99%
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Who pays fairly for your gold?
11 buyers, compared on what they actually publish: payout rate, fees, insurance, deadlines, and what happens to your stones. If a buyer doesn't publish something, we say so. We don't guess.
The short version. The highest published ceilings for mail-in jewelry are "up to 90% of melt." Read the fine print, because insurance caps range from $1,000 to $25,000+, some buyers auto-accept if you miss a deadline, and stone policies range from paying wholesale to keeping stones for nothing. Refiners publish 98 to 99% but need large lots and melt everything on arrival.
Gold Refinery of San Diego Refiner with mail-in program · San Diego, CA99% claim not yet independently tested; ask for fees and melt-loss terms in writing
Max published payoutInsurancePrepaid insured FedEx labelStonesNot published
Gold Refinery of San Diego
Refiner with mail-in program · San Diego, CA
99% claim not yet independently tested; ask for fees and melt-loss terms in writing
What they publish about payout
Claims 99% of the market price on its mail-in program (published; fees and minimums not stated)Fees
Not publishedInsurance
Prepaid insured FedEx labelIf you decline
Not publishedDecision deadline
Not publishedSpeed
Not publishedPrice match
Not applicableDiamonds and gemstones
Not publishedTrustpilot
Not foundBBB
Not foundAffiliate
None foundWatch out for
99% claim not yet independently tested; ask for fees and melt-loss terms in writing
Sources
Mail-in program ↗Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners Refiner (accepts individuals) · Fairfield / West Haven, CT5 troy oz (160 g) minimum; custom quotes for smaller lotsMelted on arrival, so there's no 'send it back'
Max published payout98%InsuranceNot published (you ship it yourself)StonesNot published
Specialty Metals Smelters & Refiners
Refiner (accepts individuals) · Fairfield / West Haven, CT
5 troy oz (160 g) minimum; custom quotes for smaller lotsMelted on arrival, so there's no 'send it back'
98%
What they publish about payout
98% of recovered gold, minus a $200 processing fee (published). About 96% of melt on a 160 g 14K lot at today's price, by our mathFees
$200 processing fee per lotInsurance
Not published (you ship it yourself)If you decline
Not applicable: material is meltedDecision deadline
Not applicableSpeed
Paid 2 to 4 business days after receiptPrice match
Not applicableDiamonds and gemstones
Not published. Pull every stone before sending; melting destroys or loses themTrustpilot
Not foundBBB
Not foundAffiliate
None foundWatch out for
5 troy oz (160 g) minimum; custom quotes for smaller lotsMelted on arrival, so there's no 'send it back'
The Alloy Market Mail-in buyer · Bucks County, PARemove valuable stones before you ship
Max published payout95%Insurance$25,000 once you text or email photos; up to $100,000 availableStonesKeeps them, no pay
The Alloy Market
Mail-in buyer · Bucks County, PA
Remove valuable stones before you ship
95%
What they publish about payout
Guarantees at least 70% of spot for 10K to 18K and 85% for 21K to 24K with its calculator code; matches competitor offers up to 95% of melt (published)Fees
No payment-processing fee charged by Alloy (third-party fees may apply)Insurance
$25,000 once you text or email photos; up to $100,000 availableIf you decline
Free return if you decline before acceptingDecision deadline
Must decline before accepting; accepted items can't be returnedSpeed
Same-day payment if accepted before 5 pm ET; PayPal instant, ACH about 48 hours, check 7 to 10 daysPrice match
Up to 95% of melt with a written competitor offer dated within 7 daysDiamonds and gemstones
Stones are excluded from the weight. Alloy does not remove or return stones. Refers significant diamonds to Worthy.Also
Optional 'Double Pay': if your piece resells, you get 25% of the profit as a second paymentTrustpilot
4.9 (about 650 reviews)BBB
A+, accredited (7 complaints in 3 years)Affiliate
None foundWatch out for
Remove valuable stones before you ship
Express Gold Cash Mail-in buyer · Salamanca, NY
Max published payout90%InsuranceFree FedEx Overnight, insured and trackedStonesPays for diamonds
Express Gold Cash
Mail-in buyer · Salamanca, NY
90%
What they publish about payout
Up to 90% of refined value on gold jewelry; up to 98% on bullion (published)Fees
None stated; service is free and no-obligationInsurance
Free FedEx Overnight, insured and trackedIf you decline
Free return if you decline within 72 hours; return insured for the offered amountDecision deadline
Must decline within 72 hours of the offerSpeed
Payment within 24 hours of acceptingPrice match
Matches written online competitor offers, capped at 90% of the day's metal priceDiamonds and gemstones
Pays wholesale value for diamonds on top of the gold. Does not pay for loose colored gemstones, but may add gemstone value to the offer. Asks you to send jewelry intact.Trustpilot
4.9 (about 11,000 to 13,000 reviews; the company site and search snapshot differ)BBB
A+, accreditedAffiliate
We may earn a commission (program exists)DD Pawn Loans Licensed FL pawnbroker, nationwide mail-in · Pompano Beach, FLRequires a photo of your government ID (Florida pawnbroker law)
Max published payout90%InsurancePrepaid, insured, tracked FedEx label; every package opened on cameraStonesCase by case
DD Pawn Loans
Licensed FL pawnbroker, nationwide mail-in · Pompano Beach, FL
Requires a photo of your government ID (Florida pawnbroker law)
90%
What they publish about payout
Up to 90% of melt value, with the math shown (published)Fees
None stated; shipping paid both waysInsurance
Prepaid, insured, tracked FedEx label; every package opened on cameraIf you decline
Free, insured return if you declineDecision deadline
Not publishedSpeed
Offer within 24 hours of arrival; same-day wire or check after you acceptPrice match
Not publishedDiamonds and gemstones
Stones are deducted from gold weight; diamonds may be valued separately (per their mail-in pages).Trustpilot
Not foundBBB
Not foundAffiliate
None foundWatch out for
Requires a photo of your government ID (Florida pawnbroker law)
MailGoldOnline Mail-in buyer (gold only) · Illinois (630 area code)Default coverage is only $1,000No silver accepted at this time
Max published payout90%InsuranceCovered up to $1,000 per shipment by default; call ahead to raise itStonesReturns on request
MailGoldOnline
Mail-in buyer (gold only) · Illinois (630 area code)
Default coverage is only $1,000No silver accepted at this time
90%
What they publish about payout
Up to 90% on larger jewelry lots; smaller lots get a lower percentage. 85 to 95% on bullion and coins (published)Fees
None; free kit, free label, free returnInsurance
Covered up to $1,000 per shipment by default; call ahead to raise itIf you decline
Free return if you declineDecision deadline
48 hours; after that the offer is deemed approved (a person reviews before payment)Speed
Often same day; Zelle, Cash App, Venmo or PayPal usually instant; ACH 1 to 5 days; check 3 to 5 daysPrice match
Not publishedDiamonds and gemstones
No separate value for diamonds or gemstones, except GIA-certified natural diamonds of 0.5 ct or more (call first). You can ask for stones to be returned when you ship.Trustpilot
Not foundBBB
Not foundAffiliate
None foundWatch out for
Default coverage is only $1,000No silver accepted at this time
Offramp Mail-in buyer (new in 2026) · Austin, TXFounded 2026, no review historyIts team runs goldbuyer.io, a site that ranks Offramp #1
Max published payout90%InsuranceUp to $25,000 FedEx coverageStonesNot published
Offramp
Mail-in buyer (new in 2026) · Austin, TX
Founded 2026, no review historyIts team runs goldbuyer.io, a site that ranks Offramp #1
90%
What they publish about payout
80 to 90% of melt (published), with a 48-hour price lockFees
None; shipping free both waysInsurance
Up to $25,000 FedEx coverageIf you decline
Free, insured return if you decline; second assay on requestDecision deadline
Not publishedSpeed
Offer within 24 hours; wire within 48 hours of accepting; 5 to 7 business days end to endPrice match
Not publishedDiamonds and gemstones
Not publishedTrustpilot
No independent review history yetBBB
Not foundAffiliate
None foundWatch out for
Founded 2026, no review historyIts team runs goldbuyer.io, a site that ranks Offramp #1Texas dealer registration listed as in progress
Kitco Dealer / refiner (business sellers only) · Montreal, QC / Rouses Point, NYPrivate individuals cannot sell scrap to Kitco
Max published payout84%InsuranceYou ship it yourselfStonesNot published
Kitco
Dealer / refiner (business sellers only) · Montreal, QC / Rouses Point, NY
Private individuals cannot sell scrap to Kitco
84%
What they publish about payout
Publishes per-gram scrap prices. Non-wholesale 14K was $61.03/g on Oct 31, 2026, about 84% of melt by our mathFees
20% account deposit on scrap sales up to $100,000; $70 handling fee for test-onlyInsurance
You ship it yourselfIf you decline
Individuals' scrap is returned at their own costDecision deadline
Not applicableSpeed
Not publishedPrice match
Not applicableDiamonds and gemstones
May be lost in melting; Kitco notes stones and enamel add melt lossTrustpilot
4.2 (about 7,300 reviews, mostly bullion buyers)BBB
A+Affiliate
None foundWatch out for
Private individuals cannot sell scrap to Kitco
GoldFellow Mail-in buyer · Weston, FLInsurance tops out at $2,500Payout % estimate comes from goldbuyer.io, which is run by competitor Offramp
Max published payout72%InsuranceFree insured FedEx, coverage up to $2,500 per shipmentStonesReturns stones
GoldFellow
Mail-in buyer · Weston, FL
Insurance tops out at $2,500Payout % estimate comes from goldbuyer.io, which is run by competitor Offramp
72%
What they publish about payout
Publishes daily buy prices rather than a percentage. One third-party review computed them at about 51% of melt for small 14K lots and about 72% at 25+ oz (see source note)Fees
Check, e-check and Zelle free; wire $10Insurance
Free insured FedEx, coverage up to $2,500 per shipmentIf you decline
Returned at GoldFellow's expense if you're not satisfiedDecision deadline
Not publishedSpeed
Offer within 24 hours; payout within 24 hoursPrice match
None publishedDiamonds and gemstones
Buys diamonds of 0.25 ct or larger. Doesn't buy other gemstones, but runs a gemstone-removal program that pulls prong-set stones over 2 mm and returns them to you.Trustpilot
5.0 (about 370 reviews)BBB
A+, accredited since 2008Affiliate
None foundWatch out for
Insurance tops out at $2,500Payout % estimate comes from goldbuyer.io, which is run by competitor Offramp
Cash for Gold USA Mail-in buyer · Not published on pages reviewedAuto-accept if you miss the deadlineReturn insurance capped at $1,500 to $5,000
Max published payoutNot publishedInsuranceAdvertises up to $150,000 'see terms'. Return shipments insured…StonesPays for diamonds
Cash for Gold USA
Mail-in buyer · Not published on pages reviewed
Auto-accept if you miss the deadlineReturn insurance capped at $1,500 to $5,000
What they publish about payout
Not published. Its own calculator says melt value 'is not an estimate of what we will pay.' Terms cap total payout at melt valueFees
PayPal 3.49% + $0.50; mailed check freeInsurance
Advertises up to $150,000 'see terms'. Return shipments insured only up to $1,500, or $5,000 for higher offers or diamondsIf you decline
Free return if you declineDecision deadline
If you don't accept or decline before the holding period ends, the offer is deemed accepted and a check is mailedSpeed
Offer within 24 hours of arrivalPrice match
Will try to beat a written competitor offer from the last 30 days, or return your itemsDiamonds and gemstones
Buys diamonds and diamond jewelry, appraised as-is. Stones aren't removed or returned separately.Trustpilot
Rated highly overall; Trustpilot's own summary notes frequent complaints that first offers were lowBBB
A+ (company claim)Affiliate
We may earn a commission (program exists)Watch out for
Auto-accept if you miss the deadlineReturn insurance capped at $1,500 to $5,00010% 'bonus' if you ship within 7 days can't push the total above melt
Abe Mor NYC diamond company, mail-in · New York, NY
Max published payoutNot publishedInsurancePrepaid, insured mailerStonesPays for diamonds
Abe Mor
NYC diamond company, mail-in · New York, NY
What they publish about payout
Not published. One third-party guide reports up to about 75% of scrap value on goldFees
Says no fees or hidden deductionsInsurance
Prepaid, insured mailerIf you decline
Not publishedDecision deadline
Not publishedSpeed
Appraisal and offer within 48 hours; check or wirePrice match
Not publishedDiamonds and gemstones
Diamonds appraised separately from the goldTrustpilot
Not foundBBB
A+, accredited since 2016Affiliate
None foundNot reviewed yet
- Worthy (auction marketplace for diamonds and jewelry): Fees not verified yet. Public affiliate listings show about $16 per order (FlexOffers) and an ambassador referral program.
- Sell Your Gold: Listed by goldbuyer.io; primary site not reviewed yet
- Luriya: Listed by goldbuyer.io; primary site not reviewed yet
- Abox: Couldn't identify a U.S. gold buyer under this name (a-box.com is an unrelated UK company)
How we research
Every value comes from the buyer's own public pages (terms, FAQ, pricing) or a named third-party page, linked on each card. If a buyer doesn't publish something, we write "Not published" rather than estimate it. Ratings come from Trustpilot and BBB listings and can change daily.
"Up to 90%" is a ceiling, not a promise. Buyers that publish a range usually pay less on small lots. The real test is an identical item sent to several buyers, and we're starting that testing next. We'll publish the offers, including the bad ones.
Conflicts. Some buyers have affiliate programs, and we may earn a commission if you use our link. That never changes the order: the list is sorted by published payout, and you can re-sort it. One comparison site we cite, goldbuyer.io, is run by the team behind buyer Offramp, and we note that wherever we use it. If we ever list a buyer we own or are affiliated with, its card will carry a clear "Our own company" label, and it will be held to the same fields and sorting rules as everyone else.
Which gold buyer pays the most?
Among mail-in buyers, the highest published ceilings we found are "up to 90%" of melt for jewelry (Express Gold Cash, DD Pawn Loans, MailGoldOnline, Offramp), and Alloy matches written competitor offers up to 95%. Refiners publish 98 to 99% but have minimums and fees, and they melt everything on arrival. "Up to" is a ceiling, so compare written offers.
Which gold buyers return your stones?
GoldFellow runs a gemstone-removal program for prong-set stones over 2 mm, and MailGoldOnline returns stones if you ask when you ship. The Alloy Market says it does not remove or return stones.
Do gold buyers pay for diamonds?
Some do. Express Gold Cash says it pays wholesale for diamonds, GoldFellow buys diamonds of 0.25 ct and up, and Cash for Gold USA and Abe Mor appraise diamonds. MailGoldOnline pays nothing for stones except GIA-certified natural diamonds of 0.5 ct or more.
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