Gold is prized all over the world and has long been used to measure value. Gold is cherished by all, but few know how to get their hands on it wisely. If you want to purchase gold, or even if you are interested in selling it, the follow tips will help.

Bullion bars are hands down your best gold investment. The weights vary. From .5 ounces to 400 ounces, the choice is yours. The 400 ounce bars are generally hard to find.

Market Value

Always check out the up to date market value for gold before you seek your gold jewelry. That will help you determine whether or not a dealer is actually offering you a good price for your pieces. Many dealers will pay market value, however others rely on people desperate for cash to get the most for themselves.

If you don’t have lots of money to buy gold, but still want to profit on the upside, think about buying scrap gold. You can buy a little at a time, building up a stockpile. This will not break the bank. Ensure that the gold is safely stored and secured at all times.

Before selling you gold through the mail, be sure you know what the procedure is for getting your items back and any costs involved in doing so. A lot of buyers offer free shipping but will charge you a lot to send the item back. Make sure you know in advance what you might have to pay to get your jewelry back.

Earring backs are often solid gold when the earring isn’t. Sometimes rings are only partially gold, and sometimes necklaces just have gold clasps. Try to sell them as part of a “lot” since singularly they are not very heavy. A large quantity can assist you in profiting better from them.

Investigate with the Better Business Bureau before selling your gold to any purchaser. You will see if there were any complaints and be able to read reviews from consumers who have conducted business with them. Pay close attention to whether any of the complaints were not settled in a satisfactory way. If there’s a lot of complaints about one company, consider not using them.

Separate your gold by karat weight. Keep an eye on the gold buyer because they may try and deceive you. A common trick is to weigh everything together and then give you the price for the karat that is the lowest weight. You will end up losing money. Rather, approach the vendor with separated piles in order to maximize your profit.

A choice many people use when selling gold is to ship it through the mail. This does not involve posting any advertisements or going into different shops. You simply drop your jewelry items in a prepaid envelope and wait for your check to come in the mail. But, keep in mind that such enterprises tend to offer lower prices than some competitors. Some of these outfits pay you a third of the money for the item than you might get elsewhere, so be cautious.

As you can see, gold is a prized possession. It is also a precious commodity and can be easily traded. It is generally a good investment because it holds its value over time. This article has hopefully given you an excellent start on your journey to becoming a savvy, well-informed gold investor.