Author Archives: Ashley Whitfield

On The Market For Gold? What Needs To Be Known First

With the value of traditional currency losing its value in many countries, more and more people are investing in gold. Many gold investors don’t know how the market works. Continue perusing the information in this piece to understand how gold can work for you.

It is possible to sell gold online. You don’t need to have a physical store location anymore. You can use one of many websites out there to sell your gold. These sites will send you kits in which you can send them your gold items. You will receive payment based on the current market value of gold when your items arrive.

You should always ask for timely delivery when purchasing some gold from a reliable seller. If your seller doesn’t give you an immediate deliver, get it in writing confirming when you are to expect your piece. There should be a date listed for when you can expect them. Only make the order if you have such a document.

If you’re sending your gold to some company via the mail, check them out before doing business with them. Be sure to understand when to expect payment and how to insure your items. Be sure you capture photos of everything you put in the mail.

Ensure that your retirement investments are approved. The IRS must have approved the gold that you receive. They have to be 24 karat coins or bullion bars. Try to buy gold bars more than coins, because they are much more valuable.

If you are buying gold jewelry as a gift, make sure you have a money back guarantee. You do not know if the gift receiver will like it or if the piece fits. Because of this, it is critical that you are able to bring the piece back to obtain a refund.

If you’re unsure what your gold might be worth, then have an appraisal done. The small investment required will ensure you get what your jewelry is worth. Be sure to select an appraiser who is accredited and independent for a realistic appraisal. Do not expect to get the full value of the appraisal, but you should try finding a buyer who will give you an amount as close to the appraisal as possible.

Realize that any piece that contains gold can be sold to a buyer. It may consist of decorative items, gold table ware, old items of jewelry and so on. An item need not be made purely of gold. It could just have a tiny amount of gold or be gold plated. The amount you can get will depend on how pure your item is.

Check the prices of golds the day you plan to buy. This information can be found on several different websites. Never pay more than 8 percent over the current sales price of gold. Some sellers try charging more, but that’s overcharging, which is generally unethical.

Approach the market with caution. There are many scammers in the gold market. They want to take your money and take advantage of you. Doing a good amount of research will ensure that you are getting the very best deal.

When you try to sell gold, you must research the market to find the right price. You should see if you can figure out what people are selling pieces like yours for as well. Doing this will provide you with a helpful price to work around. Begin the negotiations by asking for more than you expect to receive.

A lot of people are excited to make a lot of money with gold. All too often, though, people don’t have sufficient knowledge to successfully invest in gold. Hopefully, this article has solutions to the problem for those who want to learn more.

Gold Information You Will Not Find Elsewhere

Shaky financial conditions everywhere have prompted interest in gold investing to spread. That said, many people do this without understanding how gold markets work. Continue on into the following paragraphs to learn a few useful things about dealing with gold.

Be well informed about the value of precious metals before buying or selling gold. Silver, gold and platinum prices fluctuate often, and therefore you need to verify spot pricing the day prior to your intended deal. Watching the market can help you to buy or sell your gold at a great price.

Gold is high in price, and this deters some. You might choose gold-plated or gold-filled pieces instead of ones that are full gold. However, it’s still possible to buy gold jewelry and not need to spend a fortune at the jewelry store. Check pawn shops and online websites for cheaper gold prices.

Before you mail any jewelry to a particular company which purchases such items, be sure to do your homework and check out the company thoroughly before you do so. Ensure you understand the reimbursement terms, and don’t neglect to purchase postal insurance for the package. Be sure you capture photos of everything you put in the mail.

Do not discount the value of searching through antique stores or thrift shops for your gold. If you are aware of what to search for, you can find bargains in these places. The prices are low here as the items are often donated. If you are smart, you can make a great profit.

Approach the market with caution. There are always a few bad apples in every market, and players in the gold market are no exception. Gold companies will often shortchange you when offering a price for your gold. That’s why you must do your research and be careful.

Shop around before you decide which gold buyer you will use. You may be surprised at the differences in the offers that you’ll get! If you go with the first buyer that you meet, you may end up with the worst deal possible. Wait a bit of time so you have the greatest cash in your pocket.

Speak with the representative at the gold party to find out how they determine how many karats a piece of jewelry is. The item is stamped, a lot of times. However, if there are no visual indications, there are other ways to determine purity. A way to tell if a gold representative is new and inexperienced is if they use an acid test. This is a simple test used by newer gold dealers.

You can invest in gold without actually having gold in your hands. You could buy stocks in a mining company or shares in a gold ETF. If you want to get physical gold, factor in the cost of storage in a secure location.

Separate your gold by karat weight. You don’t want everything thrown together in one pile, because it will all be weighed as if it is the same karat. This is a scam that will cost you money. Separate your items by karat in advance to avoid being tricked.

Do not sell your gold for no good reason. Gold prices keep going up, and it’s high right now; however it might go up even more. The longer you can keep your gold, the more valuable it will become.

A smart gold investor understands how to perform a test to know what the grade of gold is. The purity of golds is measured by karats. As the number increases, the purity does as well. Don’t just rely on the karat stamp. Understand the purity of your gold to get the best possible value.

No one can deny how essential gold has historically proven in gaining and storing wealth of both individuals and even nations. To be knowledgeable in gold and make smart decisions you must be educated on the basics. This article has given you all you need to know.

Become An Expert In Gold By Using This Advice!

If you have wanted to make a gold investment before but have not done so, you are in the right place. Rather than allow yourself to be turned off by the risks, why not learn as much as possible to alleviate those risks? With a little self-education, you’ll be in an excellent position to make smart gold-investing choices.

Think about selling gold via the internet. Gold transactions do not require traditional physical storefronts. There are plenty of websites that are ready and willing to buy your gold. The site sends you a prepaid mailer to put the gold pieces in. If everything works according to plan, you will get paid at market prices.

Buy the right gold if you are investing for retirement. It has to be IRS approved. The gold has to be either coins or bars, of the 24 karat variety. Lean towards buying the bars over the coins as they hold more value than coins.

Keep in mind that gold dealers will buy anything that’s got gold within it. Gold pieces can be anything from jewelry to tableware, even home decor. Having 100% gold isn’t required, either. It could be gold plated or a bit of gold and still be sold. It’s still possible to make money this way.

When considering mailing your gold away for sale, be certain you know how much return mail will cost should you change your mind. A lot of companies say they offer free shipping, but if you refuse their offer they charge a great deal. It’s best to be prepared so you are not surprised by return shipping charges.

Never sell to an unlicensed gold dealer. You could still have a problem, but licensed buyers are more likely reputable. There are many stores and individual buyers looking to purchase gold, so always know you have multiple options, and never just the first deal that comes up.

Consider giving GoldMoney a try for gold purchases. It is almost like opening a bank account for gold. All you need to do is create an account and fund it. You are assigned the same amount of gold as the value of the account. The gold resides in a bank. From there, you can sell it or do a number of other things with it.

Remember to look for gold in thrift and antique shops. You can find gold in unexpected places, but you have to know what to look for. A lot of people give these items to thrift shops or antique markets because they aren’t aware of their true value. You stand to gain a great deal if you come armed with a bit of research.

Know what you actually have in your possession. Even if something looks similar to gold, it may not have the same value. Many times, gold is mixed with other metals to increase its strength. These metals can reduce the value of gold. Many items are only gold plated. If you are not certain about what you have, an appraisal before selling is wise.

It is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau before you deal with a gold broker. You can usually find out about complaints and customer reviews. Pay attention to complaints and see if they’ve been resolved. A multitude of unresolved complaints is a good indication you should do business elsewhere.

Do not sign anything from a gold dealer without fully understanding what it implies. This business has its hands in a great deal of money. Know fully just what you are signing. If the terms are not agreeable to you, get ready to move on. You absolutely must protect yourself financially.

If you make use of the advice presented here, you’ll be well on your way to a smart investing experience. Now is a great time to start investing in gold, and the tips and techniques in this article are your prime starting point. You will start seeing the benefits from investing your money in gold.

Make Money In Gold With These Ideas.

Gold is something that people have held in a high regard for quite some time. Man has treasured gold since it was first discovered thousands of years ago. If you are interested in investing in gold, these tips will help you maximize the return on your investment.

Get your gold valued by multiple sources. There are lots of services, jewelry stores and pawn shops that buy gold. Of course, they will want to make a profit when they sell it. Getting estimates from several establishments will help you make sure that you receive a fair price.

Bullion bars are an excellent investment. They come in weights that vary. The bars vary in size from half an ounce to 400 ounces. You will have a hard time if you are seeking the largest size.

Be well informed about the value of precious metals before buying or selling gold. Daily fluctuations are the norm, so you must be current on the spot price. You must to pay a premium to the melt values if you’re buying less than one ounce pieces.

Sometimes the cost of gold causes buyers to go for cheaper imitation jewelry instead. You do not have to pay full price for gold jewelry if you find that the prices offered by jewelry stores are too expensive. Visiting flea markets and pawn shops can help you to get the very best price.

Only certain kinds of gold are suitable for contributing to your retirement fund. Gold needs to be IRS-approved. You need to buy only 24-karat bullion coins or bars. Bars typically are more valuable than coins are.

Know that anything that has gold in it is sellable to a gold dealer. For example, you might sell home accent pieces, dinnerware, and old or broken rings and necklaces. It is not really necessary for these items to be solid gold. It could be gold plated or a bit of gold and still be sold. Any amount of gold will get you back a nice amount of money.

GoldMoney can be a good resource when buying gold. It can be compared to “gold bank accounts.” You can open an account, fund it and then determine what price you wish to pay for gold allocation. Of course, you won’t actually have the gold. It will stay in the bank, but you can cash it in, portion it or even redeem it to receive one-kilogram bars of gold bullion.

Even though gold buying can be thrilling, try not to talk much about it. You cannot put your trust too easily on people. Keep investments private and guard them in a quality safe or in a bank. These methods provide you with safety and security.

If you’re at a gold party you should speak with the person in charge so you can figure out what karats are in the jewelry. Many times the item will have a stamp. But other times, there isn’t any mark of visual cue, so the reps have other alternatives for determining it. Acid testing is a very simple way to asses karat quality. If you see this method being employed, it’s possible that the tester is a relative newcomer.

Now you know why gold is so valuable. This wise investment is great for both short term and long term investments. Follow the tips presented here to amass your own gold collection.

Increase Your Gold Expertise By Using This Advice

Gold is a relatively safe way to invest your money. Perhaps you’ve been curious about it yourself, but haven’t been sure how to get started with it. If so, this is the place you need to be. The piece that follows is full of useful tips on gold investing.

When you sell gold, deal with a reliable buyer. You are able to find out more about their reputations with the local BBB and through online reviews. A good buyer is going to give you a good price, and will provide you with superior customer service too. You should do this to better protect your gold investment and yourself.

Make sure to research prospective buyers in advance in order to find a reputable one. Look at the BBB website online for ratings, reviews, complaints and more. Shop around to get the best price for your gold.

Arrange for delivery of your gold at the time of purchase. If your seller can’t commit to immediate delivery, get the delivery date in writing. Make sure that a specific date is listed within this writing. Complete your order only when given this information.

Fully research any buyer that you’re considering sending jewelry to through the mail. Be sure you find out when you will receive payment, and buy insurance for your package, too. The final step is to take photos of your jewelry, just to be sure you can fight any future problems that may occur.

If you buy gold for your retirement fund, be sure it’s the proper kind. The IRS must give its approval for your investment. You want to make sure you buy 24 karat coins or bullion bars. Over time, gold bars appreciate better than gold coins.

There are many unexpected places to find gold, including thrift stores and antique shops. If you know what you are looking for, there are bargains to be found in such places. Many people do not realize what they have and sell it or donate it to these shops. You can take advantage of this if you just know what to look for.

Make sure you are know exactly what you have. Not all that looks as if it’s real gold is as valuable as the real thing. Many times, gold is mixed with other metals to increase its strength. This will lower the price. Many items are only gold plated. If you don’t know exactly what you have, consider an appraisal.

Use a magnet to test inexpensive jewelry to determine if it consists of steel. Gold is not magnetic. Often the clasp of a piece is real gold, while the rest of the piece is just plated. A magnet is a good tool for discovering fake gold.

You do not have to physically own gold to invest in it. Buying gold-focused mutual funds and stock in companies that mine gold are other options for investing in gold. You should always consider the costs to store gold.

Before you buy gold, know the dealer. Speak with the BBB in your area to be sure the dealer is reputable. By contacting your Better Business Bureau, you can find out if there are any complaints filed against your dealer. If complaints are filed, look for a different dealer.

Never sell your gold simply to sell it. Gold prices keep going up, and it’s high right now; however it might go up even more. Keep your gold as long as possible for the greatest earning potential.

You don’t have to be a seasoned investor to invest in gold. After reading the tips in this article, you can rest assured that you will make wise decisions. Keep these great ideas in mind as you go.

Making A Profit With Gold In This Day And Age

Often people feel that gold is a safe investment. Many will say that in uncertain times, you should put the majority of your cash in the current gold market. Continue reading to learn how you can protect and grow your wealth using gold.

When you invest in gold, the best way to invest in is bullion bars. The weights of these items may vary. You can find bars weighing anywhere from a half of an ounce, up to four hundred ounces. A heavier bar may be more difficult to find, however.

Gold Broker

Make sure you research any gold broker you do business with. You want to work with a reputable gold broker. Better Business Associates can give your information about complaints made against a company and how those complaints were resolved. Also get more than one offer for your gold. This will ensure you get the best possible price.

Before you mail off your gold, make sure that you understand the polices, fees and terms of the company you are dealing with. Insure your shipment, and get a solid confirmation of when you can expect to be paid. Take pictures of anything you send so that you can settle any disputes that may occur later.

If you are interested in investing in the gold market, but do not have lare amounts of capital, consider purchasing scrap gold. This can be done over time, maybe some each day so that you can get some valuable gold in about a year. Find a secure place for your stash until there is enough for you to cash it in.

Get your jewelry appraised. While there is a cost involved, you will at least then be fully aware of what you own and what it is worth. Only use an independent, accredited appraiser to get the most realistic value. If you continue with your plan to sell, do be aware that you won’t receive the price the piece has been appraised at.

If you want to unload scrap gold pieces or jewelry items for cash, do your homework first. Though there may be a standard market price for gold at a particular moment in time, not every store will pay it. Some stores outside of busy urban areas do not have to pay as much on rents as stores located in a shopping mall and will offer a better price.

Take your time when you are considering dealing with a gold buyer. You never know what kind of offer you will receive! If you don’t shop around, you may not get what you are owed. Instead, do your research and get the most for your gold.

One quit and cheap method of finding out whether or not gold is real is to use a magnet on it. Real precious metals do not stick to magnets. In some cases, individual parts of a piece (like the clasp) may be solid gold while other parts are plated. This can be a useful method of testing for that.

Before you sell your jewelry as scrap gold, have it appraised. You should do this for special pieces. Unique pieces may be worth more intact than they would if eventually melted down. Although you may be charged a fee for the appraisal, it may earn you more money in the long run. This is also a great way to locate buyers who might be interested in your gold.

Making your way into trading gold is not hard if you educate yourself on the process of the market. Now that you know some helpful information about gold, you should feel comfortable going into this market. Take all the advice here and use it wisely as you move forward with your investments.

The Golden Dream: Making Money With Gold

Recent economic woes have made investors much more interested in securing stable, safe investment sources. As a result, interest in gold has skyrocketed. It is essential for any burgeoning gold investor to learn a great deal before jumping in, however. Continue to read and find out what a gold investor needs to know.

Try selling gold online. You no longer need to buy and sell gold at a physical location. It is possible to utilize a website to sell gold items. The site will send you a special kit in which you’ll return the gold items. As soon as your items are verified, you receive an appropriate payment.

Before you buy gold from gold sellers, ensure you have scheduled a quick delivery. Always get a timeline in writing of when your gold pieces will be delivered if immediately delivery is not provided by the seller. Their expected delivery date should be indicated. Do not finalize your order until you receive written confirmation.

When purchasing a piece of gold jewelry for someone else, be sure there is a return policy. You can’t be sure when jewelry is liked by the other person or if it even fits them. If this happens, then you need to be returning the piece in question for a refund.

Know that gold in any form can be sold. This could be tableware, broken jewelry, and other stuff you have around your house. You can get something for an item if it is not made out of pure gold. Even something partially gold or just gold-plated might mean money. You’ll end up with some money in your pocket.

Spot Price

On the day you are planning to buy your gold, check the spot price. The spot price can be found in many places, and it tends to fluctuate often. When you buy, don’t pay over 8% markup over the price. Anything more is unethical.

Find out if the firm you are mailing your gold to will ship it back, and how much that will cost. Many companies advertise no shipping costs, but they often hide large handling fees in the fine print. Know beforehand how much you would have to send in order to get your pieces back.

Try using GoldMoney to buy gold. It s sort of like a bank account for gold. Set up the account, deposit some funds, and you get gold at the price that correlates to the account. You can redeem the gold bullion in one-kilo bars or leave it in the vault and trade it or cash it in.

It is important to understand that market before becoming active in it. All markets have their flaws, and the gold one is no exception. Lots of folks are willing to steal right out from under you. Make sure to be careful and do your homework.

Before selling your gold, comparison shop. The offers may be hugely varied. If you sell hastily, you may wind up with a poor return. Putting in a little time at the beginning can mean maximum cash in the end.

Read each form thoroughly when meeting a gold dealer. Gold is a huge market that has some serious money involved in most transactions. Make sure you completely understand the contract you are signing. If any of the conditions are not to your liking, try another dealer. You have to make sure you financially protect yourself.

The interest level surrounding the buying and selling of gold has skyrocketed of late and shows no signs of abating. Before people start off, the smart ones make sure that they look over all the information that’s out there first. Apply the ideas within this article to your approach and you can easily find profit in the near future.

Get Top Tips On Gold Buying And Selling Right Here

There are things every investor needs to know before investing in gold. Diversity is important, and gold will help diversify your portfolio. How do you start? There are various options, so it may appear overwhelming. This article will answer some of you questions and get you started investing in gold.

If you’re thinking of mailing off some jewelry to someone, you need to be sure you do your research first. Be sure you figure out when you’ll get sent a payment, and be sure things are insured too. The final step is to take photos of your jewelry, just to be sure you can fight any future problems that may occur.

If you want to start investing in gold but don’t have much money to get started, think about buying scrap. You can accumulate scrap gold as you can afford it and have a pretty nifty next egg in a few years. Ensure that the gold is safely stored and secured at all times.

Make sure you’re only selling to someone who has a license to purchase gold. You have a greater likelihood of dealing with a reputable trader if you look for this certification. Many entities buy gold, so you don’t necessarily have to sell when you get the first offer.

Go through thrift shops and antique stores looking for gold. Just make sure you know what to look for. Many people donate or sell to these places at low prices because they don’t know what they own. Your knowledge will help you get the better end of the deal.

Approach the market with caution. There are many swindlers to be found in the gold market. Lots of people claiming to be honest gold buyers really just want to trick you. Do your homework before giving anyone your business.

Be sure you know about the gold in your possession. Not all pieces that appear to be gold are worth their weight in gold. In many cases, additional metals have been mixed with the gold to strengthen it. This has a detrimental effect on value. Items that are just plated in gold can also be affected. When you don’t know what you’ve got, have it appraised ahead of selling it.

You can invest in gold without actually owning physical gold property. Some choices include investing in mutual funds with a gold focus, buying exchange traded fund shares focusing on gold or purchasing stocks in gold mining. If you buy real gold bars or coins, consider safe storage of your pieces.

You can make money on gold; however, it is a volatile commodity. Steer clear of this investment if you are easily stressed. If you are up to the challenge, you ought to minimize risk just the same. You want to maintain a diverse portfolio of other investments and make gold only a small portion of it. 5% is a good amount.

Knowing how to test the grade of the gold will make you a smart investor. Karats are used to measure gold purity. The higher they are, the more expensive and pure it is per each ounce. You should not just rely on the karat stamp. Understanding how you can test gold’s purity will help ensure you never overpay.

Research the buyback policy of each prospective buyer and seller. Every buyer has a different fee schedule and the prices may vary widely. Think about how much it would cost to send things like gold bars that are bulky to dealers far from where you live. To protect yourself, don’t buy and leave gold in your dealer’s physical possession.

Gold can be a part of your investing strategy and learning all you can about it is to your advantage. Use the tips that work for you. You’ve received help from this article. All you have to do is make your decisions. Do more research on gold and different ways to invest before making any important decisions.

Getting To Know What Gold Is All About

Serious investors must have some of their investment portfolio in commodities. Gold is historically the top trading commodity. No matter if it’s put away for the future or perhaps you seek profits in the short-term, the following article about gold offers a wealth of information.

Understand the spot price of gold before selling any. If you choose to go ahead with the sale, separate different karat items and have them appraised individually. Don’t sell jewelry that is more valuable due to maker or designer.

Precious Metals

It is crucial that you have a solid idea about how the gold and precious metals market works. The values of precious metals fluctuate daily, so be certain you know the spot price before any transaction. Watching the market can help you to buy or sell your gold at a great price.

Arrange for delivery of your gold at the time of purchase. It you don’t have it delivered immediately, find out when you will receive your gold. Their expected delivery date should be indicated. Don’t not follow through with the purchase unless you have this in hand.

Research any mail-in gold jewelry purchaser before sending your jewelry off to them. Ensure you understand the reimbursement terms, and don’t neglect to purchase postal insurance for the package. Be sure you capture photos of everything you put in the mail.

Before selling your old and broken gold items for cash, make it a point to visit at least 3 or 4 buyers. The current spot price for gold is considered as a national standard but not all buyers will offer this price. Stores not inside major shopping malls might have lower rent and overhead, and so can pay you more.

If you’re using a mail-order gold buying service, make sure you understand any return postage fees you’ll need to pay if you decline their offer. While most firms will pay to have you send them your items, they will charge you a considerable amount if you want them back. Make sure you know in advance what you might have to pay to get your jewelry back.

Buy Gold

Sell gold to buyers that are state licensed to buy gold. You have a greater likelihood of dealing with a reputable trader if you look for this certification. There are various people and stores that can buy gold, so do not think that you must go with the first one you encounter.

Thrift shops, antique stores and estate sales can be fantastic sources for finding gold jewelry at a good price. If you have a discerning eye, you can locate great pieces. Many people do not realize what they have and sell it or donate it to these shops. You can take advantage of this if you just know what to look for.

Be aware of the true value of your items. Just because something looks like gold, that doesn’t mean it’s worth the full weight in gold. Some jewelry is a composite of a number of different metals. Items that are not pure gold have a lower value. This applies to gold plated items as well. Getting gold jewelry appraised is always a good idea if you want to be clear about the potential sale value it represents.

A lot of times, the earring posts are made from solid gold even though the earring may not be. Necklace clasps and ring bands often are too. These sorts of items are often lightweight and should be sold as a collected lot rather than individually. You may get more money this way.

Gold is usually a safe investment but this precious metal can also be volatile. If you would be made anxious by unexpected peaks and valleys in the market, you should avoid it. Limiting your risk is important even if you have a great deal of strength. Do not invest more than a tiny percentage of your portfolio in gold. In most cases, 5 percent is sufficient.

Now that you’ve read this, you should know more about gold. Follow this advice to create an excellent investment portfolio or simply earn a little cash. Remember what you have learned here if you want to have success while dealing with gold.

Seeking Knowledge About Gold? You Need To Read This Article!

Gold has long been seen as a secure way of amassing a personal fortune. It is important to understand all of the intricacies of the market. Continue reading this article to educate yourself about the process of buying or selling gold.

Make sure that you get a quality estimate from a reputable source before selling your gold. There are many places where you can buy and sell gold, and they all use different metrics to decide on price. You should get your gold appraised by a professional and compare prices offered by different buyers.

Bullion bars are an excellent gold investment. These bars are available in a number of different weights. They start at a mere half-ounce, but also rise as high as four-hundred ounces. It will be harder to find the bigger bars.

Gold fluctuates a lot, so be aware of the purchase price before selling your gold. Weigh your gold by karat for the greatest deal. Don’t sell jewelry that has an increased value because of the design or the creator.

Know the current price per ounce of gold before selling your pieces. This allows you to evaluate a dealer’s offer against the current market rate. There are some unscrupulous dealers that will try to pull one over on you.

If you’ve been thinking about selling your gold to a mail-in company, take the time to read over their fine print before getting involved with them. You should be clear about when you can expect to be paid. Insuring your gold shipment is a good idea, too. Take a photo of all the items you are sending so there will be no questions later.

Buy the right gold if you are investing for retirement. It’s crucial that the gold be IRS approved. They have to be either 24 karat coins or bullion bars. Because they hold their value, buy gold bars instead of gold coins.

Spot Price

Be sure to consult the spot price on the day when you plan to purchase gold. You can find that on a lot of websites, and that can change every day. You shouldn’t pay more than 8 percent over the spot price. Knowing the value of your gold will keep you from getting ripped off.

Be knowledgeable about market prices before you accept someone’s offer to buy your gold. Check out the competition and what they are offering. That allows you to get an idea of the market value. Ask a bit more than you want so you can negotiate with the buyer or seller.

Talk to someone at a gold party to learn how they figure out the number of karats in a jewelry piece. Many times the item will have a stamp. Sometimes, though, an eye test is insufficient and buyers have other ways of making that determination. The most simple test involves the use of acid. If the company claims to use that type of test, it may be an indication that they are not as experienced with accurate testing methods.

Research all that you can before you invest in gold. Some people may try to trick you so you invest money with their company. However, you have to be careful about get rich promises. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, and avoid being scammed.

Fine Print

Read and understand the fine print in a sales contract. If you are going to sell gold pieces to a mail-in buyer, look at the fine print prior to selling to them. There are going to be some fees and commissions to consider, and you don’t want them to be too steep.

Do not sell your gold for scrap until you have it appraised. This is particularly true with pieces that have intricate details with considerable workmanship. Knowing the true value of a piece can make it well worth the cost of appraisal. They may even give you a reference to a buyer.

Gold has played a large role in the lives of people throughout the centuries. If you want to trade gold successfully, you must be well educated. The preceding article should have provided precisely such information.