DNS, CloudFront CDN, and multiple payment processors including PayPal and Visa.

Traffic volume and engagement quality

Score: 80/100
Passed

"Traffic primarily from US, with balanced direct and search sources."

Reason: High monthly visits (~15.3M) with average session length supports active legitimate usage.

Presence on blacklists or safety warnings

Score: 100/100
Passed

"No technical blacklist flags detected."

Reason: No detected flags on Google Safe Browsing or crypto scam blacklists.

Trademark or brand impersonation risks

Score: 75/100
Passed

"No current USPTO conflicts detected that impact user trust."

Reason: Several historical trademarks named GOAT exist, but no active conflicts reported to undermine brand authenticity.

Customer reputation and complaints volume

Score: 30/100
Failed

"Complaint volume and severity undermine reputation and user trust."

Reason: Over 1,600 complaints in 3 years citing counterfeit products, delayed shipping, and poor refund practices.

Legal actions and enforcement history

Score: 20/100
Failed

"Legal penalties reduce trust and indicate business practice issues."

Reason: FTC fined goat.com over $2 million for deceptive shipping claims and refund failures in late 2024.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Check seller ratings before purchasing on goat.com.
  • 2
    Use credit cards or secure payment options to enable dispute recourse.
  • 3
    Be cautious with "Instant" or expedited shipping promises due to documented delays.
  • 4
    Review return policies carefully and document any product issues.
  • 5
    Consider alternative verified platforms if seller responsiveness is crucial.

Evidence & Citations