The 5 mistakes to avoid when selling your gold

Selling gold is not complicated — but a few classic mistakes cost uninformed sellers money every day. Here are the five most common, and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: selling to the first buyer without comparing

Two buyers can offer very different amounts for the same items on the same day. Getting a second offer — ideally in writing — is the most profitable move there is: a few minutes for a gap that can reach hundreds of dollars. Our article Where to sell gold jewellery in Montreal? compares buyer types and their business models.

Mistake #2: "testing" your jewellery yourself

Acid, vinegar, rubbing against a stone, scratching "just to see": these home methods damage finishes, scratch metal and can reduce a piece's value — without proving anything reliable. As our guide How to tell if gold is real explains, stick to examining hallmarks and leave testing to professional instruments.

Mistake #3: confusing ounces and grams

The gold price is often quoted per troy ounce (about 31.1 grams). A seller who has "the price per ounce" in mind and receives an offer "per gram" may suspect a scam — or, conversely, find an ungenerous offer generous. Before any visit, convert everything to grams: that is the unit your items will be weighed in. Our article on the gold price in Canada explains how to read the market rate correctly.

Mistake #4: caving to pressure

"It's now or never", "the price drops tomorrow", "I can't guarantee this offer if you leave": pressure is the industry's most reliable warning sign. A serious offer survives a night's reflection. You must always be able to leave with your items, at no cost and with no justification.

Mistake #5: throwing away or ignoring "worthless" gold

A broken chain, a single earring, dental gold, a bent setting, tarnished silverware: all of it is bought by weight and purity, regardless of condition. Before discarding anything, read our article on what is actually worth money — the "junk box" is often the pleasant surprise of an evaluation.

The habit that protects against everything: a transparent evaluation

A process where everything happens in front of you — weighing, purity testing, the calculation explained — eliminates most of the risk. At On Achète Or, the evaluation is free and without obligation: you leave with a detailed offer, and the freedom to accept it or not. First estimate your items' market value with our calculator, then book an appointment.