WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission is distributing more than $100,000 to 6,205 customers of online sneaker marketplace GOAT who have not yet received compensation under a settlement involving allegations of delayed shipments and misleading refund practices.
The payments follow more than $736,000 in refunds GOAT issued directly to affected customers in 2025, bringing the total consumer compensation associated with the settlement to more than $836,000.
The FTC accused GOAT, which sells sneakers, apparel and accessories, of failing to meet promised delivery timelines for certain priority processing orders and denying customers the refund options required under federal law.
In a 2024 complaint, the agency alleged that GOAT violated the Mail, Internet or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule by failing to give customers the opportunity to accept shipping delays or cancel their purchases and receive prompt refunds.
The rule requires retailers to maintain reasonable grounds for advertised shipping commitments and provide consumers with specified protections when orders cannot be shipped on time.
The FTC also challenged GOAT’s handling of its advertised Buyer Protection policy, which promised full refunds for merchandise that was counterfeit, incorrect or otherwise inconsistent with its description.
According to the complaint, GOAT frequently rejected qualifying refund requests, issued partial reimbursements or provided store credits instead of the full refunds it had promised.
The agency alleged that the company lacked adequate procedures to consistently honor its stated consumer protections.
The latest distribution covers customers who did not receive payments during GOAT’s earlier refund process.
Most eligible consumers will receive checks by mail, while others will receive payments through PayPal.
Recipients must cash their checks within 90 days of issuance, as indicated on the checks. Consumers receiving PayPal payments must redeem them within 30 days.
The payments represent the latest stage of the FTC’s effort to compensate consumers affected by the shipping and refund practices identified in its complaint against GOAT.
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