JM Bullion vs APMEX: Unbiased Showdown
In the world of precious metals, two names that often stand out are JM Bullion and APMEX. As two of the leading online precious metals dealers, they serve as the gateway for investors and collectors alike to delve into the world of gold, silver, platinum, and more. But how do these two titans stack up against each other in the “JM Bullion vs APMEX” debate? Let’s find out.
Key Takeaways
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JM Bullion and APMEX are major players in the precious metals market, with JM Bullion known for competitive pricing and APMEX for a wide product selection, including rare coins.
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Both companies offer a range of precious metals products and focus on customer experience with features like real-time spot price updates, bulk discounts, secure shipping, storage options, and competitive buyback programs.
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Their websites provide an efficient user experience with educational resources, secure transaction processes, and additional services such as gold IRAs and portfolio management tools to enhance investment strategies.
Company Overview: JM Bullion and APMEX
JM Bullion and APMEX are notable players in the precious metals industry, specializing in selling precious metals. As precious metal dealers, they offer a vast array of precious metals such as:
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gold
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silver
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platinum
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palladium
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copper
These metals are sourced from reputable mints worldwide. Catering to the needs of both investors and collectors, they provide a reliable platform for those who may not have the luxury of a trustworthy local dealer.
APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange) is generally acclaimed for its broad product selection, while JM Bullion stands out for its competitive pricing.
JM Bullion Background
Founded in 2011, JM Bullion has quickly risen as a popular choice for investors and collectors alike. Offering a diverse selection of precious metals products, JM Bullion is known for its competitive prices, excellent customer service, and a wide range of products including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper. Its robust reputation is evidenced by its A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, a workforce of over 100 employees, and a track record of addressing customer complaints effectively.
APMEX Background
In contrast, APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange) has a longer history, having been established in 2000. Known for its extensive product catalog, APMEX offers a diverse range of precious metals in the form of:
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bullion
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coins
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bars
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rounds
They also offer rare and numismatic coins and source their products from prominent global institutions like the U.S. Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Beyond offering a wide range of products, they focus on customer satisfaction and provide educational resources, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Precious Metals Selection
JM Bullion and APMEX both present a vast selection of precious metals, including physical gold, as well as:
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Silver
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Platinum
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Copper
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Palladium
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Rare metals such as rhodium
Whether it’s coins or bars you’re after, or even specialty items and rare coins, these two online dealers have got you covered.
However, APMEX is typically acknowledged for its wider product range, which includes rare coins.
JM Bullion Product Range
JM Bullion prides itself on offering a variety of precious metals products, catering to both investors and collectors. Gold coins and silver coins, including Gold Eagles, Buffaloes, and Commemoratives, Canadian gold Maple Leafs, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, and American Silver Eagles, are a few of the many offerings that have made JM Bullion a favorite among investors. If you’re a collector, you’ll appreciate their range of collectible items, including numismatic coins, hand-poured bars, and colorized coins. Additionally, gold bars are available for those looking to diversify their precious metals portfolio.
Their diverse range of platinum and palladium coins and bars further enhances their product portfolio.
APMEX Product Range
APMEX, on the other hand, boasts an extensive selection of gold, silver, platinum, and rare metals, with a particular focus on international coins and collectibles. They offer a diverse range of precious metals in forms such as bullion, coins, bars, and rounds, including American Eagles, Buffaloes, and Canadian Silver Maple Leafs.
Their extensive assortment of international coins, encompassing pieces from nearly every minting country, makes them a diverse marketplace for investors seeking bullion coins from a broad geographical scope. Furthermore, APMEX’s appeal to collectors is driven by the exclusivity of their products, which include unique and limited edition pieces.
Pricing and Transparency
A thorough comparison must take into account the pricing and transparency of these two precious metals dealers. When it comes to pricing, both JM Bullion and APMEX provide competitive pricing, often closely aligned, though slight variations may occur based on product type, weight, and rarity. They also provide real-time spot prices for their products on their websites, ensuring transparency in their pricing structures.
It’s worth noting, however, that while customer complaints regarding APMEX’s buyback prices have been recorded, JM Bullion continues to attract praise for its competitive prices and transparency.
JM Bullion Pricing
JM Bullion adopts a competitive pricing strategy, ensuring affordability for their customers. To further ensure transparency, they prominently display the ‘as low as’ cost of each in-stock product and provide the live spot price of precious metals on their website.
What makes JM Bullion stand out is that they update their prices every few seconds during market hours to accurately reflect current market conditions. They also regularly provide bulk discounts on their gold and silver products to encourage larger purchases.
APMEX Pricing
APMEX employs a pricing strategy that involves:
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Setting a premium above the spot price
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Allowing them to cover diverse costs associated with their products
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Exhibiting their prices using live spot prices
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Offering ‘as low as’ estimates for all of their products.
However, it’s worth noting that while APMEX’s pricing for their buyback program is not publicly disclosed, there have been customer grievances concerning their buyback prices.
Shipping, Storage, and Security
In precious metals investment, ensuring the security of the investment is of utmost importance. Both JM Bullion and APMEX provide secure shipping and storage options for their customers’ precious metals investments. By providing full third-party shipping insurance and participating in high-security programs through UPS and the USPS, they ensure the security of shipped precious metals.
As for storage, JM Bullion partners with TDS Vaults, while APMEX offers its services through Citadel Global Services.
JM Bullion Shipping and Storage
JM Bullion provides insured shipping and partners with TDS Vaults for secure storage. Their shipping service is covered by full third-party shipping insurance, safeguarding the buyer’s investment. As for storage, they partner with TDS Vaults, a prominent professional storage company, ensuring safety and full insurance coverage for investors’ precious metal assets.
What’s more, JM Bullion offers the first six months of storage at no cost for assets valued at over $3,000 when stored through their partner, TDS Vaults.
APMEX Shipping and Storage
APMEX provides the following services to ensure the safe delivery and storage of your precious metals:
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Insured shipping
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Secure storage through its subsidiary, Citadel Global Services
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Strong packing tape and reinforced seams to prevent potential openings during transit
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Insurance for shipments
This service gives customers peace of mind when acquiring and storing their investments.
In terms of storage, APMEX’s Citadel Global Services provides secure storage services, with the storage fees calculated based on the total value of the portfolio. This ensures that your precious metals are not only stored securely but also insured comprehensively.
Customer Service and Support
Outstanding customer service plays a vital role in facilitating a flawless investment experience. Both JM Bullion and APMEX are known for their responsive and knowledgeable customer support teams. They offer support through various channels, including live chat and telephone, aiming at ensuring a superior overall customer experience and satisfaction.
JM Bullion Customer Support
JM Bullion has a reputation for high-quality customer service, with the following features:
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Quick responses
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Helpful assistance
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Availability from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday
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Multiple contact options: dedicated phone line, email, and chat feature on their FAQ page during business hours
Customers can contact JM Bullion’s customer support to receive timely assistance.
APMEX Customer Support
APMEX is recognized for its professional customer service, which is always responsive and attentive to customers’ needs. Their customer service department is operational from Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (EST) and on Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (EST). Customers can reach them by calling their toll-free number, sending a message through their website, or utilizing their live chat feature for customer support.
They handle customer complaints and issues through their dedicated Customer Care Center and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Additional Services and Perks
Beyond their primary offerings, both companies extend additional services and benefits to enrich the customer experience and deliver extra value. From gold IRAs to buyback programs, these additional services not only provide more convenience for customers but also set these companies apart from their competition.
JM Bullion Extras
JM Bullion offers a variety of additional services, including:
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A buyback program, which allows customers to sell their gold and silver bullion back to them
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Precious metals IRA creation, tailored to investors seeking to diversify retirement savings
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A loan program powered by Collateral Finance Corporation
Their recommended depository for these IRAs is A-M Global Logistics.
Their gold and silver loans program provides options ranging from $25,000 to over $5 million, allowing customers to use their precious metals as collateral for loans.
APMEX Extras
APMEX also provides a Portfolio Management tool, a Bullion Card with 4% cash-back, and an AutoInvest program for dollar-cost averaging. The Bullion Card is a credit card that offers a 4% cash-back on all purchases made through APMEX, providing more value to customers.
The AutoInvest program is designed to:
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Utilize the advantages of dollar cost averaging (DCA)
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Enable clients to consistently invest a predetermined amount of money at regular intervals in their selected precious metals
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Potentially mitigate the effects of market volatility.
Online User Experience
Next, we turn to the user experience offered by their respective websites. The ease of navigation, the clarity of information, and the overall online shopping experience can greatly influence a customer’s decision to buy precious metals from a particular dealer.
Both JM Bullion and APMEX have user-friendly websites that make it easy for customers to navigate the products and make purchases.
JM Bullion Website
JM Bullion’s website offers the following features:
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Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
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Secure checkout process
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Wealth of educational resources
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Wider page format and catalog design for seamless browsing and shopping
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Market updates and educational articles for customers
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Unique feature for automatic asset purchasing
To further ensure customer security, they implement a secure server (SSL) provided by Trustwave, which ensures that personal and financial information is securely encrypted during transmission using SSL web pages.
APMEX Website
APMEX offers a smooth online experience, with clear information and easy navigation, ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the buying process. Their website showcases a diverse range of products, including:
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Gold bullion
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Silver bullion
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Platinum bullion
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Palladium bullion
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Rare numismatic coins
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Currency
The website is optimized for mobile usage and boasts a modern design. They also provide expedited, complimentary shipping for orders exceeding $199, making the buying process even more convenient.
Summary
In summary, both JM Bullion and APMEX are leading players in the precious metals industry, providing a wide range of products and services to cater to the needs of investors and collectors. The choice between the two ultimately depends on one’s individual preferences and requirements. Whether you prioritize a wider product selection, competitive pricing, superior customer service, or additional perks, both JM Bullion and APMEX have their distinctive strengths that make them viable options for precious metals investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has JM Bullion ever sold fake gold?
No, JM Bullion takes a great deal of pride in assuring the authenticity of the products they sell.
Does APMEX sell fake gold?
No, APMEX does not sell fake gold. They thoroughly test and verify the authenticity of every gold and silver bar and coin.
How trustworthy is APMEX?
APMEX is a highly trustworthy precious metal exchange, with over 20 years in business and a strong reputation for reliability and credibility.
What is the lawsuit against JM Bullion?
A lawsuit has been filed against JM Bullion, Inc. by plaintiff Samuel Suk for an alleged breach of contract, as the gold bars purchased were not delivered. JM Bullion denies the accusation.
Is jm bullion legit?
Yes, JM Bullion is a legitimate company with over 12 years of experience, over $7 billion in sales, and over 300,000 customer reviews on its site. It also provides insurance for all shipped purchases.
