Where can I buy precious metals for cheapest prices?

Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman

Are you buying small amounts for experiments, bars or coins for bullion investment, or raw materials for manufacturing ?

Quote: Originally posted by WGTR

For less than spot price, before you throw away an old car, cut off the catalytic converter and recover the precious metals. For something more convenient, buy bars on the secondary market. Sellers like Apmex will often sell bars of platinum on the secondary market, and these are the cheapest to buy, although still over spot price. eBay can have some good deals like this too from time to time. To get close to spot price you normally have to buy at least 1 oz, but oftentimes 10 oz. minimum. Precious metals are a global commodity, so I think that you will pay whatever its value is, translated into your local currency. [Edited on 8-12-2018 by WGTR] Actually, after thinking some more, the cheapest way to buy precious metals is to buy them from someone who is motivated to sell them. Apmex will buy platinum for less than spot price, then sell it for more than spot price. If you find someone who wants to sell, then offer them less than spot, but more than they can get elsewhere, and maybe you have a sale. [Edited on 8-12-2018 by WGTR]

Quote: Originally posted by BromicAcid

Sellers in the Congo and some other areas have trouble off-loading their goods. These 'conflict' metals are often illegible to be purchased by reputable dealers due to the possibility of them funding war/genocide/etc. It's my understanding that an unscrupulous individual can purchase these metals at a bargain rate if you know the right people. Though the amount that an individual could purchase is likely not worth their time.

Quote: Originally posted by fusso

Quote: Originally posted by WGTR   For less than spot price, before you throw away an old car, cut off the catalytic converter and recover the precious metals. For something more convenient, buy bars on the secondary market. Sellers like Apmex will often sell bars of platinum on the secondary market, and these are the cheapest to buy, although still over spot price. eBay can have some good deals like this too from time to time. To get close to spot price you normally have to buy at least 1 oz, but oftentimes 10 oz. minimum. Precious metals are a global commodity, so I think that you will pay whatever its value is, translated into your local currency. [Edited on 8-12-2018 by WGTR] Actually, after thinking some more, the cheapest way to buy precious metals is to buy them from someone who is motivated to sell them. Apmex will buy platinum for less than spot price, then sell it for more than spot price. If you find someone who wants to sell, then offer them less than spot, but more than they can get elsewhere, and maybe you have a sale. [Edited on 8-12-2018 by WGTR] Extracting and separating the PGM mixtures isn't worth my effort, and also I expect unwanted/abandoned cars to be uncommon, if not rare. If I want some pure PGMs I'd prefer buying them. Also, I'd like to buy them only if I can look at the bars/coins. I don't want to buy precious metals online.

For experiments the cheapest source of gold is
to ask family and friends if they have ANY scrap gold to help with your hobby,
a tiny clasp here, a few chain links, studs ... solid or plated, it all helps.

I have about 1g Au from electronics scrap (a lot of time, effort, chemicals and hazardous waste to deal with)
and 1.7g from scrap jewellery which was MUCH easier to process.
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1g Au is enough to try chemistry experiments as it is usually worth recovering,
with only a few percent loss, after the experiment is done.
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Unless you are willing to smuggle gold or deal with criminals,
you are unlikely to buy gold, silver, platinum etc. at spot price in small quantities,
and you should consider any taxes etc.
(e.g. in UK there could be Capital Gains Tax and VAT on silver bars,
but no taxes on Gold coins)
(tax the poor, but not the rich
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Aside: if all of the above ground gold and silver were distributed equally amongst all humans,
you could get about 3x 1oz. silver coins and 1x 1oz. gold coin
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Currently I think that precious metals are a good buy,
for Investment I think that Gold coins are the best buy,
platinum is quite low but may or may not recover,
The Gold:Silver ratio is about 1:80 ... silver is historically relatively cheap compared to gold,
but you would have to sell at the right time to make a profit.
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I will not be surprised if precious metals rise in price soon as Trump's trade wars progress.
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Other than during severe economic crises, or the occasional gross manipulation of markets,
precious metal prices are actually determined by production costs and demand,
IF the USD collapses (unlikely but becoming more possible) then precious metal prices may become unbelievably high for a while,
but it will do you no good as you should have instead invested in a fully stocked bunker

There are a lot other metals worth speculating on.
Some of them arent even taxed as precious metals are.

Please Mr Trump, DO anger China some more !!!

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber

There are a lot other metals worth speculating on. Some of them arent even taxed as precious metals are.

Update ... ignore any speculation advice from me :(

So, following my recommendations above - precious metal prices have dropped significantly.
(e.g. my silver is now priced exactly as when I bought it - four years ago)
If you followed my advice - I apologise.