Table of Contents

• How Cash for Gold Works: The GoldExpress Kit Process
  • What You’ll Need Before You Start
  • Step-by-Step: From Kit Request to Payout
  • Spot Price vs. Payout Price: Why They Are Never the Same Number
• How to Test Gold at Home Before You Sell
• Selling Gold Jewelry Online Safely: Security and Trust
  • What Happens If You Disagree With the Appraisal
• What Types of Precious Metals and Items You Can Sell
• Selling to a Dealer vs. Pawn Shop vs. Online: A Comparison
  • The Three Routes, Side by Side
  • When a Local Dealer or Pawn Shop Makes More Sense
• Common Mistakes to Avoid When Getting Cash for Gold
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: October 2, 2026

How Cash for Gold Works: The GoldExpress Kit Process

Cash for gold means selling unwanted gold jewelry, coins, or bullion to a buyer who pays based on current market value, not retail price. At Cash For Gold Canada, the GoldExpress Kit removes the two biggest friction points: leaving your home and guessing whether the offer is fair. The kit arrives free and insured, you ship your items in it, and payment typically goes out within 24 hours of receipt.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

You need less than you’d expect:

• Your gold, silver, or platinum items, broken pieces included
• A rough sense of what you’re sending, to compare against the offer
• Your bank details or preferred payment method
• No minimum. A single ring is worth sending if it’s real gold.

Step-by-Step: From Kit Request to Payout

1. Request your free, insured GoldExpress Kit online.
2. Pack your items into the kit and seal it with the provided materials.
3. Drop it in the mail using the prepaid label.
4. Our team tests and evaluates each piece on arrival.
5. You receive a guaranteed cash payout, typically within 24 hours of receipt.

Spot Price vs. Payout Price: Why They Are Never the Same Number

The spot price is the live wholesale rate for pure (24K) gold. It’s a reference point, not a retail offer. A payout sits below spot because the buyer must test, refine, ship, and insure the metal, and refining recovers less than 100% of the gold in any alloy. That gap is the most misunderstood number in the transaction.

How to Test Gold at Home Before You Sell

Then try these checks:

• Magnet test: Real gold isn’t magnetic. If a magnet grabs the piece, it’s not solid gold.
• Visual inspection: Gold doesn’t tarnish or rust. Discoloration usually means plating over a base metal.
• Size and weight feel: Gold is dense. A piece that feels unusually light for its size is suspect.

For a definitive answer, professional evaluation uses X-ray fluorescence or assay testing, which measures gold content without damaging the piece.

Selling Gold Jewelry Online Safely: Security and Trust

Selling gold jewelry online safely comes down to three things: insured shipping, a transparent evaluation process, and a clear return policy. Cash For Gold Canada is 100% Canadian owned and family operated, and every GoldExpress Kit ships insured so you’re covered if the package goes missing.

What Happens If You Disagree With the Appraisal

You get your items back. If the offer doesn’t match your expectations, decline it and your jewelry is returned at no cost. Ask any buyer this question before you ship, and treat a vague answer as a red flag.

What Types of Precious Metals and Items You Can Sell

Gold gets the attention, but it isn’t the only metal with value. Cash For Gold Canada accepts gold, silver, platinum, and precious stones, so that drawer of mismatched earrings and broken chains is worth sorting through.

What’s typically accepted:

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• Scrap gold: broken chains, single earrings, bent rings, tangled necklaces
• Gold coins and bullion: both collectible and investment pieces
• Sterling silver: flatware, jewelry, and older decorative items
• Platinum: often overlooked because it doesn’t look like gold, but it carries real value
• Precious stones: evaluated separately from the metal setting

Selling to a Dealer vs. Pawn Shop vs. Online: A Comparison

The three main routes differ in convenience, privacy, speed, and how much of the spot price you keep. None is universally best, the right choice depends on what you’re selling and what you value most.

The Three Routes, Side by Side

Route	Convenience	Privacy	Speed	Typical Payout Level	Best For
Online kit	Ship from home	High, no store visit	Payout typically within 24 hours of receipt	Strong, low overhead	Sellers who want privacy and a written offer
Local dealer	In-person visit	Moderate	Same day	Varies widely by shop	Sellers who want to watch the evaluation
Pawn shop	Immediate, walk-in	Low, public transaction	Immediate	Usually lowest	Sellers who need cash today and accept the trade-off

When a Local Dealer or Pawn Shop Makes More Sense

Online isn’t always the answer. A single high-value coin with numismatic potential may do better with an in-person specialist who can assess collector demand. If you need cash within the hour, a pawn shop or local dealer is the only route. And if you want to watch the test happen, an in-person visit gives you that.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Getting Cash for Gold

Most bad outcomes trace back to avoidable errors. The most expensive is cleaning your jewelry before sending it, polishing can wear away plating and strip details that affect value on older pieces. Send items as they are.

Other mistakes worth avoiding:

• Sending to a buyer with no published return policy. If you can’t find it in writing, assume it doesn’t exist.
• Assuming broken means worthless. Broken chains and single earrings are exactly what scrap buyers want.
• Ignoring the hallmark. That tiny stamp tells you more about value than the piece’s appearance.
• Shipping uninsured. Always use the insured kit rather than a plain envelope.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does cash for gold give you?

The amount depends on the weight, purity (karat), and current market rate of your items. A 10K gold ring pays less than an 18K piece of the same weight because it contains less pure gold. Silver, platinum, and precious stones are also evaluated. Cash For Gold Canada provides a free, insured kit so you can send items for appraisal with no upfront cost. Payouts are typically sent within 24 hours of receiving your items, and you can request a quote before committing.

How can I verify if a gold buyer is legitimate?

Look for a physical business address, a clear privacy policy, and third-party accreditation. Cash For Gold Canada holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is 100% Canadian owned and family operated. A legitimate buyer will offer insured shipping, a written appraisal breakdown, and a return policy if you disagree with the offer.

What documents do I need to sell gold jewelry?

Some buyers also ask for proof of ownership for high-value items. Cash For Gold Canada includes a simple form with the GoldExpress Kit that asks for your contact and payment details. You do not need original receipts or certificates for most jewelry, though having them can help if a piece has numismatic value beyond its melt value.

Is it better to sell gold jewelry or bullion?

It depends on your goal. Jewelry often carries sentimental or design value, but buyers usually pay based on gold content, not retail price. Bullion (coins and bars) trades closer to the spot price because purity and weight are standardized. If you have both, consider selling bullion separately to a bullion dealer for a tighter spread, and send scrap gold, broken jewelry, and unwanted pieces to a cash for gold service. Cash For Gold Canada accepts both jewelry and bullion.

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Selling gold shouldn’t feel like a gamble, and with the right process it doesn’t have to. Cash For Gold Canada offers a free, insured GoldExpress Kit, guaranteed cash payouts typically sent within 24 hours of receipt, and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, all from a 100% Canadian owned and family operated business. Send my kit and turn that unused jewelry into cash without leaving your home.