Frequently Asked Questions
General
- How can I tell if my item is gold?
On most gold items, you will see a stampings. This often stamped in an inconspicuous
area on the item. You might find 8kt, 9kt, 10kt, 14kt, 18kt, 22kt, 24kt or European
markings such as .585, .750 to identify the gold content. If the item has seen wear
it may have worn off. In some rare cases the stamping may be incorrect. In this
case you would need an acid test to correctly identify the gold content or you could
measure its specific gravity. GOLDcheck will determine the gold content at its facility
via an acid test
- How do I tell is my
item is gold plated?
A gold plated or gold filled item will most likely have a GP or GF stamped next
to a number. You may also see a different colour metal under the gold plate if the
item has seen wear. If you are still unsure you may send the items in for determination,
however please do not send items that you know are costume jewellery, gold plated
or gold filled.
- Is my ‘Double-Proof’
mailer really free?
Yes, it is. We provide you with a free no obligation information pack that contains
all you need to send your gold items to GOLDcheck with a maximum insured value of
$100. Your items will be safely packaged and insured* during transit to our facility.
- What Karat is my gold?
On most gold items, you will see stampings. This often stamped in an inconspicuous
area on the item. You might find 8kt, 9kt, 10kt, 14kt, 18kt, 22kt, 24kt or European
markings such as .585, .750 to identify the gold content. If the item has seen wear
it may have worn off. In some rare cases the stamping may be incorrect. In this
case you would need an acid test to correctly identify the gold content or you could
measure its specific gravity. GOLDcheck will determine the gold content at its facility
via an acid test.
- What will GOLDcheck
not buy?
GOLDcheck does not purchase gold filled or gold plated items or items of sentimental
value. We do not buy diamonds or precious or semi precious stones. Should you have
any items that you know to be gold plated or filled please do not send these items.
We will not purchase items on behalf of third parties or goods that are the proceeds
from crime.
- Does GOLDcheck buy
Watches?
Currently GOLDcheck does not purchase watches unless they contain gold content.
Their value will be determined accordingly.
- What if my items contain
diamonds or other precious gemstones?
We accept items with diamonds and/or other precious gemstones however we do not
pay for these stones. The weight of the stones is deducted from the gross weight
of the item to determine the net gold weight; from there we determine only the gold
content of the item for value determination.
- What if some of the
items I send do not test as gold?
If some (or all) of your items do not test as gold we will determine the fractional
gold content within the item(s) and you will receive payment accordingly. If you
know the item to be gold filled or non-gold please do not send these to GOLDcheck.
- What information does
GOLDcheck need to know about my item?
When sending your items to GOLDcheck we ask that you include a list describing your
items, you may wish to record the karat of the gold if you are able to identify
it. This reference list will speed up our determination process and act as prevention
against doubt. However, we do not require you to weight or determine karat as these
will be determined at our processing center.
- I've never heard
of GOLDcheck, how do I know GOLDcheck is safe to deal with?
Yes GOLDcheck is safe. We are Accredited and a Good Standing member of our local
Better Business Bureau. We have developed industry leading processes and controls
to insure against loss and dissatisfaction. We strive to make each and every GOLDcheck
customer a satisfied customer.
- What if I am not
ready to send my jewellery to you right now?
That’s fine, we have many customers who want to research our company, ask friends
or even shop around. There is no pressure and no obligation from GOLDcheck.
Sending your Gold
- What number do I call to arrange for the pickup of my Double-Proof mailer?
Please call 1-888-777-6040 to arrange for the prepaid pickup of your Double-Proof Mailer.
- Can I deposit my Double-Proof Mailer into a FedEx drop box?
No. Currently drop boxes do not provide the tracking or security features to uphold our service guarantees. Please do not use FedEx drop boxes.
- Can I send my gold via regular mail?
We do not recommend that you use regular mail service as there is no tracking, or insurance available.
Do not place your Double-Proof mail into the regular mail service
- Can I send my gold via registered mail?
Yes of course, however the cost associated with this is not covered under our prepaid shipping.
This must be arranged by the customer directly with Canada Post.
- How does GOLDcheck work - is it
really FREE?
Yes it is FREE! GOLDcheck purchases precious metals such as gold, platinum and silver
from customers throughout Canada via our FREE ‘Double-Proof’ mailer. It is FREE
to send and includes up to $100 worth of FREE insurance. You can request your no
obligation information pack that will include our secure ‘Double-Proof’ mailer and
our easy to use instructions. Once you have placed your items into our tamper proof
packaging system, simply deposit your prepaid package at any Canada Post outlet.
Keep your receipt as it will include a tracking number so you can track your items
in transit to our national processing center. Once your items arrive at GOLDcheck,
we will video record the opening of your items and immediately weigh them (should
you disagree with our gross weight - you may also request this video).We then determine
the fair wholesale value of your items and then make payment to you via your preferred
method. It’s that easy!
- What can I send?
GOLDcheck accepts all forms of solid gold, platinum and silver. You can send broken
gold, new gold, or old gold. Please don’t send items of sentimental value as these
items are refined and recycled once you accept our settlement and cannot be returned
to you.
- Do I need to do anything
to my jewellery before I send it?
No, you don’t need to clean or polish the items before sending them to us. If your
items contain stones you wish to keep, you might want to remove them prior to sending
as these will be deducted from the gross weight prior to determination.
- Do I need to weigh
my gold before I send it?
No, there is no need to weigh your items before you send them. We will weigh your
items when they arrive at our processing centre. This process is all recorded under
video surveillance to eliminate any uncertainty.
- Can I send gold in
my own packaging?
Yes you can. To send gold without our ‘Double-Proof’ mailer please visit www.goldcheck.ca/withoutmailer
for details. Please do not use old packages or over pack your items as they may
become damaged in transit. Please call our customer service team at 1 (877) 7-GOLD-1
for details on how to send your gold items without a ‘Double-Proof’ mailer. Please
ensure you address your items to ‘GCC’ to protect your items during transit.
- How much gold can
I send?
You may send as much or as little gold to GOLDcheck as you wish. If your items do
not fit easily into the ‘Double-Proof’ mailer please contact customer service for
further details on how to obtain a larger ‘Double-Proof’ mailer. If you should be
sending items worth more than our included insurance coverage of $100 we suggest
you purchase additional insurance for the value in excess of this amount.
- How will I know if
GOLDcheck received my double-proof mailer?
Simply use our tracking function at the top of any page on our website or go to
www.canadapost.ca to track your ‘Double-Proof’ mailer. You will be able to trace
the package from origin to destination once it arrives at our facility.
- Can I send my items
with another shipping service?
Yes you may choose your own shipper however GOLDcheck only provides the FREE prepaid
shipping when using FedEx in conjunction with our ‘Double Proof’ mailer. Should
you wish to use a shipper other than that provided by GOLDcheck by using the prepaid
‘Double-Proof’ mailer, the FREE shipping* and FREE insurance* is no longer applicable.
- Is the Double-Proof
mailer insured if it gets lost?
Yes it is. The ‘Double-Proof’ mailer comes with FREE insurance* up to a value of
$100. This FREE insurance* is applicable only when your items are sent using the
‘Double-Proof’ mailer in accordance with the detailed instructions provided in your
no obligation information pack.
- Does it cost anything
to send my jewellery to GOLDcheck?
There is no cost to you when you send using our ‘Double-Proof’ mailer. We also include
FREE insurance for your valuables up to $100.
Payment and Value
- Why should I sell today?
This is the perfect time to benefit from gold’s record high prices. Benefit from
GOLDcheck’s fast 24 hour payment, the record high price of gold and our trusted
and secure processes. Then use your new found money to pay down debt or buy that
new flat screen TV you have been wanting.
- How can you pay more
than the local pawnshop/jewellery store?
We are able to pay more than a local pawnshop or jewellery store because we remove
the middleman. You are dealing directly with precious metal purchaser thereby removing
the markup a local store would require to cover their overheads such as lighting,
wages, rent etc.
- Why is my offer for
less that I bought it?
The price you paid when you originally bought your item includes the base metal
cost plus margins to cover the stores overheads and their profit margin. Traditionally
there is a large retail markup on gold to cover their expenses of operating and
capital outlay. Additionally your item may also include a considerable amount of
jeweler’s time to custom manufacture the item. At GOLDcheck we pay a fair wholesale
value for your gold.
- What is the difference
between wholesale and appraised value?
An appraised value is often called indemnity value or the value for insurance purposes.
It may reflect the appraisers’ opinion of what it would cost to remanufacture your
item with the same materials, same quality and same look as the original item. An
appraised value is almost always more than the original retail price of the item
as many items are produced in such quantities to reduce the cost and provide a lower
retail price point to the consumer.
- What if I'm not happy
with the amount of my settlement?
If you are not happy with your settlement, please call us; we would like the opportunity
to discuss the settlement with you. If you do not wish to accept the settlement
simply return the payment within 10 business days and we will return your items
via Canada Post within 15 business days of receiving the returned settlement.
- Why my offer is less
than the insurance company says its worth?
The value of items for insurance purposes is often based upon an appraised value
which is used to calculate the indemnity value. This appraisal may reflect the appraisers’
opinion of what it would cost to remanufacture your item with the same materials,
same quality and same look as the original item. An appraised value is almost always
more than the original retail price of the item as many items are produced in such
quantities to reduce the cost and provide a lower retail price point to the consumer.
- GOLDcheck states
24hr payment, what does that mean?
It means just that! Our 24 hour Payment Promise means we will issue you your preferred
settlement option within 24 hours of receiving your items. And that’s a promise.
- How does GOLDcheck
calculate the value of my gold jewellery?
At GOLDcheck we determine the value of your jewellery under a strict and methodical
process. Gross weight is taken upon arrival at our facility under video surveillance
(you may request a copy of this video should you require). Next your gold is assigned
to an individual who is a trained gold specialist who tests, measures and weighs
your items by karat classification. This is all computed via our proprietary software
and tracking system, then sent electronically to the finance department who will
prepare your settlement cheque/payment. All of this happens within 24 hours of your
items arriving at our facility.
- Can I find out how
much I'm going to be paid before you pay me?
At this stage we do not have a call back option available. If you do not wish to
sell your gold to GOLDcheck for the settlement amount simply return your settlement
check within 10 business days of the date on the check and we will return your gold.
Please see our terms and conditions for return liability insurance.
- Can I get my items
back after I have sold them to GOLDcheck?
Unfortunately not, once the 10 day hold period has elapsed your gold items are sent
to our refining department and aggregated with other sellers items.
- What happens to my
gold after I've been paid?
At GOLDcheck we place your items on hold for 10 business days. During this time
you have the opportunity to decline or accept our payment. Once you accept our offer
by depositing the payment cheque, we refine the goods immediately and they are no
longer available for return. Should you choose to decline our offer, simply return
our payment cheque send we will return your items back via our insured* return service
within 15 business days of receiving the returned cheque.