Lower spot price causes sell out of US Mint supply of Silver Eagles

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The US Mint reported last week that they have temporarily run out of stock of 2018 American Silver Eagle Coins.

The temporary sell out is likely due to the recent drop in silver spot price.

It’s unclear whether it’s consumers driving the sales demand of the Silver Eagle coins or if it’s dealers trying to lock in long-term stock at lower prices.

Silver spot price typically dips in the summer months to annual lows. Silver prices often through the fall and into winter as manufacturers and industry begin sorting out their supply for 2019 production.

August 13, 2018April 14, 2023

eBay Bucks and Bullion Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a small commission. More information about our affiliate programs can be found here.

eBay Bucks and Bullion Frequently Asked Questions

What is eBay Bucks?

eBay Bucks is a rewards loyalty cash-back type program run by eBay that gives a 1% credit on eligible purchases that can be used towards future purchases.

eBay Bucks credits are earned throughout the financial quarter up to a maximum of $500 in eBay Bucks per quarter. eBay Bucks are available to spend on eBay at the beginning of the quarter after they are earned. Earned eBay Bucks must be spent during the first month of the quarter after they are earned.

Periodically throughout the year eBay runs promotions that increase the earnings amounts of eBay Bucks. Typical promotions have increased the eBay Bucks earnings to 8%, 10% or 15% above the base amount of 1%.

Items listed in certain categories, including the Bullion category and subcategories are ineligible for earning eBay Bucks. However, many of the trusted and reputable dealers that sell bullion products on eBay will list bullion products for sale in alternate categories that do earn eBay Bucks.

How can I earn eBay Bucks when buying Bullion?

The base 1% reward can be earned by buying bullion that is listed outside the Bullion category, including those listed as Silver Bullion or Gold Bullion. Items in those categories are not eligible for earning eBay Bucks.

That being the case, there are lots of bullion products that are listed in alternate eBay categories including other subcategories in Coins & Paper Money.

Not all items are eligible. Sometimes items that are cross-listed in multiple categories that includes the Bullion categories.

The best way to determine if an item is eligible for earning eBay Bucks is to look at the item page. In most cases, an eligible item will display the amount of eBay Bucks that you can earn, similar to this:

Notice at the bottom of the image you can see the green “Bucks” logo with the earning amount.

How often are eBay Bucks promotions run?

Historically, eBay Bucks promotions are run several times throughout each financial quarter. They are sometimes run several times each month. There’s no set schedule for when an eBay Bucks promotion is run. Nor is there any schedule for how much of a bonus will be offered on top of regular earnings. The promotions are offered at the sole discretion of eBay.

How do I sign up for eBay Bucks?

If you already have an eBay Account you can sign up for eBay Bucks by visiting the eBay Bucks signup page. If you do not already have an eBay account, you must first create an eBay account then signup separately for eBay Bucks.

How can I find bullion items that are eligible for eBay Bucks?

We maintain an ongoing list of popular bullion items that are eligible for earning eBay Bucks. Our list of eBay Bucks eligible bullion items includes gold bullion, silver bullion and junk silver items.

Sometimes sellers will change an item’s category after the listing has posted. Be sure to look for the eBay Bucks earning amount on the listing to be sure an item is eligible.

Can I spend my eBay Bucks on bullion?

Yes. eBay Bucks can be spent on any bullion listings on eBay.

How can I avoid counterfeit bullion on eBay?

Always buy bullion on eBay from trusted and reputable dealers. There are certain things to look for that are red flags that an item could be counterfeit. Don’t risk it and stick with known sellers with high feedback and recent activity.

August 6, 2018

Why do online bullion dealers have different prices for cash or credit cards?

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It can be confusing for first time investors looking to buy silver rounds online. Whether looking for silver bars, silver rounds, or government minted products like American Silver Eagles on Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, the pricing that online bullion dealers show is confusing.

Silver and gold bullion prices are based on “spot price”. Spot price is the price per ounce that the precious metals are trading at on the COMEX commodities exchange.

Online bullion dealers and many local coin stores will base their pricing on spot price. Spot price is the per ounce value of the silver or gold bullion.

Dealers then add a premium on top of the spot price. One way to think of the premium is that it includes the cost of selling, marketing and other operating costs for the dealer plus their profit margin.

Why do online bullion dealers charge different prices for different payment methods?

The cost of accepting different payment methods have differing costs. Generally speaking, payment methods like PayPal and Credit Cards cost merchants and online bullion dealers as much as 4% of the total cost of each transaction.

Cryptocurrency payment methods, which include services like Bitpay, allow dealers to accept Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and other cryto payment methods also charge merchants on a per transaction basis.

This can be confusing to first time precious metal buyers. Online bullion dealers pass the fees along to the buyer. This is standard practice throughout the industry and you will see these different prices reflected when you browse online bullion dealer websites.

The Cheapest way to Buy Silver Rounds Online

Many beginning precious metals investors look to buy silver rounds online. Silver rounds are popular because of their size, simple denomination, shape and the value they represent.

Generic Silver rounds also can be found with some of the lowest dealer premiums over spot price which makes them attractive to many investors, preppers and silver stackers.

The cheapest way to buy silver rounds from most online bullion dealers is to pay via check or money order. This may seem a bit backwards because most people have become accustom to paying for online purchases with credit cards.

When you buy silver rounds online with a check or money order you must mail the payment to the dealer. This can take up to a week for the dealer to receive the payment. Another week for the payment to clear. Then another week for the dealer to finalize the processing of the order and send out your purchase. It can take upwards of three weeks to month from the time you order until you receive your bullion purchase.

Many dealers have begun offering an e-check payment method which speeds up the process some. Paying for silver rounds with an e-check is basically an ACH transfer between your bank and the bullion dealer’s bank.

Paying with e-check eliminates the mailing time and some of the processing time associated with buying silver rounds with a check.

The Fastest way to Buy Silver Rounds Online

Most people who buy silver rounds online want to receive their purchase as quickly as possible. In order to receive your online bullion purchases quickly it means that you’ll need to pay with a payment method that incurs some additional cost. That means paying for your silver rounds with PayPal or Credit Card.

Paying for silver rounds online with PayPal or Credit Cards clears your payment the fastest. Payments are usually processed by the dealers within 24 hours. That means that your silver rounds are usually shipped by the dealer within a day of receiving your order and payment. Often your order will ship out the same or the next day after you place your order.

Benefits of Using a Credit Card to Buy Silver Rounds Online

While paying with PayPal or credit cards does incur an additional fee it does have several benefits.

Credit card and PayPal payments allow your bullion purchase to ship quickly so you will receive it faster than if you pay by check or money order.

Both credit card and PayPal payments also provide you, the buyer, with some security when you buy silver rounds online. PayPal and most credit cards provide a buyer protection guarantee that gives assurance that even if something happens your purchase is protected. Though, buying from a trusted and reputable dealer will also provide assurance. Reputable online bullion dealers aren’t going to risk their reputation on ripping off customers or bad customer service.

Reducing the Premiums You Pay When You Buy Silver Rounds Online

Another reason to use a credit card to buy silver rounds online is that you can earn cash back rewards, airline miles or other loyalty program points. Many credit card companies offer a card that can provide up to 2% cash back on purchases. This cash back reward helps to offset the credit card premium that you pay when you buy silver rounds online.

It is also possible to offset the premium cost when you buy silver rounds online by leveraging other cash back rewards programs. Programs such as eBay Bucks allow you to earn cash back rewards on eBay purchases that can then be used to buy silver rounds.

The normal cash back reward for eBay Bucks is 1% on the purchase price of items bought from listings in eligible categories. The Bullion category is excluded from earning the cash back reward from eBay Bucks, however, many reputable dealers will create alternate listings in other categories which allow you to earn the rewards when you buy silver rounds.

Several times per year eBay runs promotions where they increase the cash back earning of the eBay Bucks program. The promotional bonuses have historically been as high as 15%. Though it is far more common to see promotions of 8% to 10%. That cash back reward from eBay Bucks can offset your investment or be used in the future for additional silver bullion purchases.

July 6, 2018

Free shipping on bullion usually means higher premiums

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Some online dealers offer free shipping on bullion when your purchase is over a certain amount. Is the shipping really free? Or is it somehow hidden in the higher premiums.

The myth of free shipping on bullion when buying online

When looking at the prices and premiums of online bullion one of the first things that many people notice is that the price of the same items can vary greatly from dealer to dealer. Sometimes it’s just that dealers may be charging a higher premium on some items.

More often than not the dealers that charge higher premiums per ounce offer a free shipping option with a low purchase price of around $100. This is because the dealer has to fit the shipping cost into their business model somewhere. Free shipping isn’t really free, you’re just paying for it somewhere else.

This is no different than when dealers charge a 4% additional fee for paying for bullion with a credit card or Paypal. The additional cost gets added into the product margin somehow.

When you look at our quick glance silver bullion price comparison chart one of the first thing you notice is that the lowest prices per ounce are most often from dealers that charge a nominal shipping charge.

Of the dealers that charge shipping, most shipping charges are in the $5 to $10 per order range depending on the class of service and the weight of the order. When looking for the best silver prices online it is important to take into consideration the shipping charges. The cost of shipping should be spread out over each ounce in your order.

June 25, 2018June 28, 2018

SD Bullion offers discount shipping for active military and veterans

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SD Bullion offer current Military as well as veterans a discount on shipping on orders of $100 or more. If you would like to participate in this program, please email them at sales@sdbullion.com with a copy of your Military ID (or other validating document) and they will make the proper update to your account.

Once your account is updated, you will be offered a flat rate shipping and insurance rate of only $3.99 at checkout. This will apply to any orders of $100 or more.

This shipping option will automatically be available at checkout.

June 23, 2018June 23, 2018

A good time to buy 2018 Silver Eagles

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With the silver spot price at a steady low price it is one of the best times to buy silver eagle coins. Dealer premiums on 2018 Silver Eagle coins have also been at all time lows.

Premiums when you buy silver rounds can be found from many online bullion dealers for pennies over spot price. Some precious metals investors, especially those that are new to buying silver, may see the higher premium on Silver Eagles and be confused about the price.

The US Mint charges wholesalers and dealers a $2.00 premium on each newly minted Silver Eagle bullion coin. This automatically raises the price of silver eagles over generic bullion. There is continuous demand for Silver Eagles.

The American Silver Eagle is one of the most widely recognized investment grade bullion products worldwide. Because of it’s popularity silver eagles are easy coins to liquidate from your investment portfolio when you decide it is time to sell. There are situation based on market conditions where it is possible to recapture much of the premium.

Where to buy 2018 Silver Eagle Coins online

There are many trusted and reputable bullion dealers where you can buy silver eagle coins online. The three main things to look at when you buy silver eagles online is the dealer premium over spot price, any additional shipping charges and whether the dealer charges a fee based on payment method.

Online bullion dealers will often be the best place to buy silver eagle coins. When you buy silver eagles online it is important to factor in all of the costs when choosing from which dealer to order. Just because one dealer may advertise the lowest price per coin does not mean it will be the best deal.

Dealer Premium on 2018 Silver Eagle coins

The dealer premium should include the amount that the US Mint charges in addition to the dealer markup. The dealer markup is there to cover the dealer’s operating costs and profit margin.

Some dealer’s will advertise an “all-in” or “out-the-door” price that includes all fees, markups and shipping charges. While others may advertise their lowest base price per silver coin and then add additional fees and markups once you start the checkout process.

2018 American Silver Eagle shipping charges

There are some online bullion dealers that offer free shipping on orders that are over a specific dollar amount. The cost of shipping from these dealers will almost certainly be included in the dealer markup which can add to the confusion about pricing.

Shipping and handling charges will vary from dealer to dealer. For example, SD Bullion advertises the lowest priced 2018 Silver Eagles online with their premium, including the markup from the US Mint at around $2.59 per coin in quantities under 20 coins over silver spot price. If you buy a mint tube of 20 coins the premium is reduced by 5 cents per coin to $2.54.

Paying for 2018 Silver Eagles with a credit card or cash

The lowest advertised price that dealer’s show on their website is often the price per coin if paying with cash, check or bank wire. Other payment methods such as credit card or bitcoin will carry an additional fee.

The payment method fee that each dealer charges will vary. For credit card purchases, most online bullion dealers charge at least a 4% fee. The fee is intended to cover the cost required to accept credit card payments online. While this is a common charge when you buy silver bullion online, some dealers don’t always make the additional fee transparent.

The All-In costs to buy 2018 Silver Eagles online

When factoring in that the US Mint charges a $2.00 per coin premium to dealers, it would seem that SD Bullion is selling 2018 Silver Eagles for just 54 cents over cost.

However, SD Bullion also charges a shipping fee of $7.77 on orders less than $2,500 plus a 4.2% surcharge if paying with a credit card instead of sending a check or sending a wire transfer.

So if the spot price of silver is trading around $16.50 per ounce, the base price to buy a tube of 20 2018 Silver Eagles from SD Bullion would be $380.80. The 4.2% credit card surcharge adds an additional $16 to the order, plus $7.77 shipping. The $23.77 of additional charges brings the ‘out-the-door’ or ‘all-in’ price to $404.57, which is $20.23 per coin. That’s $1.73 premium per coin over cost compared to the advertised 54 cents per coin over spot shown on their website!

Online bullion dealer pricing can be very misleading.

Comparing 2018 American Silver Eagle Prices

When you compare 2018 Silver Eagle Prices from online bullion dealers it is important to look at the total cost, including shipping charges and other fees. Just because a dealer advertises the lowest price on 2018 Silver Eagles does not mean that the price you pay will be the best price available.

Using a site like FindBullionPrices.com helps find the best prices on 2018 Silver Eagles by pulling prices from over 30 reputable and trusted online bullion dealers. Our site shows the price the dealer would charge if you were intending to buy a single coin at their cash or wire transfer price.

Before you choose the online bullion dealer to buy Silver Eagles it is important to consider all of the additional charges and fees that may be associated with your investment.

These additional charges will increase the cost per coin and will increase the overall price per ounce that you have invested in silver. This may or may not be a factor when dollar cost averaging your precious metals investment.

May 31, 2018September 11, 2018

Quick Glance Compare Silver Prices chart

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Some users have suggested that we provide a quick one page summary of some of the top silver bullion items. Based on users’ feedback we built a one page quick glance compare silver prices chart.

The chart features some of the most sought after and top searched silver bullion items.

Across the top of the chart we have the silver bullion items. The items displayed are based on the popularity of a wide variety of products here on the site. Those products are:

American Silver Eagle coins, both random year and 2018
Generic Silver 1 oz rounds
Random year Silver Canadian Maple Leaf coins
Random year Austria Philharmonic coins
$10 Face Value Junk circulated coinage
Generic 5 troy ounce silver bars
and generic 10 troy ounce silver bars

This page consolidates 8 of our top products into a single page that allows you to find the lowest price for any of these items at a quick glance. The lowest price across 12 reputable and trusted dealers is highlighted in green making it easy to find.

The dealers in the list carry most of the top products with a couple small exceptions, and when items are out of stock a price will not be displayed.

The list of dealers includes:

APMEX
BOLD Precious Metals
Monument Metals
Golden Eagle Coins
BGASC
Bullion Exchanges
SD Bullion
Provident Metals
Silver Gold Bull
JM Bullion
Silver.com
and Money Metals Exchange

Check out the quick glance compare silver prices page and let us know what you think.

Don’t forget to check out the current silver at spot price deals that are available as well.

May 13, 2018June 25, 2023

Buying silver online, How to choose bullion dealers

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Some frequent questions new precious metals investors ask are :

Which online bullion dealer is the best?
Which online bullion dealer has the best prices?
Which online bullion dealers are reputable?
Does anyone have experience ordering from XYZ dealer?

Choosing which online bullion dealers to order from can be confusing for those just getting started in precious metals. It’s important to trust the online bullion dealers that you buy from because there have been a lot of well publicized scams and there are lots of counterfeit products floating around out there.

How do you choose which bullion dealer to buy from?

There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing which online bullion dealers to buy from. All of the major, reputable online bullion dealers carry many of the same products. Oftentimes, the pricing on what is the exact same product vary greatly from dealer to dealer.

Reputation and Trustworthiness

The best way is to conduct thorough online research to identify well-known bullion dealers. Look for established dealers with a solid reputation in the industry. You can research customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials on trusted review websites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau and FindBullionPrices.com. There are also many existing threads on online forums and social media platforms like /r/SilverBugs and others on Reddit.

Pay attention to feedback regarding reliability, order processing times, shipping times, customer service, and overall customer satisfaction. Verify that the dealer accepts your chosen payment method. Many will have minimum order amounts for wire transfers and some other payment methods. Crytpo payments are an option for some dealers as well, making it easy to exchange digital tokens for physical metals.

Consider dealers with a history of transparent and ethical business practices.

Customer Service

How dealers handle issues that arise is one of the biggest differentiators in how to choose which bullion dealers are best for you. Some questions to ask yourself when evaluating

Does the dealer have a track record of handling complaints and responding quickly to even minor inquiries?
Does the dealer have open inquiries with the Better Business Bureau?
What’s the dealer’s TrustPilot rating?

Product Selection

Online bullion dealers will carry a wider product selection than your local coin store. The product selection offered by online dealers will always include a wider selection of sovereign government bullion coins from numerous countries in addition to a large volume of generic silver bars and rounds in many sizes and weights.

Once you’ve identified a reputable dealer, browse their online inventory to explore the silver products available. Look for different types of silver, such as coins, bars, or rounds, and consider factors like weight, purity, and design to find the products that best suit your preferences and investment goals.

Pricing and Dealer Premium

Pricing and dealer premium are important factors to considered when choosing which online bullion dealers to buy from. When you buy silver and gold bullion, you are likely buying it as an investment or as a way of storing wealth or saving money for the future.

No matter what reasons you have that lead you to buy silver bullion, price will almost always be a top factor. The amount you pay above the current spot price when you buy silver is called the “dealer premium”. This is the markup that the dealer charges that will cover the dealer’s overhead costs, the dealer profit and in cases of free shipping, the shipping charges. The dealers that offer free shipping with a low minimum order typically have higher per piece premiums which can be of particular to note when making bulk purchases.

You always want to pay the lowest possible premium over spot price when you buy silver. In most cases, the spot price will have to rise higher than the price that you paid, including the dealer premium in order to profit from your investment.

Prices on precious metals are relatively stable and rise and fall slowly over time. It can take months or years before the spot price rises to an amount above what you paid in order to turn a profit on your investment, if that is one of your goals. The lower the dealer premium on the items that you buy the faster your investment becomes profitable.

Some items, such as American Silver Eagle coins will always cost more than silver spot price. One reason for this is because the US Mint charges wholesalers and dealers a premium over spot price in order to cover the cost of production and distribution. That premium gets baked into the cost is always past along to investors.

The US Mint has been experiencing ongoing production problems that began during the pandemic with supply chain shutdowns. In recent months, it’s been reported that the procurement of raw planchets continues to be an issue for the mint. The mint has been unable to keep up with the demand from investors, which has resulted in higher wholesale premiums and market prices.

Part of this premium can be recovered when selling Silver Eagles as dealers tend to pay above spot price. But you can’t always count on that.

Buying Silver Online

One of those deals is from Money Metals Exchange. They have a silver starter kit that comes with both a random year American Silver Eagle and a random year Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. The kits also comes with a one Troy ounce generic silver round, plus a half ounce fractional round and five 1/10th ounce fractional rounds. Together this starter kit comes with 4 Troy ounces of silver, including the two premium government bullion coins. Money Metals Exchange ships the starter kit for free.

The Money Metals Exchange silver starter kit price does fluctuate with the silver spot price.

This silver starter kit includes high premium government minted silver bullion, and 6 fractional silver rounds. With free shipping included it’s hard to pass up this offer at such a great price.

There are only a handful of wholesale bullion dealers in the country, most of the online bullion dealers are buying from the same sources. For the most part, they are also paying the same prices. Some of the larger dealers may get volume discounts, those may be offered as discounts to their customers.

Placing an Order with an Online Bullion Dealer

Once you’ve selected the dealer and the silver products you wish to purchase, add them to your cart. Most dealers will lock in the spot price that is used to calculate the order total for a few minutes while you continue browsing.

When you’re ready to check out, review your order in the cart to ensure accuracy and check the total cost. Verify the spot price, the lock-in time remaining, any applicable state sales taxes and shipping fees. Proceed to the checkout page and provide the required information, such as your shipping address and payment details.

Follow the instructions provided to complete the purchase. Verify all the details before finalizing the transaction. Some dealers may require additional steps, such as identity verification for larger purchases, as part of their compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

After completing the purchase, you’ll receive an order confirmation screen followed by an email that will contain the order details. The dealer will then process your order and prepare it for shipment. Depending on the dealer and your location, shipping times may vary. Most dealers will provide you with notification of when your order ships and a tracking number may be provided.

Once your silver order arrives, carefully inspect the package for any signs of damage or tampering. Ensure that the contents match your order. If you have any concerns, contact the dealer immediately.

Sales Tax Varies by State

The reasons for states charging sales tax on bullion can vary. Some states have chosen to exempt bullion purchases from sales tax as a way to promote precious metals investing and attract bullion buyers. The specific sales tax policies on bullion vary from state to state, so it is advisable to consult the tax laws of your specific jurisdiction or seek professional advice regarding tax implications for bullion purchases.

April 17, 2018April 14, 2023

Buy Bullion on eBay and eBay Bucks

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View our list of eBay Bucks Eligible Bullion Items

eBay has become an excellent place to buy silver and gold bullion. Almost all of the major, reputable bullion dealers have set up eBay stores as another channel for selling their products. Buying bullion on eBay gives you the added benefit of the eBay and PayPal buyer protections that are in place. Additionally, the eBay cash back rewards program, eBay Bucks, provides a way to offset and lower the price you pay for silver and gold bullion. However, there are a couple of things to consider.

Bullion Pricing on eBay

Products being sold by major dealers are often priced differently than the same products on their own websites. Often they are more expensive. This is primarily due to the additional fees that eBay and PayPal charge sellers as part of their selling service.

Another reason the pricing may seem more expensive is that eBay encourages sellers to offer buyers free shipping. The cost of free shipping isn’t free and will be factored into the price of the product. Depending on the dealer and the product and order size this can make the cost lower than buying through the dealer’s own website.

Almost every major, reputable bullion dealer advertises the cash price on their website and will add a surcharge when purchasing via credit card, debit card or PayPal. When buying bullion on eBay, the advertised price is the price you pay when using a credit card or PayPal. Those fees are also incorporated into the price.

For these reasons, the advertised price of a bullion item on eBay is more representative of the true cost you pay for a product when factoring in payment surcharges and shipping. While at first glance the price may seem higher than on the dealer’s own website, factoring in these additional costs makes the price comparable. When you also consider other incentives such as the eBay Buyer Protection and eBay Bucks, the practicality of buying silver and gold bullion develops into a more compelling case.

Incentives for Buying Silver and Gold Bullion on eBay

Knowing the true cost of what your buying when factoring in credit card surcharge and shipping fees is a good reason for considering eBay when buying silver and gold bullion. However, there are a couple of other compelling reasons as well.

Bullion and PayPal Purchase Protection

All investors in silver and gold bullion are aware of the large amount of counterfeit products prevalent in the marketplace. With the large amount of counterfeit bullion products being produced en masse in China many of those counterfeit items have made their way to eBay.

It is always recommended to buy from major, reputable dealers on eBay to reduce the risk of buying counterfeit products. Getting a counterfeit product is always possible. In the event it does happen, you are protected by both PayPal and eBay. If a product is counterfeit, simply opening a case with eBay and PayPal will result in an investigation. If the product is counterfeit, the buyer will be refunded their money and the seller will likely receive some punitive action.

eBay Bucks and Silver and Gold Bullion

A much bigger incentive for buying silver and gold bullion on eBay is a cash back rewards program that is offered by eBay called eBay Bucks. eBay Bucks provides a 1% cash back bonus on certain purchases made through eBay.

eBay Bucks cash back rewards accrue on a quarterly basis. At the beginning of the following quarter eBay issues a certificate code that can be used just like a gift card when making purchases. The certificate code applies the earned cash back rewards to the purchase price of an item which essentially reduces the price of an item.

Throughout the quarter eBay will have promotions that allow you to earn higher rewards. Typically the promotions have boosted the cash back earnings from the base 1% to 8% to 10%. In one instance earlier this year eBay boosted to the cash back earnings to 15% on purchases. When that promotion was active buyers earned $15 cash back towards a future purchase for every $100 spent. The benefit of being able to apply the cash back rewards to bullion purchases can reduce the cost bullion to below spot price which can greatly reduce the overall dollar cost average of your investment.

How can I sign up for eBay Bucks

Signing up for eBay Bucks is pretty straight forward if you already have an eBay account. Instructions for opting in to the eBay Bucks program can be found here.

Caveats of eBay Bucks

There are a couple of caveats that come with the program.

You can’t earn eBay Bucks when buying silver and gold bullion that is listed in the bullion category. eBay discounts their listing and selling fees for bullion dealers that list products in the silver and gold bullion categories. As a result, bullion purchases are excluded from earning eBay Bucks cash back.

There are some exceptions and workarounds. Many dealers will list products in alternate categories. Some products that are considered bullion can also be categorized as coins or collectables. Dealers will often list these products in alternate categories that do earn eBay Bucks. At times when eBay is running an eBay Bucks promotion that earns a higher cash back amount, buying items in these categories can earn a significant amount of cash back.

Another caveat to the program is that there are some limits on earning. The most you can earn on a single purchase is $100 in eBay Bucks. At normal times, this means that you’d need to make a purchase of $10,000. However, when eBay is running eBay Bucks promotions the amount can be greatly reduced. If eBay is running a promotion that earns 10% cash back, purchasing a single American Gold Eagle from a dealer that has one listed in an non-bullion category would easily hit the maximum amount earned per transaction. This is something that needs to be considered.

The program also has an earning limit of $500 per quarter. This limit applies to both regular cash back rewards and at times when eBay is running eBay Bucks promotions.

Finding silver and gold bullion that qualifies for eBay Bucks

Searching through categories on eBay trying to find silver and gold bullion that qualifies for eBay Bucks can be time consuming and tedious. FindBullionPrices.com makes this process a bit easier.

We maintain a list of eligible item listings that are regularly available for earning eBay bucks. The list contains silver and gold bullion items, junk silver currency, pre-1933 gold bullion and other items that are listed in categories that are eligible for earning eBay Bucks.

Additionally, subscribers to our newsletter will receive alerts when eBay Bucks promotions are running that include direct links to eligible product listings.

When will eBay run their next promotion?

In the past, eBay has run bonus promotions several times throughout the quarter. Running the promotions is probably a way for them to increase buying activity on their site and boost sales.

April 10, 2018

Where to buy silver

FindBullionPrices.com

Why Buy Silver Online

When looking your options for buying physical silver bullion, you can buy locally from a local coin store, an individual, a pawn shop or other retail location, or you can purchase from an online bullion retailer. There are pros and cons of each and you will need to make the choice for what’s best in your situation. In our experience we have found it best to buy silver online.

We recommend buying silver bars online for the following reasons:

No Sales Tax – In most states, one of the best benefits of buying online is that most online dealers will not charge sales tax on silver bullion unless. This isn’t always the case and will depend on which state you reside. However, in states where precious metals are subject to sales tax, local retails, coin shops and pawn shops may be required to charge and collect sales tax on silver bars and rounds.
Wider Selections – Local coin shops, pawn shops and other local retailers often have limited capital and will carry inventory of items that they know sell well. Online retailers will often have a wider selection of products. While your local pawn shop may have only a few silver bullion items in stock that they purchased from other customers, online dealers carry hundreds of popular and limited mintage silver rounds, silver bars and other silver bullion products.
Lower Prices – Local retails have high overhead items such as store front, local advertising, limited amounts of space to carry inventory, etc. Online retailers will almost always beat the price of your local dealer. Many online silver bullion dealers will include free shipping and insurance when the purchase meets a certain threshold.
Discrete Shipping – The majority of the major online dealers ship in discrete packaging which gives no inclination of the valuables inside. Shipments are insured against being lost or stolen.