Should I sell gold to a pawn shop, a gold buyer, or a mail-in service?
A gold buyer purchases metal outright and prices it on weight and purity. A pawn shop lends against the item as collateral and can also buy it. A jeweler resells finished pieces. A mail-in service evaluates items after you ship them; check its payment and return terms. Cash for Gold in Johnson City buys outright and does not lend.
The four, side by side
| Who sets the price | When you are paid | If you say no | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold buyer | Weight and purity against spot | Same visit | You keep everything |
| Pawn shop | Loan value, then resale value | Same visit | You keep everything |
| Jeweler | What it resells for, intact | Varies, often consignment | You keep everything |
| Mail-in | Stated after they receive it | Varies; check the service terms | They post it back |
The problem with mail-in offers
Before using a mail-in service, check shipping coverage, evaluation terms, payment timing and return costs. With an in-store evaluation, you can ask questions about the item and offer before deciding whether to sell.
When a jeweler is the right answer
If a piece is worth more intact than melted — a signed period piece, a stone with a certificate, a watch with a movement worth more than its case — it should not be sold as scrap to anyone. Cash for Gold sorts for exactly this before a scale comes out and will say so when a piece belongs somewhere else.