Editorial Methodology
Dealer Inclusion Criteria
Version 1.0 · Effective 2026 · The editorial standard for which online bullion dealers are tracked, polled, and profiled on PreciousMetalsRadar.
1. Purpose
PreciousMetalsRadar is an independent research platform. The dealers we track represent a curated-but-broad cross-section of the North American retail bullion market. Inclusion is not an endorsement; it is a statement that a dealer meets a defined minimum standard of legitimacy, transparency, and observability — making their pricing meaningful to compare.
2. Scope
- Geography: United States and Canada.
- Channel: Direct-to-consumer online dealers selling physical, allocated precious metals (coins, bars, rounds).
- Metals: Gold and silver (platinum/palladium optional).
3. Mandatory Inclusion Criteria
A dealer must satisfy every item in this section to be tracked.
| # | Criterion | Standard | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Operating history | Continuously trading under current brand for ≥ 3 years | Domain WHOIS, corporate registration, archived web presence |
| 3.2 | Legal entity | Registered business in good standing in a US state or Canadian province | State / provincial corporate registry |
| 3.3 | Reputation signal | BBB rating B or higher (US), TrustPilot ≥ 4.0 with ≥ 500 reviews, or equivalent recognized third-party trust mark | Public profile snapshot |
| 3.4 | Public real-time pricing | Spot-linked product prices visible on the dealer's website without account creation and without phone/chat negotiation | Direct page inspection |
| 3.5 | Transparent total cost | Shipping, insurance, and payment-method surcharges disclosed before checkout (not after card entry) | Test cart walkthrough |
| 3.6 | Allocated physical product | Primary catalog is allocated, deliverable bullion (not pooled, leased, or unallocated promises) | Product page review |
4. Automatic Disqualifiers
A dealer is ineligible — and removed if previously included — if any one applies.
D1High-pressure numismatic upsell model
Business model relies on converting bullion inquiries into overpriced 'rare,' 'graded,' or 'collectible' coin sales (common pattern: TV/radio-advertised 'free guide' funnels).
D2Hidden or opaque pricing
Markups, payment surcharges, or shipping fees are not disclosed until after card details are entered, or pricing is 'call for quote' only.
D3Pool / unallocated accounts as primary product
Dealers whose main offering is unallocated metal credits, leasing, or storage-only paper claims rather than deliverable physical bullion.
D4MLM or affiliate-recruitment model
Compensation structures that reward recruiting downstream sellers rather than selling bullion.
D5Active material regulatory action
Open enforcement action by FTC, CFTC, SEC, a state Attorney General, or a Canadian provincial securities regulator within the last 5 years materially related to bullion sales practices.
D6Pattern of unresolved consumer complaints
Sustained, documented inability to deliver paid-for metal within stated terms.
5. Quality & Coverage Targets
Not mandatory; used to prioritize which qualifying dealers to onboard first.
- Published, standing buyback policy with bid pricing
- Published shipping & insurance terms including free-shipping thresholds
- IRA-eligible product flagging
- Crypto and ACH payment options
- Sovereign mint product breadth (US Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint, Austrian Mint)
- Vault / depository storage option with disclosed pricing
6. Methodology
- Initial vetting. Each candidate is evaluated against Sections 3 and 4 by reviewing the dealer's public website, corporate registration, BBB/TrustPilot profile, and a test browse of at least three product pages.
- Onboarding. Qualifying dealers are added to the polling roster and a profile is published in the North American Bullion Dealer Profiles section.
- Ongoing monitoring. Inclusion is re-evaluated at least annually, and immediately upon any of: known regulatory action, mass-media reporting of consumer complaints, change of ownership, or sustained loss of public pricing.
- Removal. Dealers that fail re-evaluation are removed from the polling roster within 30 days. Historical observations are retained but flagged as inactive.
- Equal treatment. Affiliate relationships do not affect inclusion, ranking, or the calculation of observed premiums. Dealers we have no commercial relationship with are tracked on identical terms.
7. Disclosures
- This list is editorial. PreciousMetalsRadar is not a broker, dealer, or registered investment advisor.
- Inclusion is not a recommendation. Always verify current pricing, availability, shipping terms, and buyback policy directly with the dealer.
- Some tracked dealers may have an affiliate relationship with PreciousMetalsRadar; this is disclosed on the dealer's profile and on every link.
8. Currently Tracked Dealers
Active roster: APMEX, Kitco, SD Bullion, Summit Metals.