Where to Buy Unclaimed Precious Metal Scrap at Every Stop on the Supply Chain

Precious Metals InvestingRecycle Precious MetalsRecycling and Refining
Written By Barry Lenson

We hear the term “supply chain” often these days. Mostly, we hear it when we are unable to buy products we need because they are stuck somewhere on the supply chain, which can be defined this way . . .

The supply chain is made up of all the steps in a process that produces products and gets them delivered to us.

Current Holdups in the Supply Chain

As one example we’re hearing about recently, let’s say you want to buy chlorine tablets to treat the water in your swimming pool. The supply chain that gets those tablets to you is made up of a factory that makes the chemicals that are used in chlorine tablets, of another factory that formulates those chemicals into tablets and ships them, of trucks that deliver those tablets to stores or wholesalers, of those stores themselves, and maybe even your Toyota, which you use to drive those tablets home to your pool.

Yes, there is a shortage of chlorine tablets these days, as you know if you have a pool. That means that some part of the supply chain we described above isn’t working. Maybe there is a shortage of chemicals. Maybe the tablets you want to buy are stuck at a trucking transfer depot someplace in Illinois. But whatever the problem is, the guy who runs your local pool supply store tells you, “Sorry, we just can’t get chlorine tablets now . . . try next week.”

Similar problems have been reported by people who can’t get the shingles the need to put new roofs on their houses, by construction companies that can’t get the wood they need to build houses, and by swimming pool makers who can’t get concrete. And if you want to buy a nice gold or platinum engagement ring with a nice big diamond mounted in it, maybe you have to wait for it right now.

What Does this Mean If You Invest in Precious Metals?

Lots of different products are stuck on the supply chain. But here are some questions to consider.

What items are we talking about?

Many kinds of items contain gold, silver, and platinum. A short list includes:

  • Electronic devices of all kinds

  • Shipments of costume and fine jewelry

  • Chemical compounds, especially those that contain silver, that are used in in a variety of industrial processes

  • Welding supplies and other raw materials that are used in manufacturing

  • Medical devices – remember, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators contain gold and platinum

Why are they stuck on the supply chain?

There are many reasons. When a manufacturer of the items we mention above goes out of business, there can be an opportunity to buy stocks of its raw supplies or undelivered products. When a retailer closes down, similar opportunities to buy them can arise.

Where can you find and buy those items? 

  • Look for business liquidation sales and auctions, which are often listed in local newspapers. Or you can search online at sites like www.bulq.com. You can also find liquidation sales for retailers on websites like www.bclauction.com.

  • Keep an eye out for companies that are closing by reading your local newspapers and online community newsletters.

  • Ask local retailers if they have unsold stocks of electronics or other goods they would be willing to sell to you.

  • Contact trucking companies about the availability of undeliverable shipments.

How much should you pay for what you buy?

The good news is that it is always a good idea to bargain for the lowest price on the items we describe above. When a seller is trying to dispose of items and needs to raise cash, you have a buyer’s opportunity to bargain for the lowest price possible.

What should you do with the gold scrap, silver scrap, and platinum scrap that you buy?

Call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners at 800-426-2344. We will test your items, tell you what they are worth, and pay you promptly if you decide to have us extract the gold, silver, or platinum they contain.

Don’t let precious metal items get lost out there somewhere on the supply chain. Claim them, recycle them, and turn them into wealth.

Barry Lenson
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