SD Bullion Review: Trusted Precious Metals Source or Investor Letdown?

Deciding where to buy precious metals? Our SD Bullion review gives you the essential insights on their pricing, product quality, and customer service directly, to help you decide if they’re a match for your investment strategy.

Key Takeaways

Unveiling SD Bullion: A Comprehensive Overview

SD Bullion logo on a website homepage

SD Bullion, established in 2012, originated from the vision of two doctors who aimed to carve out a niche in the precious metals market. Their progress in the industry is commendable. Starting from a modest beginning, SD Bullion has now evolved into the third-largest online precious metals dealer in the U.S.A, reporting a whopping $1 billion in sales in a full calendar year. What contributes to their success? The key is their dedication to providing personalized attention to each valued customer and their unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service.

SD Bullion offers an array of investment options, from gold, silver, and platinum bullion coins to bars. In addition, they provide storage depository services to cater to the diverse needs of their investors.

The Genesis of SD Bullion

The story of SD Bullion starts with the success of SilverDoctors.com. Founded in March 2011, it aimed to educate people about precious metals. The founders, Tyler Wall and James Anderson, wanted to go beyond education and provide a reliable platform for investors to purchase precious metals.

Thus, SD Bullion was launched in 2012, with a vision to become one of the top silver bullion dealers by offering competitive prices on a variety of bullion products.

SD Bullion’s Market Presence

SD Bullion has made a strong mark in the precious metals market. With over 1,000,000 orders shipped and a customer base of more than 135,000 satisfied clients, it’s evident that many investors trust SD Bullion to purchase precious metals for their portfolios. As a valued SD Bullion customer, you can be confident in your investment choices.

The company’s commitment to offering a wide range of products, competitive pricing, and a serious approach to safety has made it a popular choice among investors.

In-Depth Analysis: SD Bullion’s Product Offerings

Assorted gold and silver bullion coins

What distinguishes SD Bullion from many online bullion dealers is its diverse product range. SD Bullion caters to its clients’ diverse needs by offering a wide array of investment-grade coins and bars, including:

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a beginner stepping into the world of precious metals, there’s something for everyone.

Apart from the usual gold and silver bullion coins, they also offer silver bars, rounds, and even some platinum and palladium products. The variety of investment coins available caters to the diverse needs of their clients. Plus, their precious metals are known for their high purity, making them a popular choice for investors seeking solid investments.

Gold, Silver, and Beyond

SD Bullion’s product range includes:

Whether you’re interested in physical gold bullion, coins, or generic silver rounds for investment, SD Bullion has you covered. Moreover, the company caters to different investor preferences by offering not just gold and silver, but also platinum and palladium bullion.

Their wide-ranging coin options include US Silver, Royal Canadian, Australian Perth Mint, Mexican Libertad, African, British, Chinese, New Zealand silver coins, and more.

Tailored Investment Solutions

Understanding that every investor has unique needs, SD Bullion goes a step further by offering tailored investment solutions. These include setting up a precious metals IRA, looking into mutual funds and ETFs, and even offering personalized advice to help investors make smart investment choices.

Starting a Gold IRA with SD Bullion has its perks, such as faster transaction times, tax benefits, and the chance to add physical precious metals to your retirement portfolio. They also provide investors with market insights and forecasts to help them keep up with market trends and make informed decisions.

Pricing and Value: Is SD Bullion Truly Competitive?

Customer reviewing pricing information

SD Bullion distinguishes itself with its commitment to offer the lowest prices. The company makes sure that their prices are lower than other major bullion dealers and even goes the extra mile by offering a low-price guarantee. Whether you’re buying gold or silver, you can expect competitive prices at SD Bullion, with multiple payment options for your convenience.

However, it’s worth noting that there are certain fees associated with your purchase. For instance, a 4% fee is added if you don’t pay with a paper check or eCheck, and cancellation fees apply if you back out after locking in a price. Nevertheless, many investors find SD Bullion to be a cost-effective way to buy precious metals thanks to their competitive pricing and clear fee structure.

Fee Structure Uncovered

Understanding the fee structure is vital when investing in precious metals. At SD Bullion, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Despite these fees, SD Bullion remains competitive with its starting storage fee of $9.99/month. Rest assured, there are no hidden or extra transaction fees, reflecting SD Bullion’s commitment to transparency.

Comparing Market Prices

SD Bullion maintains its competitive edge in market prices by offering investment-grade silver bullion products slightly above the spot price of silver and providing volume discounts to enhance your investment. Compared to competitors like JM Bullion and APMEX, SD Bullion offers free shipping on orders over $199 and competitive pricing for bulk purchases. The company sets its product prices based on a number of factors, including product type, weight, current supply and demand, and overall market conditions.

You can easily find the current market prices for gold and silver on SD Bullion’s website, which provides live spot prices per troy ounce, gram, and kilogram, along with a 24-hour price trend for each unit of weight.

Customer Experiences with SD Bullion

Positive customer review of SD Bullion

Customer experiences significantly influence a company’s reputation, and SD Bullion is no different. The company has received generally positive feedback from its customers, with a solid 4.38-star rating from 637 reviews on Sitejabber. Customers have appreciated SD Bullion’s extensive product range, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service. However, like every business, SD Bullion has also received some criticism.

While many customers have had positive experiences, some have expressed dissatisfaction with aspects like:

Complaints range from receiving damaged products and wrongly graded coins to experiencing late deliveries, long wait times, and extra fees for resending products.

Praise and Accolades

Despite some areas of discontent, the praise and accolades received by SD Bullion from its customers cannot be overlooked. With a solid 4.38 stars from 637 reviews on Sitejabber, the company has left a positive impression on many of its customers. Customers have lauded SD Bullion for its competitive pricing, satisfaction with purchases, and the wide variety of products on offer.

SD Bullion has gained recognition for:

All these accolades underline SD Bullion’s commitment to providing a high level of customer service.

Areas of Discontent

While there’s a lot to appreciate about SD Bullion, it’s essential to consider areas where customers have expressed dissatisfaction. Some customers have voiced concerns about slower shipping times and delays, which can be frustrating for those expecting their precious metals promptly. There have also been occasional issues with product quality, with some customers receiving damaged products or incorrectly graded coins.

Despite these issues, it is commendable that SD Bullion has maintained a generally positive reputation, with high ratings from online rating companies.

Transactional Ease and Account Management

Investor managing precious metals investments

Ease of transaction and account management are primary factors influencing a customer’s decision to select a particular dealer. SD Bullion scores well on both these counts. The company offers a secure online platform for the purchase of precious metals, as well as local brick-and-mortar shops for those who prefer in-person transactions. SD Bullion aims to simplify the purchasing process for its customers, providing guidance on how to plan and execute their purchase.

In terms of account management, SD Bullion provides several tools to help investors manage their investments efficiently. This includes:

SD Bullion’s commitment to providing an enhanced user experience is evident in its dedication to SD Bullion customer service, ensuring great customer service and quality customer interactions.

Step-by-Step Purchasing Process

The purchasing process at SD Bullion is straightforward and user-friendly. To buy bullion from SD Bullion, investors need to plan their investment, pick their products, proceed to checkout and shipping, choose the payment method, and finalize the purchase. The company accepts various payment methods, including bank wire, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, and credit card. However, a minimum purchase of $500.00 USD is required for new orders at SD Bullion.

Once the payment is processed, SD Bullion usually ships the orders within 1-2 business days, with the packages reaching the customers in about 5-10 business days from the shipment date.

Managing Your Investments

SD Bullion provides a range of account management tools to make investing in precious metals a hassle-free experience. From creating an account and tracking orders to handling multiple addresses, SD Bullion has made it easier for investors to manage their investments.

Investors can easily track their SD Bullion orders using the AfterShip tracking page. When compared to other precious metals dealers like APMEX, it’s evident that the choice between SD Bullion and other dealers depends on what the investor values the most.

SD Bullion Compared: Alternatives in the Market

Despite SD Bullion’s impressive range of products and services, considering other market alternatives is always beneficial. SD Bullion faces competition from other precious metals dealers such as:

Each of these competitors offers a unique set of products and services, and may differ in their pricing, customer service, and product selection.

For instance, some top-rated precious metal companies include:

These companies are worth considering when looking to invest in precious metals.

Direct Competitors

SD Bullion’s direct competitors in the precious metals market include:

Each of these competitors has its unique selling points.

SD Bullion, on the other hand, is dedicated to providing the best deals and positioning itself as the go-to for low premiums on precious metals.

Choosing the Right Dealer

Choosing the right dealer for precious metals investments is a critical decision that should consider several factors. These include:

While SD Bullion offers a comprehensive range of products and competitive pricing, it’s crucial to research and compare with other dealers to ensure you make an informed decision that best suits your investment needs.

Security and Assurance: Custodians and Insurance Policies

Given the significant amount of money involved in investing in precious metals, security becomes a paramount concern. SD Bullion understands this and has established partnerships with trusted custodians and offers insurance policies to protect investors’ assets. The company’s commitment to security can be seen in their choice of custodians, which include reputable firms like:

In addition to partnering with reliable custodians, SD Bullion also provides insurance policies to protect investors’ assets. These policies cover a variety of losses, including:

This comprehensive insurance coverage provides an added layer of security for investors and shows SD Bullion’s commitment to safeguarding their customers’ investments.

Trusted Custodians

The role of custodians in protecting investors’ assets cannot be overstated. SD Bullion partners with trusted custodians, including New Direction Trust Company, Goldstar Trust, and Provident Trust, to ensure the security of investors’ assets. These custodians hold and protect investors’ assets, acting as middlemen to ensure smooth trades and the safety of individual and institutional financial assets.

They also offer perks like:

Investment Protection

Keeping your investment secure is a top priority at SD Bullion. To ensure this, the company offers fully insured storage choices and includes free insurance for orders over $199.00. In case your order falls below this amount, they charge a flat rate of $9.95 for shipping and insurance.

The insurance coverage is comprehensive, protecting against theft, natural disasters, and catastrophes for precious metals, which matches what other dealers offer for their high-value products. SD Bullion also ensures that in case of lost or damaged packages, claims are filed with their insurance company, providing an added level of assurance to their customers.

SD Bullion’s Business Practices and BBB Standing

A commitment to ethical business practices and transparency is a hallmark of a reputable company. SD Bullion ticks both these boxes. The company is committed to providing clear and accurate information about its products, services, and fees, ensuring an enhanced experience for its customers. This commitment to transparency and ethical practices is reflected in SD Bullion’s strong standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The Better Business Bureau rates businesses based on factors such as customer complaints, transparency, business practices, and customer reviews. SD Bullion has been accredited by the BBB since April 22, 2014, and holds an A+ rating, reflecting its commitment to customer satisfaction and ethical business practices.

Commitment to Transparency

SD Bullion’s commitment to transparency is evident in all aspects of its business practices. This includes:

Whether it’s accurate pricing using live and comprehensive spot price charts for precious metals or providing details about their services and fees, SD Bullion ensures that customers have all the information they need to make informed decisions.

BBB Ratings and Accreditation

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a trusted resource for consumers, providing unbiased ratings and reviews of businesses. SD Bullion’s A+ rating and accreditation by the BBB testify to its commitment to customer satisfaction and ethical business practices. The BBB rates businesses based on multiple criteria, including:

Many customers recommend SD Bullion, as the company has excelled at all of these criteria, which is evident in numerous sd bullion reviews.

This high rating is a testament to SD Bullion’s dedication to providing excellent service and maintaining ethical business practices.

Summary

In conclusion, SD Bullion, with its impressive product range, competitive pricing, excellent customer service, and commitment to transparency and security, has established itself as a reliable source for precious metals investments. While some areas could use improvement, such as shipping times and occasional product quality issues, the overall feedback from customers is positive. With its strong BBB standing and ethical business practices, SD Bullion is a viable choice for investors seeking a trustworthy dealer for their precious metals investments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does SD Bullion ship from?

Yes, SD Bullion ships from the USA, with its headquarters in Toledo, Ohio.

Does SD Bullion sell real silver?

Yes, SD Bullion sells real silver and guarantees authenticity and purity of every silver round it sells.

Are SD Bullion shipments insured?

Yes, SD Bullion shipments are insured. Whether you choose to have your gold stored or have it shipped, it will be fully insured by Lloyd’s of London or through USPS, UPS, and FedEx at the discretion of SD Bullion.

Can SD Bullion send you to collections?

If payment is not received by the deadline, SD Bullion will charge a market loss fee, a 5% cancellation fee, and may send the account to collections, incurring additional expenses. It’s important to make timely payments to avoid these fees and any potential collection action.

What kind of products does SD Bullion offer?

SD Bullion offers a range of precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium coins, and bars, along with customized investment options like gold IRAs.

John Carphatian
Editor , Carphatian Gold
https://www.amazon.com/John-Carpathian/e/B0B48L2J3H
john@carpathiangold.com

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