4 Checks Before You Sell Physical Gold Online

The online market for physical gold—coins, bars, and rounds—is largely divided among three main categories of sellers: Authorized Dealers, National Mints, and Peer-to-Peer platforms (individuals).

Now, if you’re among the first two, you already have a well-established process for selling gold to vetted buyers, complete with secure transportation methods and documentation. But if you’re an individual who stumbled upon a pot of gold, things are not as easy.

The safest bet would be to sell to dealers, as many offer buyback programs. However, if you’re looking for more flexibility, online platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or local classifieds are the place to be. Still, this route carries significantly higher risks and less transparent pricing, so it’s essential that you implement additional safety measures.

We put together a list of things to check and how to ensure your adventure selling gold online is profitable and pleasant. So keep reading to learn more!

1. Documentation

Your documentation process must start before sending the gold to its destination. Take high-resolution, dated photos/videos of the item, clearly showing any serial numbers, mint marks, and the shipping packaging.

Also, include undisputable proof that your items represent reality. If the gold bar or coin is not already from a major mint/refiner with a trusted assay card, consider getting an appraisal or purity test from a certified, independent professional before listing. This third-party proof is your primary defense in case of a dispute (you never know when one sneaks up on you).

Always keep a comprehensive paper trail. Besides what we mentioned above, you should also have proof of:

• The sale listing/invoice (showing the final sale price).
• Proof of payment (e.g., bank transfer confirmation).
• Photos of the package at each stage (sealed inner box and sealed outer box).
• The original shipping receipt with the insurance amount clearly noted.

This way, if you ever need to file an insurance claim, you have all the receipts.

2. Payment and Transaction Security

Sadly, many scams occur through payment systems; that is why you should use reliable, irreversible methods. 

In the case of high-value items, you usually have two options: 

1. Direct bank wire transfer (allow time for it to clear and be confirmed by your bank)
2. Escrow service, where a trusted third party holds the money until the gold is verified and delivered. This adds to the overall cost, but better safe than sorry. 

Never accept personal checks or standard PayPal for high-value items, as buyers can easily initiate a chargeback, claiming the item was fake.

If you are comfortable with cryptocurrencies or stablecoins (like USDC or Tether), you can also use blockchain-based payment methods, which offer several advantages over standard methods.

The most important perk is that once a transaction is validated and confirmed on the blockchain, it is generally irreversible (unlike a credit card or PayPal chargeback). This eliminates the risk of a buyer receiving the physical gold and then falsely claiming the item was counterfeit or never delivered to claw back their payment.

3. Pricing

As an individual seller, you want to price your gold high enough to beat a dealer’s buyback offer, but low enough to attract a buyer away from a commercial site. Therefore, it helps to know a few tips for fair metal pricing to make sure you find the sweet spot.

Always start with the current price of gold per troy ounce, which you’ll find on reputable financial sites, such as Kitco or Bloomberg. Plus, the final listing price must cover the spot price, your desired profit/premium, and all costs. This includes the platform fee (typically 10% to 13% of the final sale price), payment processing fee, and shipping insurance.

Savvy Tip: The easiest way to price is to find the current buyback price (what a reputable dealer like APMEX or JM Bullion would pay you) and add a small premium, perhaps 1.5% – 2%. Then, add the platform’s fees and the shipping cost to arrive at your final listing price

4. Shipping

Gold is not that easy to transport (go figure), so you can’t just mail it. But you probably don’t have access to commercial armored transport either. So, what’s left?

Well, in this case, you need to find the right carrier service. You want a service with full tracking, insurance for the full value of the gold, and mandatory adult signature confirmation upon delivery. 

In the US, the gold standard for individual, domestic gold shipments is USPS Registered Mail. The service offers a “Chain of Custody” system, meaning the package is logged and signed for by every employee who handles it, providing the highest level of security and traceability. 

Never send your gold out into the world without proper insurance. The USPS Registered Mail offers insurance for up to $50,000, but if you’re using a different carrier or transport of higher value, you’ll need a third-party specialty insurance that explicitly covers bullion.

Wrap Up

There you have it, the four steps to set up before you start selling gold online: documentation, a reliable payment system, fair pricing, and secure shipping. Once these are all set up and ready to go, you can go ahead and start your online adventure.