Due Diligence Check List
PM COMPANY REQUIREMENTS
7 Points to Successful Precious Metal Investing
Be Aware, Industry Insight, and Conclusion to Choosing the Right Company.
But they said …”. To avoid falling victim to hearsay, utilize this guide before choosing a precious metal company. Choosing the right company will preserve your nest egg and optimize your upside potential.
Visualize your success by confirming these 7 points in writing!
No.
BUYER BEWARE!
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
CONCLUSION
No.
01
BUYER BEWARE!
Celebrity Endorsements
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Celebrity endorsements generate billions of dollars globally. To protect profit margins, companies roll endorsement costs into the retail price of consumer goods.
CONCLUSION
Receive more metal for your money by utilizing a company that focuses on value and customer service instead of costly marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements.
No.
02
BUYER BEWARE!
Online Product Pricing
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
A competitive company will advertise their pricing to attract consumers. A non-competitive company will not.
CONCLUSION
If a company refuses to advertise online product pricing, prepare to overpay. Only work with companies that offer transparent online product purchase pricing.
No.
03
BUYER BEWARE!
Non-BU and Varied Condition Coins
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
To better ensure liquidity and receive market value at liquidation, demand BU condition coins.
CONCLUSION
A BU coin ensures exact weight and condition. Beware of “varied condition” coins as the condition and weight are not guaranteed and liquidity and value are diluted at liquidation.
No.
04
BUYER BEWARE!
No Buyback Policy in Writing
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Generally, there is a commission fee to buy and to sell. When a commission is charged to sell, you are sharing your profit with the company you sell through.
CONCLUSION
Maximize profit and only purchase through companies that offer a commission-free buyback policy in writing. Otherwise, hearsay today is unenforceable in a court of law tomorrow.
No.
05
BUYER BEWARE!
Commission Based IRA Departments
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Many companies will only assist with establishing the IRA account if they stand to make a sale. Once the sale is complete, you are directed to contact the custodian directly when you need assistance.
CONCLUSION
To receive a higher quality of customer care for the life of your IRA account, choose a company that has a full-service IRA department that can fulfill and accelerate your service requests beyond the initial purchase.
No.
06
BUYER BEWARE!
Charges Additional Fees for Shipping or Does Not Guarantee Delivery
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Many companies will charge you additional fees for shipping and insurance when you buy or when you sell. Also, beware of companies that ship without insuring.
CONCLUSION
To avoid hidden charges, unclear coverage, or transit risks, choose a company that includes shipping and insurance in their online product purchase pricing. Customer experience reviews on Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs, BBB will reflect whether a company guarantees delivery or not.
No.
07
BUYER BEWARE!
Offers In-House Customer Storage
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Beware of companies that offer in-house storage services. There’s a long list of companies that have offered to store what they have sold. They’re now gone and so are the client’s holdings.
CONCLUSION
Checks and balances should be utilized for your protection. A third-party storage facility can verify receipt of your holdings and confirm possession. Further protecting you from fraudulent behavior and companies that fail to deliver.
BBB In Review: Decoding This Consumer Protection Tool
No.
CONSIDER
CONFIRM
CONCLUDE
No.
01
CONSIDER
Review Complaint History to Confirm Business Practices
CONFIRM
The BBB processes complaints before posting them online. A complaint may remain available on the BBB for up to 36 months. When reviewing complaints, consider the number and nature of the complaints, as well as the company’s responses.
CONCLUSION
A high number of formally filed complaints against a company should be a cause for concern. Unlike reviews, BBB complaints may provide additional insight into recurring customer issues. Repeating patterns in customer complaints give insight into a company’s business practices.
No.
02
CONSIDER
Decoding the BBB Rating System
CONFIRM
Most consumers simply verify a company’s rating and move on. However, BBB ratings are not a guarantee of a business’s reliability or performance. The BBB recommends that consumers consider a business’s BBB rating in addition to all other available information about the business.
CONCLUSION
A BBB rating should not be solely interpreted as a measure of customer satisfaction. Consumers should review the underlying complaint history, complaint patterns, and the company’s responses rather than relying on the letter grade alone. We also recommend reviewing additional independent platforms such as Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, Retirement Living, and Google.
No.
03
CONSIDER
All Customer Complaints Are Processed by the BBB Prior to Posting
CONFIRM
The BBB does not accept payment to remove complaints solely because a business requests removal. However, BBB accreditation involves fees. Consumers should evaluate a company’s complaint history and responses separately from its accreditation status or letter rating.
CONCLUSION
Consider customer feedback and complaint patterns alongside a company’s BBB rating. BBB accreditation and BBB ratings should be evaluated separately, and the publication of a complaint should be understood to mean that the BBB has taken steps to verify the allegation in the complaint with the customer.
No.
04
CONSIDER
Confirming Company Track Record
CONFIRM
To confirm a company’s years in business, cross-reference its stated history with official state business records and review the earliest available customer reviews or complaints as additional evidence of its customer-service track record.
CONCLUSION
A company may acquire or operate through a pre-existing corporate entity, so the entity’s formation date alone may not establish how long the current business has served customers. Verify the company’s formation and operating history through official records and compare that information with the earliest evidence of customer activity.
No.
05
CONSIDER
Pending or Active Federal Investigations
CONFIRM
A BBB profile may contain information about certain government or regulatory actions, but it should not be treated as a complete source for pending or historical enforcement matters.
CONCLUSION
To identify lawsuits, regulatory actions, and government enforcement proceedings, search beyond the BBB and consult official court records and federal and state regulatory sources. AI-powered research tools may be used to identify potential issues, but findings should be verified through official sources.
THE ORION STANDARD
Online Product Pricing
Written commission-free buyback policy
In-house IRA support
Fully insured, signature-required shipping
