Editorial explainer · Published November 2, 2026 · No live merchant prices included
A useful bullion quote is more than the posted price. Before sending money, work through questions that produce concrete, written answers you can compare across multiple sellers.
Product and price
- What exact coin, bar or SKU am I buying, including mint, year, fineness, condition and fine-metal weight?
- What spot quote and timestamp was used, and when does your price lock expire?
- What is the complete delivered cost under my actual payment method?
- Are there transaction, clearing, delivery, insurance or applicable tax charges not already included?
Fulfillment and safety
- Is the item in stock, allocated, or a presale? What is the actual expected dispatch window?
- How is shipment insured, and what signature or claim rules apply?
- What happens if a package is lost, rerouted or delivered without a signature?
- What documentation demonstrates authenticity and seller identity?
Returns and resale
- What cancellation, market-loss or return obligations apply after a price lock?
- What would you pay to repurchase the exact same item today?
- How is a sellback quote set, and who pays shipping and assay charges on resale?
- Is the sale tied to storage, financing, custody or another continuing commitment?
Use email or written chat to keep the answers together. A dealer unwilling to disclose essential charges in writing should not receive the benefit of the doubt merely because the site looks polished.
Related tools:
Use the dealer directory to compare merchant options and the cost calculator to evaluate numerical quotes. If you're considering retirement-account ownership rather than direct personal possession, see IRAGold.co.
For more buyer-protection questions, see the CFTC physical-metals advisory.