Gold has always been a prized possession. There are few things that have been treasured as much as gold. Gold is universally recognized as a valuable commodity and it often given as a token of affection. If you are looking to buy gold, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Try to only buy and sell your gold to certain dealers that are recognized through official gold and money associations. These dealers must follow strict guidelines under these organizations to ensure that you get fair compensation or quality pieces. One such well-known organization is the ANA or American Numismatic Association.
Do not hesitate to sell any gold jewelry that you no longer have use for. There are many people that hold on to these pieces for no logical reason when they can be sold for a tidy profit. The money you make from the sale would do more good than unused jewelry sitting in a box.
How heavy your gold is will determine how much money you get for each piece. However, some dealers are not very reputable and may try to pay you less than you are owed. Watch out for anyone who weighs your gold by the pennyweight but tries to pay you for grams instead.
Before actually purchasing a piece of gold jewelry, shop around. More expensive jewelry stores will charge you an arm and leg. However, the same piece of jewelry can sometimes be found elsewhere for a much lower price. You can even tell a jeweler that you saw the piece for cheaper and you may be able to negotiate with them.
When deciphering the actual sales price of gold, you should understand the fees associated with selling gold. Dealers generally charge a commission of five to six percent for each ounce of gold sold. For example, if you are selling $100.00 worth of gold, the dealer will take $5.00 out of the proceeds for commission fees.
If you are purchasing gold jewelry and have allergies to nickel or other metals, only purchase 18 or 22 karat gold. Almost all gold jewelry has some other metals in it because pure gold is very soft and not easy to wear on a day to day basis. By buying 18 or 22 karat, you are ensuring you’re getting the most gold, meaning less change for an allergic reaction.
Do not allow different carats of gold to be weighed together. This is because dealers will base the price on the lowest carat gold. Each carat of gold is mixed with 10 parts of other alloys; thus, a 10 carat weight gold ring will be worth much less than an 18 carat gold ring.
Watch out for the gold buying bait and switch. There are buyers out there that promote the price they’ll pay for bulk gold, but don’t tell you that the price is much more for smaller quantities. This can leave you making a very bad deal. Ask before you make any sort of commitment.
Before you sell your scrap gold to a dealer at rock-bottom prices, make sure that it isn’t worth more to you the way it is. Some things that lay people think aren’t good enough for anything other than scrap can turn out to be very valuable. See an appraiser to be sure.
Do not purchase gold jewelry with the idea that it is an good investment. Because the gold in jewelry is not pure, it is unlikely it will ever be worth its purchase price. A much safer choice for investing in gold is to purchase gold coins, bullion or gold stocks.
Gold parties seem to be popping up everywhere these days, and participants usually enjoy going. They get to hang out with their friends and leave with money in their pocket. However, remember that the representative may or may not be qualified to evaluate your gold, so you never know what kind of price you are going to receive.
To benefit from the upside potential in gold, consider gold index funds. They are easily traded on the exchanges. For instance, the CBOE Gold Index roughly tracks the price of gold, both up and down, by trading gold mining companies. There exchange traded funds that trade on gold futures contracts, but those tend to be quite volatile.
Check online reviews before you head to the store and spend any of your hard earned money on gold. Make sure that there are not a ton of complaints since this increases the likelihood you will have a bad experience. You should also check with the BBB to be even more sure.
Get a certificate of authenticity when buying gold jewelry. This is your proof that the piece you have purchased is real, consists of a certain karat count and has a specific value. This certificate can be used to authenticate your piece for resale or insurance purposes, should you need it.
When purchasing gold coins, it is important to buy from a reputable dealer. Whether you purchase from a seller specializing in gold coins or from a government mint, you want someone who is honest. To help you get the best deal on a coin, always comparison shop before buying a gold coin.
Whether you are buying or selling gold, be cautious about potential dealers. The more informed you are, the less the chance that you will be taken advantage of. Unscrupulous dealers will try to trick gold seller and potential investors. Understand any fees or premiums attached to your transaction and know the per ounce price of gold.
Now that you know a bit more about buying gold, take what you have learned and start your gold collection today. You can start off small by just buying small, inexpensive pieces of jewelry to wear. You can also invest in gold coins or ingots. When it comes to investing in gold, there is a world of choices.
