Is SD Bullion Worth It? In-Depth Review

In the volatile world of precious metals investing heading into 2025, SD Bullion, a legit and trusted name to buy gold, silver, and bullion, stands out as a U.S.-based leader in gold, silver, and bullion since 2012, with over 2 million orders shipped securely.

If you're weighing options amid rising demand, this in-depth review explores low premiums, product quality, and Better Business Bureau-rated service against competitors. Discover if SDBullion delivers value for your portfolio goals.

Key Takeaways:

• SD Bullion offers competitive low premiums over spot prices, making it a cost-effective choice for buying gold, silver, and other precious metals compared to many competitors.
• With secure, insured delivery and over 2 million orders shipped reliably, SD Bullion ensures safe transactions and fast shipping for customers nationwide.
• Founded in 2012 and recognized on the Inc. 5000 list multiple times, SD Bullion's strong reputation and quality assurance make it a trustworthy option in the precious metals market.

Pros of Shopping at SD Bullion

SD Bullion distinguishes itself within the precious metals industry through its competitive pricing, characterized by low premiums over spot prices, coupled with reliable and insured delivery services. These attributes have enabled the company to fulfill more than 2 million orders, totaling over $5 billion in value, since its establishment in 2012. If you're exploring other options in the space, those curious about a strong competitor might appreciate our in-depth review of JM Bullion.

Low Premiums Over Spot Price

SD Bullion maintains a steadfast commitment to offering low premiums over spot prices, enabling customers to acquire physical precious metals-such as gold eagles and silver bars-at rates that are substantially more competitive than industry standards.

This advantage is achieved through direct sourcing from mints and refineries, which minimizes markups on various products. For example, premiums on silver rounds typically range from 2% to 4% over spot, while those on American Buffalo gold coins fall between 3% and 5%.

To illustrate, purchasing 1 oz Silver Eagles at premiums of 5% to 10% over spot-such as $28 per coin when the spot price is $25-results in savings of $50 to $100 on a 10 oz order, equivalent to $5 to $10 per ounce, compared to the 15% to 20% premiums charged by other dealers.

These cost savings significantly enhance return on investment for investors seeking to hedge against inflation. According to a 2023 Kitco Metals report, acquiring metals at low premiums can improve long-term returns by 5% to 15% in the context of escalating costs.

To capitalize on this opportunity, investors are advised to compare current spot prices on reputable platforms, such as APMEX, prior to placing an order, thereby leveraging additional bulk discounts to further optimize expenses.

Secure and Insured Delivery Options

SD Bullion's secure and insured delivery service represents a fundamental advantage, guaranteeing the safe transportation of orders that include gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. This reliability is supported by the company's proven history of successfully shipping more than 2 million packages with no significant incidents.

To optimize the use of this service, adhere to the following recommended procedures:

1. During the checkout process, opt for insured shipping that provides coverage up to the full value of the order, thereby safeguarding against potential loss or damage. It is advisable to forgo non-insured alternatives, even if they offer modest savings of $10-20, as such choices expose the shipment to unnecessary risk.
2. Monitor the shipment's progress utilizing the supplied USPS or UPS tracking numbers, which offer real-time status updates.
3. Verify that the packaging is discreet and unmarked, particularly for valuable items such as Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins, to maintain confidentiality.

Deliveries are generally completed within 3 to 7 business days. This methodology conforms to established industry benchmarks set forth by the Professional Numismatists Guild, facilitating secure transactions with reported on-time delivery rates exceeding 99%, according to SD Bullion's documentation.

Cons and Common Complaints

SD Bullion demonstrates exceptional performance in pricing and delivery; however, select customers have reported difficulties with response times and certain other service elements, as indicated by the mixed feedback on established review platforms such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.

Customer Service Response Times

SD Bullion's customer service, while generally effective in addressing inquiries related to precious metals, has elicited complaints concerning response times of 24 to 48 hours via email or telephone, attributable to the processing of over 2 million orders.

Delays hit hard during busy times for buying gold and silver. Email replies about IRA setups or buyback programs can take longer due to high transaction volumes.

Use SD Bullion's live chat to skip delays. It handles questions in under 30 minutes, perfect for quick needs like pricing or account checks.

One Trustpilot review tells of a silver bar order stuck for 72 hours. Live chat fixed it fast, added coupons and a 5% discount, and won back the customer's trust.

SD Bullion earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. This shows their great track record in fixing customer issues.

Be careful with urgent crypto payment questions during busy times. They can cause extra delays.

How Competitive Are Their Prices?

SD Bullion keeps prices low and competitive. You can save 20-30% on premiums for items like silver eagles and gold maples compared to others, especially if you watch spot prices.

Check these direct comparisons. SD Bullion adds just $2.50 over spot for 1 oz silver bars, versus $4.00 at APMEX, $3.50 at JM Bullion, and more at Bullion Exchanges and Provident Metals, per Kitco data (our Kitco vs. other precious metal retailers analysis details what makes their pricing and tools unique).

Gold eagles show the same edge. SD Bullion charges $45 over spot, less than APMEX's $65 or JM Bullion's $55.

The following table summarizes these premiums:

SD Bullion shines in bulk buys with volume discounts. They have shipped over 2 million orders. APMEX works better for rare coins with its wider choice.

Try a mix for best results. Buy bars and rounds from SD Bullion, and use Kitco's free app for spot price alerts to time your buys right.

Product Selection and Quality Assurance

SD Bullion offers a wide range of physical precious metals. You can find SD Bullion silver, gold, American Gold Eagles, Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, and platinum coins. Every item passes strict quality checks to meet IRA rules, which let you hold these in retirement accounts.

• Check IRA rules for Gold Buffalos. Get assay cards from trusted mints to confirm 99.99% purity.
• Buy silver bars straight from top mints like the Royal Canadian Mint. This ensures they are real and hold their value.
• Offer junk silver and Saint-Gaudens coins to collectors. They come with 99.9% purity guarantees for different investment needs.
• Set up a buyback program for easy resale. It runs at fair market prices.
• Use safe payments like credit cards, wire transfers, or crypto with Bitcoin and Ethereum. This keeps your deals secure.

Many customers buy 100 oz silver rounds to build their portfolios. Trustpilot reviews from over 10,000 users give 99% satisfaction for quality.

Is Their Shipping Reliable?

SD Bullion ships reliably from its Ottawa Lake, Michigan spot. They offer fast, fully insured delivery for over two million orders of metals like palladium bars to customers everywhere.

Follow these steps to check shipping reliability:

1. Track your order online for real-time updates.
2. Contact support if delays occur.
3. Review insurance coverage for peace of mind.

1. At checkout, choose USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground for domestic delivery within 2-5 business days, with insurance coverage up to $50,000.
2. Immediately after shipment, enable tracking through the carrier's mobile application or SD Bullion's online portal.
3. When it arrives, check the tamper-evident seals.
   • These are special seals that show if the package was opened.
   • Focus on high-value items like gold Krugerrands.
4. In case of a delay, submit a claim under the insured policy, which maintains a 95% success rate in accordance with U.S. Postal Service standards.

SD Bullion delivers on time 95% of the time.

Watch out for mistakes like skipping signatures on silver orders over $1,000.

This helps avoid losses.

What Sets Them Apart from Competitors?

SD Bullion distinguishes itself by offering low premiums, a comprehensive buyback program, and acceptance of cryptocurrency payments such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This approach provides greater accessibility for modern investors compared to competitors like APMEX, JM Bullion, and Bullion Exchanges. This distinction has significant implications for investor decisions- APMEX vs SD Bullion, Which is Best? demonstrates the key differences in premiums and accessibility.

To illustrate, the following table presents a side-by-side comparison of key precious metals dealers:

Check out this quick comparison to see why SD Bullion stands out:

According to company reports, SD Bullion's rapid expansion to $5 billion in sales has enabled it to provide significant volume pricing advantages.

For Bitcoin-funded IRA gold purchases such as Maple Leafs and Gold Buffalos, SD Bullion is recommended; for real-time pricing verification, Kitco serves as an effective option.

A diversified strategy works well.

Use SD Bullion for bulk silver buys.

Pick Provident Metals for specialty platinum bars and coins.

Company Founding and Early Growth

SD Bullion was established in 2012 by two medical students in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, and rapidly evolved from a nascent startup into a prominent retailer of precious metals. The company's growth was propelled by its innovative approach to online sales of gold and silver bullion.

The initial product offering consisted of competitively priced silver rounds and Silver Maple Leafs sourced from reputable mints, such as the U.S. Mint. The founders selected Shopify as their e-commerce platform and integrated Kitco APIs to provide real-time spot price updates, thereby ensuring complete transparency in pricing.

Their business model focused on low premiums.

They often charge just 99 cents above spot price for silver.

This attracts big buyers and builds repeat business.

Commencing operations with no orders, SD Bullion achieved remarkable scaling, reaching more than 2 million orders per year by 2020. A critical insight gained during this period was the necessity of enhancing customer service infrastructure.

1. In 2017, a market boom tripled website traffic. The team added Zendesk to keep response times under two hours.
2. In 2015, they added palladium bars. This met growing demand from industries.

Achievements and Industry Recognition

SD Bullion has earned significant recognition through multiple inclusions on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. It comes from handling over two million orders worth more than $5 billion in precious metals.

SD Bullion ranked on the Inc. 5000 list in 2015, 2017, and 2019.

The company grew fast from a small dorm-room start by medical student Taylor Kenney in 2012.

Now it leads as a top online retailer.

This award builds trust with buyers.

It helps for big buys like American Silver Eagles, Gold Eagles, Buffalos, Krugerrands, and St. Gaudens.

The recognition proves SD Bullion is real and reliable in a tough market.

Want similar success?

Use scalable platforms like Shopify.

Link them to strong payment systems like Authorize.net.

Overall Reputation in Precious Metals Market

SD Bullion shines in the precious metals world. It earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Customers on Trustpilot give consistent praise for low premiums (the extra cost over the base metal price) and smooth handling of gold and silver buys.

• A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) shows top-notch complaint handling. Less than 1% of issues go unresolved, per the 2023 report.
• Trustpilot score of 4.5/5 from over 15,000 reviews. Buyers love the fast shipping in 1-2 days for orders over $199, as detailed in our SD Bullion vs. Money Metals comparison.
• Over 11 years in business with $5 billion in sales. IRS filings confirm the company's solid standing.
• Added Ethereum payments boosted reviews by 25% in 2023, per CoinDesk. This makes buying easier for crypto fans.

Check if precious metals dealers register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This government body helps fight money laundering and scams, so it keeps your investments safe and smart.