The only thing standing between you and a smart investment opportunity in the gold market may be a little good advice, and this article is the place to get it! You need not be intimidated by the complexities of this market; many successful gold investors are entirely self-taught. There are many perks to investing and dealing with gold if you know what to look for.

Understand the spot price of gold before selling any. If you are selling gold, sort it by karat so that it can be valued separately. Don’t sell jewelry that’s worth more due to maker or designer.

Before buying or selling gold, be sure you are aware of how metals are priced. Gold, along with silver and platinum, have prices that change on a whim. Therefore, you must always know what the spot price currently is. Also be ready to pay increasingly higher percentages above melt values for any gold pieces that are fractional. These include 1/10, 1/2 and 1/4 ounce pieces.

Research the market price before selling any of your gold jewelry. That way you will be able to ascertain if a dealer is providing you with a fair price or not for your pieces. Most dealers will make you a fair offer, but some will try and rip you off.

Make sure that you understand the terms when sending jewelry back through the mail. Find out when you can expect your payment, and make sure you insure your package. Take pictures of anything you send so that you can settle any disputes that may occur later.

Compare different gold buyers if you want to sell some gold jewelry or gold scraps. Prices paid will vary from shop to shop. You might get a better deal at a store not in a major shopping mall, since their overhead and rent is lower.

Check the price when you are buying gold. You can find that on a lot of websites, and that can change every day. When you buy, don’t pay over 8% markup over the price. Some dealers are going to try and charge you more, but don’t pay it.

Confer with the gold party rep to determine the method used for judging karats. Sometimes there is a stamp. Other times, there is no way of knowing. Using an acid test can be a great way to determine the karat of the gold.

Complaints Filed

Inquire with the area BBB prior to selling gold items to jewelry stores, dealers or any other sort of buyer. They are sure to have information about each business, as well as data on any complaints filed. You should especially pay attention to any customer complaints filed as well as what the resolutions were. Avoid using any business that has a lot of complaints or unresolved complaints.

There are many options available to individuals looking to purchase gold as an investment. Mutual funds and ETF’s, as well as gold mining stocks, are avenues of gold investing. If you’re buying bars or gold coins, think about the cost storage when making your purchase.

You now are equipped with the necessary information to get you rolling in the right direction. The ideas presented here can get you started in gold investment. Before you know it, you’ll be reaping the many benefits of gold.