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Mail-in vs walking into a shop with gold
Mail-in is convenient and full of shipping, insurance, and trust problems. A shop is slower on your calendar and faster on the argument.
You can ship metal to a company you have never met. People do it every day. Some get a fair bid. Some get a lowball and a hostage situation: “we already have it, here’s the number.”
Walk-in
You watch the test. You say no. You leave with your stuff. In front of you. Walking away.
Mail-in
You need insurance, a real address, a real company, and a written process for returns if you decline. If they will not put the return in writing, you are donating.
Red flags buying (and selling) online. Transport and shipping.
When mail-in makes sense
You live nowhere near a real shop and the lot is documented bullion. Even then, call a shop you can visit on a trip. [Find shops](https://numisq.com/shops) / [CDXList](https://cdxlist.com/).
Do not mail heirlooms you cannot replace because a Facebook ad said “free kit.”
Part of the coin shop counter wiki · visitors & collectors · NumisQ Learn