How to Sell Gold Without Getting Ripped Off in Greenville

Three numbers set a fair gold price, and an honest buyer shows you all three. Here is how to tell a fair offer from a lowball.

Short answer: a fair gold price comes down to three things: the live spot price, the purity (karat), and the weight. An honest buyer tests and weighs your gold in front of you and shows you the math. If someone will not do that, walk out.

We are a family shop, Dan Hilliard and his sons Michael and Greg, and we have watched people get lowballed for years before they found us. So here is the honest playbook, whether you sell to us or not.

The three numbers that set a fair gold price

• The live spot price. Gold trades on a live market that moves every day. A fair offer starts from today’s price, not last month’s.
• The purity, or karat. 10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, and 24k contain different amounts of actual gold. Your gold should be tested, ideally with an XRF analyzer that reads the exact content without damaging the piece.
• The weight. Weighed on a scale you can see, in grams or pennyweight.

Multiply purity by weight by the live price and you have the honest melt value. A fair buyer pays close to that, minus a reasonable margin.

How to tell if an offer is fair

A straight buyer will show you the spot price, test the purity in front of you, weigh it on a visible scale, and explain how they got to the number. You should be able to watch the whole thing. Ours is done right at the counter, in the open.

Jeweler, pawn shop, or a dedicated gold buyer?

Pawn shops are set up for loans, not for paying top dollar on gold, so their offers are often low. Jewelers vary a lot, and some are more interested in selling you something than buying your gold. A dedicated gold and silver buyer who tests in front of you and works on thin margins usually pays the most. The real test is not the type of store, it is whether they show you the math.

Red flags to watch for

• They will not test your gold where you can see it.
• They are vague about the current spot price.
• They pressure you to decide right now.
• They talk your piece down as “damaged” to justify a lowball.

Why folks pick us

We test with an XRF analyzer in front of you, weigh on a scale you can see, and show you the spot and the math. One customer put it plainly in a review: we paid 20 percent more than the next best offer in town. Call around, compare, and see for yourself. When you are ready, here is our sell gold page.

Questions we hear

Is it better to sell gold to a jeweler or a pawn shop?

Usually neither pays the most. Pawn shops are built for loans and tend to offer low. Jewelers vary. A dedicated gold buyer who tests your gold in front of you and works on thin margins typically pays more. The real test is whether they show you the spot price, the purity, and the weight.

Who pays the most for gold in Greenville?

The buyer who shows you the math and works on the smallest margin. We test with an XRF analyzer in front of you and price off the live spot. One customer’s review says we beat the next best local offer by 20 percent. Call around and compare, that is the honest way to find out.

How do I know a gold offer is fair?

A fair offer starts from the live spot price, uses the tested purity of your gold, and the weight, all shown to you. If a buyer will not test and weigh in front of you or explain the number, that is a red flag.

Do you test gold in front of me?

Yes, always. We test purity with an XRF analyzer and weigh on a scale you can see, right at the counter, and explain how we got to the offer.

Bring it in, we will tell you straight

Greenville Gold & Silver, 1637 Woodruff Rd, Ste C, Greenville, SC 29607

Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am to 3pm. No appointment needed. 864-901-7975