First-Time Buyers FAQ

What should I buy?

Shop our Top Picks to find our most popular items. You may also call to speak with our knowledgeable Sales Department at (800) 375-9006 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday – Thursday or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST) Friday.


How do I pay for my order?

We accept:

  • Credit card
    • APMEX accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express
  • PayPal
    • This payment method can only be used on web orders.
  • Checks (personal/certified/cashier’s) through the mail (payment instructions)
    • Process your web or phone order by selecting the Personal Check payment method. Please mail check to:
      APMEX
      P.O. Box 269073
      Oklahoma City, OK 73126Please include your order number on your payment.

      Your payment must be received within five (5) business days. You will be sent an email confirmation once we receive your payment. We do not accept e-checks at this time.

      Please be advised we observe a standard holding period of up to five (5) business days on all orders paid by check in order to process the funds from your account.

  • Same day bank wire (payment instructions)
    • Process your web or phone order by selecting the Bank Wire payment method. Send your same day bank wire payment within the next business day to:
      Beneficiary
      APMEX – Clearing Account
      226 Dean A. McGee Avenue
      Oklahoma City, OK 73102Beneficiary Account Number: 7792990008
      Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.
      ABA Routing #: 103 900 036

      Reference Order is your APMEX order number. 

      You will be sent an email confirmation once your payment has been received.


Have you received my payment?

We will send an email confirmation when your payment is processed, so please check your email for this notification. That email will also inform you when we expect to ship your order.

If you prefer, you may log in to your account to see if we are still awaiting payment or if your payment has been processed.


What is the status of my order?

You may log in to your account to see if we are still awaiting payment for your order, if your order is paid for but not yet shipped, or if it has been shipped. If your order has shipped, tracking information for your package is also available in your account.

We will also contact you by email when we receive your order, confirm your payment and ship your order. Your ship confirmation email has package tracking information as well.


Can I cancel my order? The market changed and I want the new lower price.

All cancellations are subject to our Market Loss Policy plus the greater of $50 or 5% of the order total fee. At that time, if any market loss to APMEX has occurred, it will be calculated and added to the greater of $50 or 5% of the order total fee. If applicable, any cancellation fee and/or market loss will be charged to your credit card for the full amount due, as per User Agreement. No future orders may be permitted until any market loss is paid in full. Any market gain on cancellations shall remain the property of APMEX.


What are the different Precious Metals products?

Precious Metals are traded in three forms: bars, coins and rounds.

  • Bars are produced by private mints, can be easily stored and are an easy way to accumulate more metal for your dollar. Common weights range from 1 oz to 100 oz, though smaller and larger may be minted. Many people start their gold investment journey with single ounce APMEX gold bars in TEP, which keeps things simple and affordable.
  • Coins come from sovereign mints and carry a face value. They offer a collectibility factor that bars and rounds do not. Common weights range from 1/20 oz to 1 oz, though they may be produced up to 1 kilogram (32.15 oz).
  • Rounds appear similar to coins, though they have no face value, and can be minted by government or private mints. Common weights range from 1/2 oz up to 5 oz, though smaller and larger may occasionally be minted.

Why is Gold so expensive?

Gold, like any other commodity, gets its price from the law of supply and demand. Since Gold is a rare commodity, the global supply is limited to what exists and what can be mined and refined, often at great expense. Meanwhile, there are a number of drivers of global demand:

  • Gold is used widely in jewelry.
  • Gold can be seen as an “alternative currency”.
  • Central banks buy Gold to help support their national economies.
  • Individuals buy Gold to hold as investments.

How is the price of Precious Metals determined?

There are two aspects of Precious Metals price that you should know:

  • Spot is the current market price of the metal, which is always changing (just like a normal stock changing minute-by-minute throughout the day).
  • Premium is the additional cost of a Precious Metals item above the spot price. This includes cost for fabrication, distribution and a minimal dealer fee. Rare coins carry a high premium due to collectible value, while rounds and bars carry the lowest premium since they tend to lack collectibility.

When you are looking to buy products strictly for the metal content, it is important to buy your Precious Metals products as close to the current spot price as possible so you can avoid relying on a huge price swing to see a return if you decide to sell your product. When buying numismatic (collectible) products, it is important to understand the ins and outs of the collectibles market to avoid overpaying for an item.


Why should I invest in Precious Metals?

The value of the dollar (and investments attached to the dollar, like stocks and bonds) has been on the decline. Meanwhile, the value of Precious Metals is not dependent on the dollar, and in fact, generally increases when the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, Precious Metals can never completely lose their value.


Where should I store my physical Gold and Silver?

There are several options when it comes to storing your investments. You may choose to store your investments at home or in a safe deposit box. APMEX has supplies such as air-tite holders and capsules that will keep your products safe in either location. We also offer Citadel Global Depository Services, a high-security private storage facility for your Gold and Silver products, managed by Brink’s, one of the world’s leading security companies. Read more about the benefits of storing with Citadel, a wholly owned subsidiary of APMEX.


Can I sell my products easily when I’m ready?

Owning Precious Metals is a long term investment, but when the time comes to liquidate, APMEX is here. You can call us at (800) 375-9006 to get a free quote. Learn the simple steps to selling to APMEX.

 

Helpful Resources

Basic Terms Explained (3:57)

Investing in Precious Metals has a language all its own and some definitions will surprise you.

Getting Started With Silver (3:47)

A lot of investors see Silver as an affordable alternative to Gold. But it is much more than that.

Sell To Us (3:15)

Did you know that APMEX is one of the country’s largest buyers of Gold, Silver and other Precious Metals?

Quick Guides to Investing

Step 1:

Why Buy Physical Gold and Silver?

If you are concerned about the volatility of the stock market, you’re not alone. The extreme highs and lows of the stock market often lead investors towards safe-haven assets, like bullion. Historically, the Precious Metals market has an inverse relationship with the stock market, meaning that when stocks are up, bullion is down and vice versa.

Step 2:

How Much Gold and Silver Should You Have?

This question is one of the most important for investors to answer. After all, experts suggest limits on how much of any types of investments should go into a portfolio. After deciding to purchase and own Precious Metals and considering how much money to allocate, one can then think about how much and what to buy at any point in time.

Step 3:

Which Precious Metals Should I Buy?

With the frequent changes in the market and countless Precious Metal products available, choosing investments can be difficult. Some want Gold or Silver coins, rounds or bars while others want products that are valuable because of their design, mintage or other collectible qualities. Also, collectors may shop for unique sets and individual pieces for their collections.

Step 4:

When to Buy Gold & Silver

After considering why, how much, and what Precious Metals products to buy, an investor’s next step is when to buy them. This decision requires an understanding of market trends and the impact of economic factors on precious metal prices.

Explore More On APMEX

Silver

Platinum

Rare Coins