In-Depth Blanchard Gold Review: Trusted Investment or Not Worth the Glitter?
Are you eyeing Blanchard Gold for your next investment? Our blanchard gold review gets right to it, evaluating their service integrity, customer satisfaction, and reliability. This article will unveil the company’s performance, helping you make an informed decision on their trustworthiness as an investment partner.
Key Takeaways
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Blanchard Gold has a long-standing reputation in the precious metals industry with over four decades of experience, but customer feedback highlights both positive aspects like clear pricing and negative issues like high fees and a lack of pricing transparency.
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The company offers a diverse range of precious metal investment options including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion, with services catering to both collectors and investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
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While Blanchard Gold facilitates the process of adding precious metals to your retirement holdings through partnerships, they are not direct providers of Gold IRA services, and also offer customer protections like a buy-back policy and satisfaction guarantee.
Exploring Blanchard Gold’s Reputation
Reputation can make or break a business, especially in the precious metals industry. So, how does Blanchard Gold, a company with over four decades of experience, stack up in terms of trustworthiness and credibility?
We’ll delve beneath the glimmer of gold to discover what truly lies there.
Company Background and Services
Established in 1975, Blanchard and Company Inc has been a player in the precious metals industry for quite some time. The company’s founder, Jim Blanchard, played a pivotal role in advocating for Americans’ right to own gold coins and other precious metals as an investment. Taking over the reins, CEO Donald Doyle has continued the legacy, pushing for legislation that allows individuals to incorporate gold into their IRAs.
With a focus on gold and silver, including IRA eligible and collectible options, the company has carved a solid reputation for providing comprehensive education to clients regarding pure precious metals investments.
Customer Testimonials and Critiques
Just like any other company, Blanchard Gold’s performance can be gauged through customer feedback. Positive reviews applaud clear pricing, prompt delivery, and long-standing customer relationships. However, it’s not all gold and glitter. Criticisms point towards high pricing for holdings, lack of transparency in pricing, and a perceived failure to modernize. It’s important to consider the Blanchard Gold review disclaimer, as individual experiences may vary.
It’s also worth mentioning that the company’s clientele predominantly consists of older individuals who initiated their investments during the 1970s and 1980s, which may influence the feedback received.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Insights
The BBB has been a reliable source for assessing a company’s trustworthiness for over a century. Blanchard Gold, accredited since 1982, holds a BBB rating of 3.86 out of 5. While this indicates a level of customer satisfaction, it’s worth noting that it does not necessarily reflect the entirety of the customer base, as not all customers leave reviews.
The Catalog of Blanchard Gold Offerings
Having understood Blanchard Gold’s standing in the industry, we can now examine their offerings. Blanchard Gold presents a multitude of investment options, including:
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Gold
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Silver
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Platinum
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Palladium
But how diverse are their offerings, and how do they cater to the needs of niche collectors and investors?
Diversity in Gold Bullion and Coins
Blanchard Gold’s gold portfolio is nothing short of diverse. The company provides a diverse range of gold coins and bullion, catering to various customer preferences. Customers can choose from a wide selection of options to suit their investment needs. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a novice collector, you’re likely to find something that aligns with your investment goals.
Their top-selling bullion coin, the American Gold Eagle coin (BU), is renowned for its aesthetic appeal and guaranteed gold content. One-ounce gold coins like the American Eagle and American Buffalo designs present an enticing option for their purity and intricate design. These different gold coins offer collectors and investors a variety of choices to suit their preferences.
Silver Selection and Rare Collectible Coins
Blanchard Gold offers a wide range of silver offerings and rare coins, including rare collectible coins, catering to the varied interests of silver enthusiasts and collectors. Their selection includes:
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Ancient coins
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Commemorative coins with a face value of up to $4
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Highly valuable and sought-after coins such as the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent, $4 Gold Stella, $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, Morgan Silver Dollar, and the iconic 1787 Brasher Doubloon.
Platinum and Palladium Choices
Blanchard Gold acknowledges the importance of investment diversification in reducing risk. That’s why they provide platinum and palladium, supplementing their gold and silver offerings.
Investors looking to create a diversified precious metals portfolio, including gold investments, for their IRAs or investment purposes will find these options valuable in the precious metals market.
Investment with Blanchard: Gold IRA and More
Investing in precious metals entails more than just a simple decision to purchase gold, such as buying coins or bars; it involves making strategic decisions that have the potential to mold your financial future. With Blanchard Gold’s Gold IRA services and retirement planning, investors have the opportunity to add a shiny twist to their retirement savings.
We will now examine the process and its implications.
Gold IRA Distributors and Retirement Planning
Blanchard Gold doesn’t offer direct Gold IRA accounts opening but aids clients in establishing a new IRA through Gold Star Trust Company. This partnership allows clients to transfer funds from an existing IRA to a new one.
While they offer assistance in rolling over existing IRAs or 401(k)s into precious metals, they do not provide specific IRA services or manage IRA accounts.
Adding Precious Metals to Your Retirement Holdings
Adding precious metals to your retirement holdings can be a strategic move to diversify your portfolio. With Blanchard Gold, investors have the option to incorporate gold and other precious metals into their retirement portfolios, particularly through a self-directed IRA. However, it’s important to remember to deposit your bullion with an IRS-approved custodian bank.
Policies and Protections for Investors
Investor protection is paramount, and Blanchard Gold understands this. Their buy-back policy offers investors the option to sell back their coins at Blanchard’s current bid price, providing liquidity. Moreover, they offer a satisfaction guarantee, allowing dissatisfied customers to return their coins within 10 days of receipt.
Pricing Transparency and Fees
When investing in precious metals, cost becomes a significant factor. It involves not just the price of the metals, but also the associated fees, hence the need for a clear understanding of the financial commitment.
We’ll now consider what investing with Blanchard Gold might entail.
Understanding the Costs
Blanchard Gold’s pricing structure is diverse, with gold coins and bars available in various weights. The fees associated with their services, including storage and other additional offerings, are typically determined by a percentage of the total investment amount, which is based on the current market price.
It’s important to note that there are no hidden costs related to purchasing from their platform, ensuring transparency for investors.
Tax Considerations and Shipping Policies
Taxes and shipping can add a significant amount to your investment cost. When investing in precious metals through Blanchard Gold, it’s crucial to consider the tax implications. The IRS categorizes precious metals as collectibles, which could be subject to a maximum capital gains tax rate of 28 percent upon sale for a profit.
As for shipping, Blanchard Gold provides complimentary shipping for orders amounting to $300 or more.
Purchasing Experience and Client Support
As with any business, customer experience is a critical element at Blanchard Gold. From purchasing precious metals to resolving issues, the company’s customer service can greatly impact the overall experience.
We’ll now assess how they perform in these areas.
Navigating the Purchase Process
The purchasing process at Blanchard Gold is straightforward. Customers can view products, add chosen items to the cart, and proceed to checkout. For purchases up to $1,000, debit or credit cards are acceptable payment methods, while larger purchases require a secure payment method. However, it’s worth noting that order processing times vary, typically taking two to three weeks for bullion orders and four to six weeks for numismatic coins.
Customer Service Evaluation
Blanchard Gold’s customer service has garnered varied feedback, including customer complaints. Positive reviews praise the excellent service and prompt delivery. However, others have expressed dissatisfaction with delayed shipping, customer service issues, and higher fees and commissions.
It’s clear that Blanchard Gold’s customer service experience varies from one customer to another.
Resolving Issues: Customer Resolution Strategies
When things go wrong, how a company rectifies the situation can determine the future of the customer relationship. Blanchard Gold has established a dedicated team to address customer issues. Moreover, they offer a satisfaction guarantee, allowing customers to return their coins within 10 days of receipt for a complete refund, including shipping expenses.
Safekeeping Your Precious Metals
After making your precious metals investment, the next vital step is securing them. Blanchard Gold recommends several options for storing precious metals, including:
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Home or business safes
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Bank deposit boxes
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Domestic storage facilities
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International depository services
Home Storage vs. Secure Facility
Storing precious metals at home provides the advantage of immediate access but comes with the responsibility of ensuring their security.
On the other hand, a secure vault or storage facility offers enhanced security features and improved liquidity and trading options, but with limited direct physical access and potential additional costs.
Partnered Storage Solutions
In addition to home storage and secure facilities, Blanchard Gold offers partnered storage solutions such as bank safe deposit boxes, IDS storage facilities, and the DG Gold virtual investment platform. These solutions offer an additional layer of security for your precious metals.
Making Informed Decisions: Before You Buy
The decision to invest in precious metals is substantial. Hence, it’s vital to conduct thorough research before proceeding. That includes researching the right precious metals dealer and assessing the investment opportunities that align with your financial goals.
Researching the Right Precious Metals Dealer
Choosing a disreputable precious metals dealer could potentially lead to risks like obtaining counterfeit or inferior metals. It’s important to assess factors such as:
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Reputation
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Experience
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Transparency
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Security
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Product selection
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Customer service
when choosing a dealer.
Assessing Investment Opportunities
Evaluating investment opportunities requires careful consideration of factors such as:
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Diversification strategy within gold
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Risk assessment and portfolio diversification
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Rarity factors of coins
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Individual investment objectives and risk tolerance
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The impact of factors such as interest rates, periods of inflation, and geopolitical events on the gold market.
Summary
Investing in precious metals is more than just buying gold or silver. It’s about making strategic decisions that can shape your financial future. From understanding the company’s reputation to assessing their offerings, pricing, and customer service, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive view before making your investment. While Blanchard Gold offers a diverse selection of precious metals and a long history in the industry, it’s important to weigh their offerings against their customer feedback, potential fees, and your individual investment goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most trusted gold company?
The most trusted gold company varies depending on specific criteria. However, Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals, and APMEX are often recognized as top choices for different aspects of gold investment.
What is the difference between rare and bullion coins?
The main difference between rare and bullion coins is that rare coins are valued for their scarcity, often due to age or limited production, while bullion coins are mainly valued for the weight of their metal.
What types of precious metals does Blanchard Gold offer?
Blanchard Gold offers a wide variety of precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, catering to diverse investment needs.
What are the fees associated with investing in Blanchard Gold?
The fees associated with investing in Blanchard Gold include shipping, taxes, commissions, storage, and insurance costs, usually calculated as a percentage of the investment amount.
How does Blanchard Gold’s customer service fare?
Blanchard Gold’s customer service has received mixed feedback, with some praising the prompt delivery and excellent service, while others have expressed dissatisfaction with delayed shipping and customer service issues.
