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If you’re thinking about investing in gold, silver, or other precious metals, APMEX is one of the most trusted and widely used platforms in the U.S.
Whether you’re buying a single gold coin or building a large silver stack, APMEX offers a huge selection, transparent pricing, and some of the best inventory in the industry—especially for collectors and investors alike.
However, here's what customers think – compared to other dealers, this rating is lower than average:
Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
Trustpilot
| 1.7 (7,966 reviews) |
Better Business Bureau (BBB) | A+ | Accredited Since 2004 |
Consumer Affairs | 2.8 (290 reviews) |
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to buy precious metals on APMEX, step by step.
Buy Precious Metals with APMEX: Step By Step
Let’s break it down and see how to actually buy gold, silver, and other precious metals on APMEX:
1. Set Your Goals and Investment Strategy
Before browsing APMEX’s inventory, take a moment to define your goals. APMEX caters to both long-term investors and hobbyist collectors, so knowing your strategy will help narrow down your options.
Here are a few things to consider:
Define your budget — APMEX offers options from under $50 to well over $10,000, including fractional gold, 1 oz coins, and kilo bars.
Choose your metal — Gold and silver are most popular, but APMEX also sells platinum, palladium, and even copper products.
Consider liquidity — American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and other sovereign coins are easier to resell than private mint bars.
Are you buying for an IRA? — APMEX clearly marks IRA-eligible products, and you can set up a Precious Metals IRA directly through them via their partnership with third-party custodians.
2. Create Your Free APMEX Account
To make purchases, you’ll need to set up a free APMEX account. It’s quick and unlocks features like order tracking, price alerts, and access to APMEX Vault® storage (optional).
What you need:
Basic info — name, email, password, and shipping address.
No ID is required unless you're opening an IRA or using Vault storage.
Once signed in, you can save favorite products and view past orders anytime.
3. Browse and Filter Precious Metals by Type
APMEX’s website is one of the most advanced in the industry. You can easily sort by metal, product type, weight, or premium over spot.
Some useful filters:
Metal — gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper.
Format — coins, bars, rounds, junk silver, collectibles, and IRA-approved bullion.
Mint — U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, PAMP Suisse, and more.
Pricing — you can toggle between price per item and price per ounce.
Each product page displays real-time pricing, live spot comparisons, volume discounts, and detailed product info. APMEX also offers live chat if you have questions.
4. Add to Cart and Select Payment Method
Once you’ve chosen your metals, add them to your cart. APMEX locks in your price the moment your order is submitted—not when it ships—so timing matters in volatile markets.
Payment options available at APMEX (2025):
ACH/eCheck – typically the lowest premium pricing and processed in 1–2 days.
Wire transfer – required for orders over $25,000.
Credit/debit card – faster but includes a higher premium.
PayPal – accepted, but not eligible for cash discount pricing.
Cryptocurrency – APMEX accepts Bitcoin and several altcoins via BitPay for orders under $250,000.
After placing your order, you’ll receive a confirmation email with payment instructions.
5. Track Your Shipment – Fully Insured and Secure
After payment clears, APMEX ships your order discreetly with full insurance. Shipping times typically range from 1–3 business days to process, plus carrier delivery time.
What to expect:
Shipping carriers — USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
Packaging — plain and unmarked, no mention of precious metals.
Insurance — all orders are covered up to full value during transit.
Signature required — on orders over a certain value threshold for extra protection.
If there’s any issue during shipping (loss, damage, theft), APMEX handles insurance claims directly and quickly.
Does APMEX Offer a Buyback Program?
Yes, APMEX has a robust Buyback Program through their AutoLock feature or via their trading desk. It’s one of the easiest ways to sell precious metals back online.
Here’s how it works:
Lock in a sell price online or call their trading desk.
Ship your metals to APMEX using their insured label.
Once verified, payment is issued via check, ACH, or wire.
APMEX often offers competitive pricing when buying back coins or bars that were originally purchased through them. You can even view live buyback prices directly on product pages.
Gold vs. Silver vs. Platinum on APMEX: Which Should You Buy?
Here’s a quick comparison of the three major precious metals available on APMEX to help you decide which best fits your investment goals:
Feature | Gold | Silver | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
Main Appeal | Stability, long-term store of value | Affordability, growth potential | Diversification, rarity |
Price Volatility | Relatively stable | More volatile | Can be volatile due to industrial demand |
Liquidity | Highly liquid and globally accepted | Very liquid, especially in small formats | Moderate liquidity |
Common Formats on APMEX | Coins, bars, fractional pieces | Rounds, bars, junk silver, coins | Bars, coins |
Collectible Options | Strong selection of historic and graded coins | Wide variety, many unique designs | Limited collector options |
IRA Eligibility | Widely available | Widely available | Select options available |
Best For | Long-term wealth preservation | Regular stacking, new investors | Experienced investors diversifying holdings |
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Gold
Gold remains APMEX’s most popular investment metal. It’s widely recognized, easy to store, and considered a core hedge against inflation. APMEX offers:
Gold Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands
Gold bars from PAMP, Valcambi, APMEX-branded
Fractional gold and IRA-eligible options
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Silver
Silver is especially attractive for first-time buyers due to its affordability and high upside potential. APMEX has:
1 oz rounds and coins
10 oz and 100 oz silver bars
Junk silver and collectible silver coins
Silver also tends to have more product variety and limited-edition runs for collectors.
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Platinum
Though less commonly held, APMEX carries platinum and palladium for diversification:
American Platinum Eagles
1 oz platinum bars and coins
Select palladium coins from the Royal Canadian Mint
These are ideal for more advanced investors looking beyond traditional metals.
How to Get the Best Prices on APMEX
APMEX is known for fair pricing, but there are ways to stretch your dollars further:
Pay with eCheck or wire — these methods qualify for the “cash discount price.”
Buy in bulk — many products offer tiered pricing at higher quantities.
Check the “Deals” section — APMEX regularly runs sales on overstocked and promo items.
Choose generic bars or rounds — lower premiums compared to government-minted coins.
Sign up for APMEX alerts — you’ll get notified of price drops, flash sales, and limited releases.
Additionally, APMEX often offers free shipping on orders over a certain amount, and you can subscribe to alerts for specific products to get notified when they’re back in stock or on sale.
FAQ
Yes, APMEX offers secure, segregated storage through their Vault® program. It's optional and helps investors avoid home storage concerns.
There’s no strict minimum for most purchases, but some payment methods may have limits. You can buy even small items like single silver rounds.
Sales tax depends on your shipping state. APMEX automatically calculates applicable taxes during checkout based on your location.
APMEX bars are typically lower-premium options made to high standards. Mint-branded bars come from globally recognized refiners and may cost more.
Absolutely. APMEX offers a wide selection of certified coins graded by NGC and PCGS, including older and modern collectible pieces.
