Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions | Product Questions | Shipping Questions | Payment Questions | Member Account Questions | Problems and Errors
General Questions
How do I place an order with the GOAT Store, LLC?
To place an order with us,visit our product description pages for the desired system and click each item you are interested in purchasing. A product information screen will appear with an option to add the item to your shopping cart. Once all of the items you wish to purchase are in your shopping cart, please proceed to checkout and follow the on-screen instructions.
Is there a telephone number or an actual store?
The GOAT Store, LLC has no physical store in which items are sold, only this Web Site. We do all of our communication via email.
How long has the GOAT Store, LLC been in business?
The GOAT Store, LLC became an official limited liability company on May 15, 2001. We sold games online in a very limited capacity for two years before that however.
How many people run the GOAT Store, LLC?
The GOAT Store, LLC is owned and operated by Dan Loosen and Gary Heil. There are no employees and thus Dan and Gary take care of everything themselves.
Why is the name GOAT?
It stands for Games Of All Types. And we thought that it was a funny thing to name a video game store.
Product Questions
I am looking for [insert item name here]. Do you have this item?
All items that are for sale are listed on our product description pages. If you can add an item to your cart, it is currently in stock. Due to the nature of what we sell however we only have a limited amount of items in stock at any given time, and it is suggested that if you wish to get a particular type of product (EI certain label variation, good box, etc) that you purchase it quickly so as not to miss the oppurtunity.
I see you have [insert item name here] listed on your site, is this item in stock?
If an item is listed on our product listing pages, then the item is 99.9% guaranteed to be in stock. Our product listing pages are updated in real-time as orders are placed. Should you order an item and it turns out not to be in stock, we will proceed as specified in our Order Policy.
Are products new or used?
We stock both new and used items. This is denoted by a N or U near their price in the product listing pages.
What do the things in paraenthesis like "box", "inst", "case" and "overlay" mean?
These are to denote what exactly the game comes with. If a product is listed as [item name](box, inst), it means that particular item comes with the game, the original game box and instructions all in good condition. If an item is listed as "poor", it means that it is included but not in mint condition. A "poor label" refers to something wrong with the cart.
What is the difference between a regular item and one listed as "poor?"
A regular item is one that we consider to be in "collectors condition." This means that the cartridge or disc are unmarked; the instructions are unmarked and relatively unbent, and the box is in stable condition with little to no tearing or bending. We make judgement calls based on certain boxes to determine their overall quality. Paper boxes, such as Atari Lynx, Jaguar and all Nitendo boxes may still be listed in good condition with minor flaws because they are made of a thin cardboard. Plastic game cases for systems such as the Sega CD, Saturn and Dreamcast are generally listed as good condition if the paper part of the box itself is still in good shape, and the plastic case integrity remains in tact. If there are hinges missing or cracks to these titles, we will often still list them as good shape.
For a full description of what makes the cut as a 'good' item versus a 'poor' item, we will be adding console specific condition guides in the near future.
How bad can a box or instruction manual listed as "poor" be?
We only list items that we consider to still be usable as "poor". For instance, if the game box can hold the game in it but has a tear in the back, this may be listed as a "poor" item. Another example might be a box which has had its UPC removed. From time to time, we get in things that we don't even consider to be "poor," so we include those in orders for free. For instance, a box that was cut so there is just the front and back covers would not be listed as a poor box, but we would still include it with the item.
How bad can a game label listed as "poor" be?
A game label listed as poor can be anything from a minor nick on the label to a large piece missing from it. We generally do not sell any games that are missing 100% of their label.
Are all products guaranteed to work?
Yes, unless they are listed as (untested). For more details, check our Order Policy.
Shipping Questions
How much does shipping cost for [insert address here]?
Checking the cost of shipping for items can be done when viewing your shopping cart. After you have added the items you wish to purchase to your cart, click the "view cart" button in the upper-right corner on any page. At the bottom of the page will be a small form to enter your country / ZIP code.
How can I check the status of my order?
As a GOAT Store, LLC account member, this can be done in the order management section of the "My Account" area.
How are orders shipped?
All shipping is done through the United States Postal Service. Domestic orders are shipped Priority Mail while International orders are shipped using First Class or Priority Mail International based on the size and weight of the purchase.
How is shipping cost determined?
Shipping cost is determined by the package's destination, weight and size. An estimate is created using current USPS rates. An appropriate handling and/or packaging material cost is also added.
Payment Questions
What methods can I use to pay for my order?
The GOAT Store, LLC currently accepts the following three methods for payment: Credit Card, PayPal, and Money Order. For more details regarding payment options, please read our Order Policy.
I do not live in the United States, what is the best payment method?
For orders outside the United States, we strongly recommend either using PayPal or sending an International Money Order. Due to the high amount of credit card fraud on the internet, we do not accept credit card orders from many countries.
How are credit card orders processed?
For specific details, please refer to our order policy. For the safety of the cardholder, all credit card orders are subject to address verification procedures. We will only ship to the billing address of the credit card. Orders may be delayed a few days while verification checks are performed.
Do you accept checks?
No.
Account Questions
How do I sign up for an account?
To sign up for an account, just click on the "Register" button at the top of the page and follow the instructions.
Do I need to have an account to order?
No, but having an account gives you tracking options that you otherwise will not have access to.
If I sign up for an account, will you sell my email address to third parties?
No. For more information on this, please read the GOAT Store's Privacy Policy.
If I sign up for an account, will you send me email?
There are currently two opt-in email lists. If you do not opt-in to either of these, we will not.
How do I subscribe to a mailing list?
Mailing lists can be subscribed to in the "My Account" area of the web site. For the desired list, click the "Subscribe" link.
What benefits does subscribing to a mailing list give me?
There are two email lists. The first is the GOAT Store News mailing list. This email address will give you updates on happenings at the GOAT Store itself, such as new publishing endeavors, major inventory updates, and other general information. These emails are sent approximately once a month, but this number can fluctuate.
The second mailing list is a Specials mailing list. This mailing list will update you on our weekly price drops for specific items, and sometimes will send you exclusive member only offers. These emails are sent approximately once a week.
How do I unsubscribe from a mailing list?
Mailing lists can be unsubscribed from in the "My Account" area of the web site. For the desired list, click the "unsubscribe" link.
What is the deal with tickets? How do they work?
If you have any problems at any time and you have an account, you can quickly get a reply from us by creating a ticket. To open a ticket, use the "create ticket" link inside the "My Account" area of the web site.
Problems and Errors
What should I do if I experience an error while checking out?
In the event that you receive a fatal error message instructing you to contact us, please do so immediately. This is especially important if you were on the payment screen using a credit card.
If you receive a "page not found" screen, try pressing the "Back" button on your browser and try again. Do not try again if the error occurred on the payment screen if you are using a credit card--you may inadvertantly be billed again. This will be temporary until we can reverse the second charge.