6 Rules for Buying & Selling Gold & Silver the Right Way (13K Views)

Here are 6 rules for buying and selling gold, silver and palladium the right way. [You’ll] not only get the best-possible prices but also [know] how to feel good about the quality of your purchase!

So writes James DiGeorgia (www.uncommonwisdom.com) in edited excerpts from his original article entitled 6 Ways to Not Get Ripped off by Your Bullion Dealer.

[The following article is presented by  Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com and the FREE Market Intelligence Report newsletter (sample here) and may have been edited ([ ]), abridged (…) and/or reformatted (some sub-titles and bold/italics emphases) for the sake of clarity and brevity to ensure a fast and easy read. This paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement.]

Below are DiGeorgia’s 6 rules to protect yourself against getting ripped off from a less-than-trustworthy bullion broker or dealer:

Rule #1: When buying physical bars and coins, really check out the firm.

Never rely on the fancy TV ads or color brochures. If the firm doesn’t have a solid Better Business Bureau rating, don’t walk. RUN! Amazingly, you’ll find many firms in the industry have horrible BBB ratings.

Look online and make sure that the company doesn’t have pending lawsuits. You’d be shocked  how many firms in the precious-metals and rare-coin industry have been bilking  clients by not delivering or not paying for product when clients have sent it  to them.

Rule #2: Make sure you’re not cheated on the fill price.

When you  purchase gold, silver and platinum bullion, only pay a price that is based on  the up-to-the-minute spread that is calculated from the actual up-to-the-minute  spot price of the metal.

Forget 1% over cost. Too many times, it is nonsense. Many brokers and dealers are  charging between 5% and 7% over the 1% their advertising leads investors to  believe they are being charged.

Rule #3: Make sure the bars and coins you receive when buying are  FRESH.

Many dealers sell scratched bars and bullion coins that should be in pristine  condition. These coins can trade for as little as 3% under spot. When buying bullion coins and bars, don’t accept them with even moderate scuffing or  nicks. Dealers can refuse to buy them when you try to sell them, or will discount as much as 15%.

Many dealers love to buy impaired-quality bars and coins. They often pay spot or  less, dealer-to-dealer, and max out their profit by dumping them on retail buyers who don’t know about this deceptive business practice.

Rule #4: Be prepared to wire or deposit funds with a broker or  dealer before they lock in your buy price.

Dealers  who take credit cards for bullion purchases mark up their coins and bars as  much as 25% to cover the 3% to 4% merchant charges. If you have to use a credit card to buy precious metals, you should NOT be buying. That isn’t just on the buy side. When you sell rare coins and precious metals, ALWAYS ask for immediate payment when you deliver.

It shouldn’t take more than three days for your check to be mailed. Allow a $15  Federal Express charge, and have the check sent for next-day delivery.

Rule #5: Do not expect a return privilege on bullion coins and  bars.

There is no return privilege with bullion coins or bars. The price of gold, silver and  platinum fluctuates quickly. In a wildly active precious-metals market, all sales and purchases are final from any dealer.

Rule #6: When paying for, or shipping, rare coins and precious  metals, use the U.S. POST OFFICE ONLY.

I repeat:

When paying for, or shipping, rare coins and precious metals, use the U.S. POST OFFICE ONLY. If there’s a problem and you have paid for or sent your property to a dealer and you used Federal  Express, you will discover there is no Postmaster General at Federal Express. More than  a few dealers out there right now are using this loophole to steal from investors. Getting paid via Federal Express is 100% fine, but absolutely not  when selling or paying.

Handing your bullion to someone in-person before their check has cleared isn’t a good idea, either. Never allow the dealer to visit you and leave with the coins. Ship them by U.S. Mail. It is your right to ship them even if you are face-to-face with your buyer. After all, as Ronald Reagan said, “Trust, but verify.”

Memorize the above rules and use them with every future buy and sell transaction and you’ll be able to protect yourself against getting ripped off from a  less-than-trustworthy bullion broker or dealer.

[Editor’s Note: The author’s views and conclusions in the above article are unaltered and no personal comments have been included to maintain the integrity of the original post. Furthermore, the views, conclusions and any recommendations offered in this article are not to be construed as an endorsement of such by the editor.]

*http://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/6-ways-to-not-get-ripped-off-by-your-bullion-dealer-16721?FIELD9=15 (©2013 Uncommon Wisdom Daily. All Rights Reserved.)

Related Articles:

1. How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off When Buying Gold

If you’re trying to invest in precious metals, then stick to bullion coins or bars. Don’t be distracted by numismatics, rare coins, collector’s items, or fancy packaging or grading schemes…Even though I have long warned of the dangers of the industry, it is hard for retail investors not to be led astray by high-pressure salesmen [but] reading this guide is a step in the right direction. Words: 1000

2. Buying Physical Gold? Follow These 5 Rules

If you’re interested in physical gold, I recommend you buy small gold bars which are available in a wide range of weights and can be bought for as little as 1 percent over the price of gold. [That being said, this article outlines five rules to follow before, during and after the purchase process.] Words: 8133.

3. Beware The Dangers of Buying Gold Coins

At first glance, buying gold may seem a simple, straight forward process. However, there are dangers, such as falling for a telemarketer’s line that his coins are “non-confiscatable” and somehow have more value because you bought them from him. Basic bullion is the way to go when investing in gold. Words: 788

4. China Flooding Market With Counterfeit Gold & Silver Coins! Here’s How to Protect Yourself

Whether it’s pirated software, poison-infused baby formula, cancer-causing drywall, luxury purses, or fake medicines, if you need a knock-off, China has traditionally been the go-to country, with a counterfeiter always willing to oblige. Now, with precious metals prices on the cusp of possibly the biggest price explosion in centuries, fake gold and silver products are becoming a booming industry. Here are some safeguards to protect yourself from getting duped. Words: 1124

5. There’s a Dirty Little Secret to Cleaning Bullion Coins – Here’s How