Given the volatility of the global economy in recent years, buying and selling gold has gained a new degree of popularity. The key to generating real value and profits from gold is to spend sufficient time learning about the commodity and its market. Keep reading to gain valuable pointers that really can help.
Have an understanding of the current market value of gold before you sell it. You can call a jewelry store for this information. Gold value changes often, sometimes from day to day, and you want to make sure your buyer is offering you a fair price for your pieces, based on current market value.
Know what gold is currently selling for. While it’s convenient to just bring your gold to a shop, do a little internet research first to see what the range is. That way, you can go in knowing how much you can expect to receive. You will know if you are being lowballed.
When looking for a gold coin dealer to buy from, make sure you do your research. Carefully look at their five key traits: reputation, experience, guarantee, ethics, and size. You also need to find out about any minimal restrictions like minimum amounts, whether they may only accept certain types of payments, and when you’ll get your coins.
Before taking your gold to sell, research the buyer. Most reputable dealers will be members of the American Numismatic Association. These dealers are held to a higher standard of ethics and must follow certain criteria when purchasing gold from individuals. To ensure you get the most money for your gold, make sure to use a dealer who is part of this association.
Be a student of the gold market. This market is very tricky, as the price of gold is something that changes on a daily basis. What’s a great deal one day could be less than stellar the next. It’s up to you to know what you are getting into so that you can get the most for your buying or selling.
When selling your gold, it is necessary to determine if you wish to sell something as jewelry or simply to get its melt value. Many buyers only want to pay for the melt value of the jewelry. If you are selling a piece of jewelry, you should pursue a better deal.
Gold
Now is the best time to sell because gold prices have been at near record highs. You can sell your broken or unwanted gold jewelry, gold-plated dinner wear, gold coins and even dental gold. Gold buyers are anxious to buy anything that contains gold. Get several bids to ensure that you are getting the best price.
If you’re buying gold pieces for investment reasons, stay away from proof coins. These coins are polished and mounted, and they can sometimes be worth more than regular coins. The problem is, proof coin value only matters to collectors, and it can vary on a daily basis. For investment only purposes, stick with regular coins.
When buying gold jewelry online, make sure to get written confirmation of your delivery date before finalizing the deal. Ideally, delivery should take place in a very short period of time. If it will be delayed, find out why and for how long. This protects you as the consumer, and it gives you information that would stand up in court if necessary.
If you decide to invest with a gold broker, make sure you pick one who is reputable. There are a lot of gold brokers who work only for their own commissions rather than your interests. Check online to see what others have to say. Stay local so you can meet the broker face to face.
There is no regulation on the sale price of gold, so be ready to do a little negotiating. There is typically room in the initial offer for a bit of negotiation, so go for it. If you don’t, you’ll definitely be coming out on the losing side of the sale or purchase.
Before purchasing items made of gold, you need to have a good working understanding of how the karat system works. In essence, karat weight measures the level of alloys found in the gold. The higher the karat level, the higher the gold purity, and of course the price follows suit.
You don’t need to settle for the first price thrown out there. Gold selling and buying normally has a level of negotiation involved, so if you say yes to the first offer, you aren’t doing yourself any favors! You can have the piece probably for 10% to 15% less with just a little negotiation.
Gold has traditionally provided a stable repository of value, even in the most turbulent economic times. In order to extract maximum value from your own participation in the gold market, knowledge is absolutely essential. Hopefully this article has given you the foundation necessary to launch your own exploration of the possibilities offered by gold.