Key points
- Never pay in advance and never ship to strangers – goods for money, face to face.
- Meet somewhere public and busy, ideally in or outside a bank branch.
- Check weight and dimensions on the spot and keep the checked piece in your hand.
- For bank transfers, only the arrival in your own banking app counts – not a screenshot.
Why buy locally?
A private sale has no dealer margin, so buyer and seller can often meet in the middle: the buyer pays less than in a shop, the seller gets more than a dealer's buy-back price. On top of that you get discretion and control – you see the piece before you buy, and nothing gets lost in the post.
The flip side: you are responsible for checking and for your own safety. With a little preparation, that is very manageable.
Before the meeting: check the listing and the person
- Is the price plausible? If it is well below the current metal value, be careful. Nobody gives gold away.
- Are the photos real? Ask for an extra photo, for example with a note showing today's date. Pictures copied from the internet are a warning sign.
- Profile and ratings: How long has the account existed? Are there ratings from earlier trades?
- Clarify the details: exact name, weight, year, condition, packaging, any invoice or certificate.
- Mention testing: an honest seller has no problem with you weighing and measuring – or with going to a dealer to test the piece.
Choosing the right meeting place
Good places are public, busy and ideally covered by cameras:
- In or outside a bank branch – especially handy if cash is to be withdrawn or deposited on the spot.
- At a bullion dealer who tests for a small fee. Ask in advance whether they offer this.
- A busy café during the day, with a table where you can weigh in peace.
Avoid meeting at your home or theirs, in remote car parks or after dark. For larger amounts, bring someone along and tell someone where you are.
At the meeting: check the goods
A precision scale (0.01 g) and a caliper already expose most crude fakes. Compare weight, diameter and thickness with the mint's official specifications. How to test more thoroughly is covered in Testing gold.
Paying the right way
Cash is common between private people and final immediately. Check notes using “feel – look – tilt”. For larger sums, the buyer is best off withdrawing the money right at the bank branch where you meet.
Instant transfer: since October 2025, banks in the euro area must offer SEPA instant transfers, and the money arrives within seconds. Before sending, the bank also checks whether the payee's name matches the IBAN. As a seller, hand over the goods only once you see the payment arrive in your own banking app. Screenshots or emails presented as “payment confirmation” are worthless.
No prepayment, no escrow link. Genuine private sales need no payment service in between. Links to supposed escrow sites are a typical sign of fraud.
After the purchase
- Write a short receipt: date, exact description, weight, price. It helps you prove the holding period for tax later.
- Give each other a rating. It helps the whole community.
- Store the gold safely and don't talk about it publicly.
This guide is general information and does not replace investment, tax or legal advice. No guarantee of accuracy; rules can change. Updated: 30 September 2026.