Mar 4

Recently, Gold Party US had the honor of organizing a gold party fund raiser for the South Carolina USO (United Services Organizations) in support of their mission “Until Every One Comes Home.” The USO South Carolina party was a success and we are proud of our team, including Danielle and Char, for the kind of golden leadership that transforms lives, one pennyweight at a time.

Gold Party US considers it a blessing to do what we do best to help others, like the USO, to make a difference in the lives of the dedicated men and women that protect our country. We were just glad to play a part, but to receive such a warm thank you from USO South Carolina Director, Joanie Thresher, simply made our day.

In a letter dated March 1, 2010, Director Thresher writes:
“Dear Danielle: Thank you! The fund raiser was successful thanks to you and Char. Your patience and professionalism was appreciated and I look forward to our next event. Thank you for your support of the USO!”

Gold Party US thanks Director Thresher and team for the kind letter, for choosing Gold Party US to host this important fund raiser, and for all that USO South Carolina does to comfort, support, and strengthen our U.S. military. We look forward to working again with the USO and with nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Please visit uso.org to learn more about USO programs and contact us at goldpartyus.com to find out how your nonprofit organization may benefit from a professional, honest, and effective gold party fund raiser through Gold Party US.

We can’t wait to help YOU make a difference, too.

Feb 25

It is good news that “Inside Edition” exposed the “My Gold Party” company. This company started gold parties in Grosse Pointe, Michigan after hearing about our success. Let me give you a little background information about gold buying companies including My Gold Party.

The majority of the companies or individuals offering gold parties pay far less than independent jewelers for several reasons. First, they have to pay the hostess 10%. Second, the gold buyer attending the party gets 10%. Third, travel, food and advertising expenses are incurred versus an independent jeweler who has people walking in the door to sell gold. At a minimum, gold parties are at a 20 -25% disadvantage to a brick and mortar jeweler from the very beginning.  Another reason gold party companies pay much less is errors made by their gold buyers. In most cases at every party some items are purchased at gold prices but are not really gold. This is because of lack of training or proper testing equipment in a home.

At Gold Party US, we pride ourselves on exceptional training practices. A gold consultant has a minimum of five parties with a veteran consultant to avoid mistakes. Even with extensive training, mistakes are made, but are minimal and we do not have increase profits by paying less in order to cover these errors.

My Gold Party gold consultants pay approximately $650 for a training manual and testing equipment and are sent out with no formal training whatsoever. Can you image reading a thin manual on how to buy gold with no hands-on training? This is their business model which did catapult them as the largest gold party company in the US with approximately 1,000 consultants with very little knowledge buying gold.

Sorting and testing gold is not rocket science. With the proper equipment, tips and hands-on training, our consultants have more knowledge than most employees in jewelry stores.

As we grow we learn. At Gold Party US, we are proud of the fact that if our consultant is not 100% sure of the quality of gold at a home party, the consultant can send the item to our home office where a host of laboratory equipment is used to verify the content. There is no cost to the consumer and it is a great protection for both the client and us. Within 24-hours, the client is issued a check for their gold . All thier other gold is paid for on the spot before the party ends.

My Gold Party consultants use their own funds and checkbooks to buy gold. That means 1,000 people are potentially writing NSF checks. In our three year history of gold parties, not one check has ever bounced — not one! We are diligent in getting all of our consultants to stay in daily contact when parties are booked and completed to be sure not one check is missed or overlooked. Our checks are also backed by a line of credit with Bank of America.

At Gold Party US, we have strict guidelines on how much is to be paid for gold. It varies daily and mirrors the gold market established on the daily New York Spot Price. There is a standard we set and our consultants do not have the option to pay less to earn more like the My Gold Party consultants have. Since they are using their personal money, most pay far less to earn more than the traditional 10% which has be a standard we set from the beginning.  Some of our gold consultants have earned over $1,000 per night at the 10% rate. Most parties though are in the $2,000 – $3,000 range giving the consultant $200 – $300. If the party has more than one consultant (which we highly encourage), the ten percent is split between them. There have been gold parties which only generate a couple hundred dollars. Unfortunately our consultants may only earn $20 – $30 that night with no ability to adjust the rate in order to make up the difference.

At gold parties hosted by www.goldpartyus.com, we have trained our consultants with acid and several other tests versus the electronic testers some companies rely on. When we started out, we used these electronic testers, but there were too many false readings and the machines did not last long. Our tests take more time, but it is worth the accuracy.

Everywhere you turn, people are buying gold. TV , radio, pawnshops, jewelers, hotel rooms, check cashing stores, malls etc… It is an unregulated industry which grew out of gold prices soaring as the economy was crashing. It is truly unfortunate some take advantage of others in these tough times.

Some pay per pennyweight, others per gram. All claim they pay the most (how is that possible?). There are few that advertise a high price per gram only to find out they adjusted their scales or claim the gold has less quality than it truly is therefore lower their advertised rate.

The bottom line is this: If you have gold, shop around! Don’t believe those advertising claims; you have to feel comfortable and confident about the person making you an offer whether you are at a gold party or in a store. We pay a good and fair price, Are we always the highest? No we are not. However in most cases we are, but not all. Different regions are more competitive than others.  At a Gold Party US gold party, you will get a good offer and straight forward advice, no gimmicks or games.

I wish “Inside Edition” would have targeted our company, Gold Party US, as they would have been treated to a professional, knowledgeable and friendly staff that would have made a much higher competitive offer without the claim some gold was under-karated to pay less. We only have 40 gold consultants around the country, but these 40 have more expertise than our competitors 1,000 combined. “Inside Edition” was looking for a negative story and found one. On second thought, perhaps our company would not have been newsworthy to them as we run a very tight ship and are honest with our customers.

Every industry has “bad apples.” It’s up to the consumer and host of the gold party to try to find a good company with credentials and a history of offering a great service. At www.goldpartyus.com and Coughlin Jewelers, our brick and mortar store in St. Clair, Michigan, we provide a profitable party for all concerned.

Patrick Coughlin
President, Coughlin Jewelers
www.goldpartyus.com

Feb 12

With Valentine’s Day just a couple days away, we can’t help but pause a moment to consider some of the good things in life — family, friends, good health, joy, and love.

One thing we absolutely love is to hear positive feedback about extraordinary gold party companies and A+ gold parties. We think it says a lot when a party host or guest takes the time to remark about a satisfactory experience. We also believe that future hosts and guests should keep an eye out for fabulous feedback, for while nobody can deny that there are droves of gold buyers out there today, how many make their feedback public? Also importantly, how many get good feedback at all?

One gold party company with a mailbox ever-stuffed with impressive feedback from hosts and guests is Gold Party US — a party provider you can trust not only through the company’s own sincere words, but through the enthusiastic testimonials of people just like you. Here are two, recently received testimonials about Gold Party US:

“Thank you very much for making this experience so much fun! You guys were professional and knowledgeable and everyone had a great time. Thank you once again.”
– Tiffany from Kissimmee, FL

“I had the pleasure of hosting a gold party in conjunction with my monthly Dining Divas dinner club at Andrew Blair’s restaurant. The Dining Divas had a great time filled with food, fun, and laughter while selling their gold jewelry. Everyone was also very happy with the profit they made from their gold jewelry sell. I was even more ECSTATIC because I was able to make a $300 profit plus an additional $100 bonus for booking my gold party before February 14th, while selling $2010 worth of gold. Markelia is a wonderful gold party hostess and I look forward to referring more friends to host a gold party in the near future!”
–  Valerie from Charlotte, NC

It’s good to be loved!

Gold Party US finds it heartwarming to be celebrated by such positive words. In fact, it encourages us to continue to give customers unforgettable, outrageously satisfying gold party experiences. Ready to read more of what others are saying about Gold Party US? Please visit our testimonials page and then get ready to book the most fun and profitable couple of hours you can spend with friends and family.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Dec 31

A recent blog post criticized a particular home gold party outfit by stating that its party appraiser “doesn’t care” about the jewelry presented but merely offers sellers a price and payment. It could be that the appraiser robotically accessed, weighed, and quoted the jewelry with no show of interest in the products or the party guest. It could also be that a guest felt rejected when a fancy gemstone ring – an expensive gift from mother – had been quoted only for its meltdown value; a legitimate gold buying standard not universally understood by the general public.

While All That’s Gold cannot confirm or deny the evidence behind the blogger’s comment, we are concerned that gold party consumers, when reading such a remark, may go on to imagine that all gold party companies fit such a description. We want to set the record straight today.

Fact is, some gold party companies DO care – and they care a great deal. For instance, the staff at Gold Party US takes great care to treat every host and guest like a queen (or king!) and to give the highest level of thoughtful appraisal to each piece of gold, silver, and platinum presented to them.

Unlike some other associations, Gold Party US is comprised exclusively of jewelers and jewelry professionals. Also importantly — GOLD PARTY US LOVES JEWELRY! At any given gold gathering, your Gold Party US crew will ooh and ahh over pretty pieces, ask your friend if she’s sure about letting go of her baby’s first bracelet, for example, and advise you to take that 1920s watch to an antique dealer for a way better deal. Do they care? Absolutely.

Every customer, whether grasping a big baggy or just a handful of single, broken earrings, is valuable and treated like an individual. The same is true of his or her merchandise. Sure, the business dictates that the majority of gold, silver, and platinum bought at parties will be recycled and not purchased for retail or resale. However, if something stands out – an heirloom, a rare piece, a one-of-a-kind, something tragically valuable – Gold Party US is going to speak-up before weighing that prized item in with common unwanted, broken, and outdated jewelry. That is just what they do. They care.  

Additionally, the blogger writes that the appraiser “just gives” the participant a price and then a payment – the purchase of gold right then and there.

This is a bad thing?

When practiced professionally and considerately, immediate price and payment is what a gold party is all about.  Imagine a party where your guests were asked to wait for a week while their items were taken off-site and processed in an undisclosed location? Would your guests attend a party where their merchandise was not appraised in plain sight or where they would have to hand over their belongings to a stranger and wait for a check? It is standard procedure – and quite popular at that – for consultants to offer same day price and payment.

Finally, the blog suggests an alternative – the sale of merchandise directly to a refiner using a mail-in kit. We scratch our heads and wonder where the personalized care, originally introduced by the blogger, fits in to this method.  You ship off your gold and then you wait. Not for a few minutes while home gold party guests munch popcorn, talk one-on-one with consultants, watch the scales, and make in-house decisions. No, no. You wait for someone out of sight, maybe even out of state, to thumb through your jewelry and to give you a quotation. This method can work for some and there are legitimate companies out there that have a good system. To their credit, they, too, will send your jewelry back to you if you’re unhappy with the price. That is good business. But going back to the first remark the blogger made about CARE – where is the personalized consultation in the cold envelope process? Are refineries really interested in the sentimental value of your grandmother’s wedding ring? How could they possibly know the sentimental value of any of your jewelry when it arrives packed in an envelope?

In business, bad guys are everywhere and the gold selling business is no exception. But don’t be discouraged by gold-pack outfits spinning the home gold party as a “scam” in order to turn you in the direction of their own refineries.

Home gold parties directed by professional, bonded, and insured jewelers work because they put you and your guests in touch with jewelers, appraisers, scales, equipment, and immediate payment. No postage, no insurance, no waiting, no wondering.

And most importantly, companies like  Gold Party US truly do care.

Dec 23

Experts and amateurs alike are of two differing opinions of the current gold trends and amazingly high gold prices.

Some are certain that gold is going to keep climbing, and many would-be sellers that want to cash in on the gold party trend are holding out for gold to even hit as high as $2,000 an ounce!

What do you think? Can gold keep holding on and climb even higher, or is the gold rush about to come to an end? If gold does crash, how low will it go?

It’s a very big topic right now, so we’re interested to know what people think. Gold up or gold down?

Shoot us an email or a comment and let us know what you think!

Nov 25

Extra funds for holiday parties, roasted turkey dinners, and gifts for our favorite folks — all excellent motivations to host a gold party, especially this time of the year.

But sometimes, we need the extra money for reasons that don’t revolve around decked halls and warm fuzzies. Sometimes, we need the money to help out loved ones in need. A gold party turned fundraiser can be a tremendous step forward toward that goal.

Emotionally, times of personal crisis are hard enough to face. But often, illness, loss, and death also includes financial chaos, insufficient funds, and debt. When a loved one passes, flowers make a wonderful gift to comfort surviving family and friends. But often, the gift of money is much more welcome as it goes to buy food, pay unexpected bills, and provide for what can be an uncertain future. But how can we help out financially when the better portion of us are struggling, too? That’s where a gold fundraiser can be a sensible solution.

Gold fundraisers are smart, simple, and appealing. People appreciate the chance to lend a hand and if they can do so in a way that is friendly and easy (while making a little money of their own), they will come and bring their friends, too.

Guests don’t donate their gold, but rather, a portion of what we buy from them goes to your fundraiser. Pay-out donation is never an obligation. This alone appeals to people because they can raise some funds of their own while helping  you out in the process. But happily, what we often find is that the fundraiser patrons will ask us to write their pay-out checks over to the person, church, or organization raising the funds. It warms our hearts every time. At one special church event, for instance, ALL guests asked that their checks be written over to the church. It was a touching moment when we handed the main check to the church, but quickly followed that up with a wad of checks courtesy of their devoted members.

Again, there is no obligation and out of respect, we do not nudge people to donate their earnings or put sellers in an awkward spot. Donations come directly from the willingness of the guests. If sellers want to help out a little bit more, but are not in a position to donate all of their gold earnings, they may wish to donate a portion and in that case, two checks may be written: One to your guest and one to your fundraiser. Otherwise, just the act of selling their gold at your fundraiser helps and as well all know, ever dime, nickel, and penny counts.

Gold fundraisers don’t have to be “parties” at all, especially when your event is for a somber cause. When you work with a professional company such as Gold Party US, you may explain your sensitive circumstances and request a low-key experience for your guests. Gold Party US knows that when it comes to fundraising events, just like gold rings, one size does not fit all. 

If you know someone (or if you are someone) faced with raising funds to support such needs as a costly medical procedure, to save a family from losing their home, or to help out with all the financial strains of a personal loss, please consider the merits of a gold fundraiser.

Contact Gold Party US to speak with compassionate gold-based fundraising professionals to discuss options and create your intimate or large organizational fundraiser today.

Nov 9

Herringbone chains kinked beyond repair. A flattened, single hoop earring found in a sidewalk crack. Three old neck chains in a permanent knot. Not the prettiest of sights — but put them together and you’ve got something beautiful.

How’s that? Just what makes a heap of twisted, broken, and mangled gold jewelry beautiful?
Its gold resale value, that’s what.

You don’t have to have a jewelry box filled with sparkling, luxurious golden beauties to cash-in on the gold selling and gold party phenomenon. All you need is gold. Broken gold. Twisted gold. Tragically out-of-style gold. Gorgeous or ghastly, it’s all worth its weight in…  you guessed it. Gold.

So don’t you dare deny yourself the fun and profit of a gold party because you’re concerned that all you’ve got is damaged, knotted, useless gold jewelry to sell. Gold doesn’t need to twinkle or clasp to pay off. 

Too often, friends, family, and coworkers shy away from the experience because they think their unwanted gold and silver jewelry just won’t make the cut. Spread the word and let them know that it all adds up and every little bit counts.

So go ahead – gather up those single earrings (we take those, too!), those kinky snake chains, and that broken bracelet that you never liked anyway and give Gold Party US a call. For we believe that every gold piece of jewelry is beautiful… in its own way!

Oct 19

It seems lately that everyone and their pet dog are offering to buy your gold or set up a gold party for you. So how do you determine who is trustworthy and who isn’t?

The first question you should be asking is “do you have a precious metals license?”

If the answer you get is “no”, do NOT hang around and wait for the “but”, get out of there. These people are not properly trained and certified to be examining and buying your gold.

Many states are now taking the initiative and passing bills allowing only businesses and people licensed to deal in precious metals to buy gold and hold gold parties, but this doesn’t stop everyone. It’s a difficult area to police, and many shady brokers are slipping through the cracks.

The scams are going deeper than anyone could have thought. Nowadays, even people claiming to be gold REFINERS are offering to buy gold off people, shops and jewelry stores. They will then offer less than the gold is worth to YOUR gold buyer and turn around and sell it to a real refiner and make a profit. It’s flabberghasting how shady the gold buying industry has become.

Now, at least, the government and you can both help to make sure that you are protected. Only sell your gold to a licensed precious metals buyer and don’t hesitate to report to the BBB or even the authorities if you see an operation that you don’t think is legit.

Oct 7

There’s a new bill floating around the Michigan House of Representatives that Gold Party US is very excited about:

2009 House Bill 5448 (Impose “gold party” licensure mandate ) would impose “gem and (precious) metal dealer” licensure mandates on a business or individual who holds an invitation-only “gold party” selling jewelry in a residence.

This would mean that everyone that touches your gold would have to be a representative of a company that is licensed to do so. Not only would it make it easier for gold sellers to breathe easier, but it makes gold buyers happy by ensuring that non-licensed fly-by-night companies cannot come in and scam residents, giving gold parties a bad name.

Hopefully other states that do not already have these mandates will take notice and follow suit. It’s hard enough to be sure you’re getting a good deal at your gold party, at least now you’ll know who you can trust.

Thankfully Gold Party US is fully licensed to deal in precious metals, as well as being insured and bonded. To host a safe and easy gold party in your home, call us at 810.329.6866 or toll free at 877.329.6866.

Sep 14

Gold is once again at the $1,000 mark, and the news outlets and scam artists are taking notice. Not only are companies like Cash 4 Gold ramping up their marketing to get a piece of the action, but more and more “gold buyers” are hitting the streets in ways we’ve never seen before.

Depending on where you live, you may have even seen people in bright green vests or other eye-catching colors standing on street corners, flashing signs proclaiming that you “SELL YOUR GOLD NOW!” in front of offices with haphazard banners hanging in windows. If you happen in to one of these stores, out of desperation, curiosity, or what-have-you, you’re likely greeted with nothing more than a card table and chairs in the middle of an empty office space. It looks like a set straight out of a horror movie, but the only impending torture is the pitiful amount you get offered for your precious gold.

As gold rises, more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon to buy gold and get a piece of this “cash cow”. It seems like a simple enough scam. Pay pennies on the dollar to someone for their heirlooms and treasures, then turn around and sell it at an incredible profit to a gold refiner. In truth, it is much more difficult than these people can even imagine to be safe, reputable, and fair.

Many refiners don’t take objects that are gold-plated, gold-filled or costume. Even now places in other countries are tricking the system by stamping their fakes to look real. Some even pass the most stringent tests, but aren’t gold at all. So if a gold scammer paid $100 for a fake necklace, he’s out of luck. It’s only a slight taste of justice for those who have been scammed.

Not only that, but if you’re truly a fair gold buyer, you probably aren’t making much, if any, profit. That’s why it’s usually safer to sell your gold to a jeweler than a company that does nothing but buy gold. Jewelers can not only re-use the gold they buy from you, but they also have another source of income that can help keep costs low, and help pass the savings on to you, the gold seller.

It may be easier to think of gold as a reverse sale. In typical product sales, a product goes from a manufacturer who sells it to a distributor, the distributor (or wholesaler), in turn sells it to a retail store, making a profit in the process (otherwise the distributor would be out of business, right), and then the retail store sells the product to you, also making a profit. So let’s say  a manufacturer makes a box of 100 pens and sells it to the distributor for $1. The distributor then sells that same box to a retailer for $2, making $1 profit on every sale. The retailer then sells that box of pens to you for $3, making also $1 profit.

A typical gold transaction goes the reverse. A retailer (gold buying representative) buys the gold from you for $2, even though it’s actually worth $3. We usually skip the distributor step unless the gold buyer works for a bigger company. The gold buyer then sells your gold to the manufacturer (refiner) for the full value of $3, keeping the $1 profit from buying it for $2.

A scam company would likely do something more like give you $100 for $500 worth of gold, then sell it and make $400 profit, giving you only 20% of the true value of your gold. It makes you angry just to think about something like that happening, doesn’t it? Which is why we can’t stress enough that you should thoroughly research the company you want to sell your gold to. Ask for referrals, watch the entire gold-buying process, ask lots of questions, and if you still don’t feel comfortable, walk away and take your gold with you.

As always, ask questions, leave comments. We’re happy to respond to your inquiries.

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