Buying from ats bullion

[Bigcheesy123]

Hi

ive made a lot of purchases from ATS bullion in the past and lately I’ve started to worry about my products.

are the reliable or can you get fake items from them? 
I’ve only very basic ways to test my precious metals and can’t get them tested locally as I don’t want it know I have them to start with.

thanks for answers guys l!! 

[Spyder]

Nothing to worry about, they are good bullion dealers. I very much doubt that you get fakes from them

[Bigcheesy123]

Thanks for you reply I really appreciate it, it can be worrying not having access to proper testing equipment 😓

[Bigcheesy123]

On a side note does anyone know if you can still get vat free silver from the European mint in Northern Ireland after brexit? We got left with different rules than the uk. 
 

would love me some vat free silver 

[Spyder]

4 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

On a side note does anyone know if you can still get vat free silver from the European mint in Northern Ireland after brexit? We got left with different rules than the uk. 
 

would love me some vat free silver 

I would not bother, you are more likely to get it cheaper off this forum.  Your best bet is to pay a £1 and sign up to a month silver membership. you will get to see all the listings instantly rather then having to wait three days

Edited April 18 by Spyder

[Bigcheesy123]

Thanks, I do wonder though. I’d love to make a larger sliver purchase sometime soon.

i will keep a eye out on here!!

[Spyder]

3 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

Thanks, I do wonder though. I’d love to make a larger sliver purchase sometime soon.

i will keep a eye out on here!!

Plenty of silver was listed at £25 oz today. £2.50 over spot is nothing, buying from Europe will not be cheaper. Some kg bars were sold for £700 a few days ago.

Edited April 18 by Spyder

[Bigcheesy123]

That’s good for a kg bar, there’s something about the size of them a real we novelty peace  

[Norskgeld]

I've bought a couple of gold coins from ATS.

No problems with them at all.

Even got a small choccie in the box with the coins.🤩

[SilverDrum]

31 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

On a side note does anyone know if you can still get vat free silver from the European mint in Northern Ireland after brexit? We got left with different rules than the uk. 
 

would love me some vat free silver 

I would recommend buying from here over most online bullion dealers for a lot of items. You will occasionally find something that makes sense, but often with a "wanted" ad on here someone will often have the same thing for a better price.  

Just about to list a fair few bullion britannia's myself for £25 each, would be hard to find anything for that price from a dealer. But you will find many deals similar here  

Definitely recommend the membership if you plan to make purchases. 

[Bigcheesy123]

Im thinking about joining the members club, wish I had a proper metal tester, I’d make all my purchases on here in a heart beat, pity the good testing machines are so expensive 😓 

[dicker]

ATS should not be a problem - I have had no problem with them.

That said, I check carefully whatever I buy.  

[Bigcheesy123]

Just now, dicker said:

ATS should not be a problem - I have had no problem with them.

That said, I check carefully whatever I buy.  

You’re just right too, I have acid and a coin slide I can make sure all the measurement are as specified by the original mint. I take no joy on using acid on my coins 😅 also hard to trust the rest without a proper precious metal tester  

[Orpster]

50 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

Hi

ive made a lot of purchases from ATS bullion in the past and lately I’ve started to worry about my products.

are the reliable or can you get fake items from them? 
I’ve only very basic ways to test my precious metals and can’t get them tested locally as I don’t want it know I have them to start with.

thanks for answers guys l!! 

Is there a reason you have started to worry?

There are fake sovereigns out there but they are thin on the ground and dealers will spot the majority that pass through their hands and they will just go in the melting pot

A lot of new stackers get the same concern at some point or another, I did myself.  These days I do not worry about it at all and I would not buy a sigma as I would rather spend the money on more gold.  I do not buy US coins as they are faked quite widely.  I also do not buy bars from places like the perth mint as again a lot of fakes.  But every sovereign I know of that is a fake is still made of gold, and generally at least 21ct but sometimes up to 23ct gold.  If you get a fake, just weight it in.  You may lost a few quid but at the moment with stuff selling at spot the loss would be tiny.

I weigh my coins on some scales that cost me £25 off Amazon, if you get some just make sure you can calibrate them.  I buy older coins mostly so they can be slightly underweight but I know the tolerance and generally know roughly what a coin is going to come out to just based on the wear.  I have some precision callipers too but rarely ever use them, I think maybe 3 times in the years I have had them.  You can also do a gravity test with a jug of water and some scales for an extra check.

Regarding ATS, they are reputable and can be reasonably priced.  No dealer is infallible though, so always worth doing your own due diligence 

[Bigcheesy123]

4 minutes ago, Orpster said:

Is there a reason you have started to worry?

There are fake sovereigns out there but they are thin on the ground and dealers will spot the majority that pass through their hands and they will just go in the melting pot

A lot of new stackers get the same concern at some point or another, I did myself.  These days I do not worry about it at all and I would not buy a sigma as I would rather spend the money on more gold.  I do not buy US coins as they are faked quite widely.  I also do not buy bars from places like the perth mint as again a lot of fakes.  But every sovereign I know of that is a fake is still made of gold, and generally at least 21ct but sometimes up to 23ct gold.  If you get a fake, just weight it in.  You may lost a few quid but at the moment with stuff selling at spot the loss would be tiny.

I weigh my coins on some scales that cost me £25 off Amazon, if you get some just make sure you can calibrate them.  I buy older coins mostly so they can be slightly underweight but I know the tolerance and generally know roughly what a coin is going to come out to just based on the wear.  I have some precision callipers too but rarely ever use them, I think maybe 3 times in the years I have had them.  You can also do a gravity test with a jug of water and some scales for an extra check.

Regarding ATS, they are reputable and can be reasonably priced.  No dealer is infallible though, so always worth doing your own due diligence 

My worry is starting because the stack is growing 💪🏻💪🏻 I bought all my coins of companies recommended on here and don’t deal with p2p purchases. 

“I would not buy a sigma as I would rather spend the money on more gold.” This is were I’m at too it’s a right penny gone when more gold could be bought.

i do weigh my items as well and have scales, I watched the water method on YouTube but I’m yet to learn it.

thanks for your message about the fakes I had no idea that that’s how many of the coins are faked.

[James32]

When buying from established members ( good strong feedback) your not just buying a piece of metal, but also their experience. 

Tbh I haven't seen many ( can count on two hands ) fakes on here, and they've been flagged instantly by experienced members.

Grab a membership and get stuck in..you will ultimately save a small fortune and learn a ton.

[Bigcheesy123]

8 minutes ago, James32 said:

When buying from established members ( good strong feedback) your not just buying a piece of metal, but also their experience. 

Tbh I haven't seen many ( can count on two hands ) fakes on here, and they've been flagged instantly by experienced members.

Grab a membership and get stuck in..you will ultimately save a small fortune and learn a ton.

Yeah I agree, wish I had an electrical tester I wouldn’t even hesitate lol. I live in such a small area I couldn’t even trust the local jewellers to verify my coins 😓 

[dicker]

36 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

My worry is starting because the stack is growing 💪🏻💪🏻 I bought all my coins of companies recommended on here and don’t deal with p2p purchases. 

“I would not buy a sigma as I would rather spend the money on more gold.” This is were I’m at too it’s a right penny gone when more gold could be bought.

i do weigh my items as well and have scales, I watched the water method on YouTube but I’m yet to learn it.

thanks for your message about the fakes I had no idea that that’s how many of the coins are faked.

Whilst you can buy gadgets, do water tests, ping tests etc I would strongly advise that the first and most important test is via the Mk1 Eyeball.  Loupe, Microscope etc against reference coins and use a load of learning that you accumulate.  
 

Good dealers like ATS won’t screw their reputation by selling you some counterfeit tat from a Turkish melt house, but it’s always worth checking without being paranoid about fakes from main dealers    

You say you don’t buy P2P - you might want to just have a look at TSF vs dealers.  There are some v good dealers but equally I know several people here who have bought counterfeits from dealers you would think you might be able to trust.

[James32]

4 minutes ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

Yeah I agree, wish I had an electrical tester I wouldn’t even hesitate lol. I live in such a small area I couldn’t even trust the local jewellers to verify my coins 😓 

If you ever strongly feel negative about any of your items, send to me and I'll test for free. You just cover postage. Honestly though I've used ATS dozens of times and never a problem. 

[Bigcheesy123]

1 minute ago, dicker said:

Whilst you can buy gadgets, do water tests, ping tests etc I would strongly advise that the first and most important test is via the Mk1 Eyeball.  Loupe, Microscope etc against reference coins and use a load of learning that you accumulate.  
 

Good dealers like ATS won’t screw their reputation by selling you some counterfeit tat from a Turkish melt house, but it’s always worth checking without being paranoid about fakes from main dealers    

You say you don’t buy P2P - you might want to just have a look at TSF vs dealers.  There are some v good dealers but equally I know several people here who have bought counterfeits from dealers you would think you might be able to trust.

I’ll look up the mk1 eyeball. I agree it can be a lot of cash dropped on p2p with no proper verification, too dangerous for me anyway. I might just bite the bullet and get the machine.

a lot of trust goes in to the companies even though I do trust them but worry about it, it’s sad thinking a fake could slip by them and into a customers hands.

[Bigcheesy123]

1 minute ago, James32 said:

If you ever strongly feel negative about any of your items, send to me and I'll test for free. You just cover postage. Honestly though I've used ATS dozens of times and never a problem. 

Thanks for the offer I might take you up on it sometime 

[Cornishfarmer]

I’d go against the grain and say buy from dealers, from your posts sounds like you are nervous about buying and knowing if it is fake or real.   Don’t acid test as if it’s a premium coin will erode the value.            Numerous fakes have been sold on here in the past 10 years unbeknown to the seller and buyer. Mostly American and Saudi coins.           Not to say they aren’t gold but just very good copies.     I wouldn’t bother with silver as hard to shift and cost of sending too high.   Bullion gold from chards/Atkinsons/Hatton garden metals will be best for you until you get more experience 

[Orpster]

9 hours ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

I’ll look up the mk1 eyeball

Look in the mirror mate, you have two mk1 eyeballs just above your nose

@dicker means do your research, learn how to spot fakes just by looking at the coin under a loupe

I have recently bought a digital microscope, and while I got it to be able to confirm any variants that pass through my hands it is a great piece of kit and it was not super expensive - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00XNYXQHE?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
The below is the type of detail it captures, on this example I was trying to confirm whether the A's in GRATIA on a young head were partially barred

I have a couple of sets of scales but I find these the best - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BHRTJ8QM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 
I also have these and they are adequate most of the time and are very portable https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DNPPFPQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

The second set only seem to be accurate to .1 but I have had them a long time

 

 

[Darr3nG]

10 hours ago, Bigcheesy123 said:

“I would not buy a sigma as I would rather spend the money on more gold.”

One of the best purchases I ever made... I was living in constant "fear" buying gold from dealers and forum members until I got mine. No amount of dunking coins in water could convince me otherwise  

I bought my sigma in Dec 2021 when it cost approx. 90% spot at that time

Today you could buy one here for only 50% spot - it's a no-brainer! Worry less about the (potentially unsafe) more gold you could buy and focus on the less-stressful fully-tested stack.

 

[Silfrfish]

I think a couple of people here have made the point that what you need to do is look after your mental health and buy gold/silver in a way that lines up with your risk tolerance 🙂.
For me after being away from PMs for ages that meant, as someone’s suggested, buying example pieces from reputable dealers, and even the Royal Mint (probably better value to buy a sigma though!) and getting the equipment to really eyeball things myself. Coins don’t lie. Building up knowledge about what you’re buying will hopefully be one of the most fun things you do with your stack 😁.

Make sure you buy in a way that you feel truly happy with, whether that’s only using insured delivery, only buying when you can return items you’re not happy with etc. My precious metals bring me peace of mind, and that’s one of their biggest benefits! So don’t undermine that whatever you do I’d say 👍