What are you actually comparing?
Plan liquidation before committing to a hard-to-divide metal format. For this decision, put dealer will buy any gold alongside written product-specific buyback process and start by asking whether both quotes represent the same fine metal content, metal type, fineness and destination.
A dealer may purchase only certain products or quantities and may require authentication, shipping insurance or a particular settlement procedure. Never assume the retail listing implies a guaranteed resale bid.
The cost model
The comparable delivered cost is the quoted metal subtotal plus shipping, insurance, any payment-method charges and applicable sales tax. If the two offers have different fine-metal weights, divide each full delivered total by fine troy ounces before comparing the cost per ounce.
Premium per fine ounce = (delivered total ÷ fine ounces) − the corresponding spot price per ounce. Percentage premium = (premium per ounce ÷ spot) × 100. This is a cost metric, not a projection of investment returns.
How to check this purchase
Ask what they buy, the bid basis, minimums, settlement schedule, return risk, shipping and required documentation.
- Choose a precise product specification and intended quantity.
- Obtain current listings or written quotes from dealers at the same time.
- Use the same payment method and delivery location wherever possible.
- Run both totals through the delivered-cost calculator.
- Review fulfillment, authentication, refunds and realistic resale channels before paying.
Risks that the lowest price cannot capture
Counterfeit exposure, delivery delays, shipment loss procedures, liquidity and a seller’s actual buyback spread are not reducible to a single premium percentage. Larger purchases can require non-standard fulfillment or more documentation. Ask the seller for clear written terms; never treat an “as low as” badge as a binding quote.
Where to go next
Explore the exit buying desk for related information, or open the dealer comparison to review the four merchants currently covered. Actual availability and pricing are controlled by the merchants, not by this publication.