Gold investing is very popular among investors. Many people trust this precious metal to be a good hedge against inflation. Gold has made some investors very rich because they made the right market decisions at the right time. If you want to find out what gold investing is all about, read the following article for some helpful tips. Get an appraisal if you have no idea what value your gold holds. The up front cost is significant, but it can give you a better estimate of value. 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. Watch out for pop-up buyers. These individuals travel from place to place, putting out advertisements that lure in sellers with the promise of a big payout. In many cases, these buyers then leave town without paying the sellers what they are owed. Always do your research on anyone you are planning to sell to. If you are sending your jewelry off in the mail, make sure you investigate how much it will cost you to have the pieces sent back to you if you don't like the offer. Most companies will give you free shipping to them but charge you an arm and a leg for return postage. Know what you're up against before you mail anything away. As exciting as buying gold can be, avoid telling people about it. You may accidentally be overheard by a thief. Keep your investments personal and protect them at a safe or bank. These methods provide you with safety and security. Do NOT sell your scrap gold or gold jewelery to a company wanting to do so through the mail. These types of operations pay less than pennies on the dollar and you will have no recourse once you receive your measly check from them. Visit a dealer in person, get a real evaluation and try to sell it to them. If you're selling gold jewelry, make sure you know about karats. Pure gold is very soft, so it's mixed with other metals for color and durability. The FTC or Federal Trade Commission requires that all sold U.S. gold jewelry must describe the alloy's karat fineness. A single karat equals 1/24 of pure gold via weight. For instance, 14 karats jewelry is 14 parts gold and 10 parts different metals. Jewelry can't be sold as gold jewelry if it's less than 10 karats. When selling gold, it pays to shop around. This includes checking with several dealers both locally and nationally. To get the most bang for your buck, ask what fees will be assessed during the sale. Just because a dealer is offering to pay more per ounce, does not always equate to more money in your pocket. This extra money can be ate up by fees and commissions. If you are considering selling your gold to a pawn shop or second hand store, go with the pawn shop. Potassium Gold Cyanide (PGC) have certain regulations they must abide by, and this protects you, the consumer. Second hand stores have no such regulations, which opens up the possibility of unethical practices. 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 are selling gold jewelry that is covered with other stones, never leave the gold dealer without those stones on you. Some shady dealers will try and pocket those gems so that they can sell them elsewhere. Even if you don't hink they're worth anything, it's best to get them before leaving. Learning how to be a smart investor in gold is not hard. However, it does take full understanding of the market in order to make this profitable for you. Good investing techniques take practice and experience. Use what you have learned in this article to give yourself a good start in your gold investment.
Potassium Gold Cyanide (PGC)
