You have three main options for where to sell gold: local in‑person buyers, mail‑in/online gold buyers, and official bullion or mint dealers, and the best choice depends on whether you care more about maximum price, speed, or convenience. Checking live gold prices and getting at least two or three quotes before committing is the key step to not leaving money on the table.

Main places to sell gold

  • Local jewellers and pawn shops:
    • Fast cash and face‑to‑face service.
    • Often pay less than specialist gold buyers, but you can sometimes negotiate a better rate if you have multiple offers.
  • Specialist gold‑buying shops (scrap gold buyers):
    • Focus on buying broken jewellery, old coins, dental gold, etc.
    • They usually base offers on weight and purity against the current spot price and can be more transparent if they test and weigh your gold in front of you.
  • Online/mail‑in gold buyers:
    • You request a free insured pack, mail in your items, they test them and send you a quote; you accept or they return your items.
* Can be convenient and competitive, but you must carefully read terms about insurance, return policy, and fees.
  • Bullion and mint dealers:
    • Best for investment‑grade coins and bars (e.g., bullion coins, branded bars) rather than regular jewellery.
* Often pay closer to melt value, especially for well‑known investment products.

How to get the best price

  • Check the current gold spot price on the day you plan to sell so you know roughly what your gold is worth per gram at its purity.
  • Get written quotes from at least two or three different buyers (local and online) and use them to negotiate.
  • Separate out higher‑value pieces (branded jewellery, rare coins) that might be worth more than just scrap value and consider specialist or auction sale for those.

Safety and scam warnings

  • Avoid buyers who refuse to weigh or test your gold in front of you or who pressure you to accept on the spot.
  • Watch for “bait‑and‑switch” tactics where an initially high quote is lowered after they receive your items.
  • For mail‑in options, confirm insured shipping, tracking, and clear rights to decline the offer and get your items back at no cost.

What to do before you go

  • Sort and, if possible, identify karats (e.g., 9k, 14k, 18k) so you are not paid one blended low price for everything.
  • Decide your minimum acceptable price in advance so you are less likely to accept a low offer under pressure.
  • Bring ID and any receipts or certificates for coins or bullion bars, as some dealers pay more for documented, recognisable products.

If you share your country or city, a more tailored list of likely good places to sell your gold can be provided.