I am an avid gold investor and coin dealer. I own a local shop in Southern California and I have had several customers ripped off by Gold Line, Captial Coast Gold, Rosland Capital, Lear Capital, Merrit Investments, Swiss America, TSM, Blanchard, Monex, Leland Gold, Aurum Investments and other so-called gold and silver precious metal investment firms. Investing with these companies is not investing, it's getting ripped off. They charge on average 50% mark-ups, they'll tell you it's a 35% spread, (if they tell you the spread), but what they are doing is marking up gold 50%. They are selling you $1000 in gold for $1500. It's highway robbery and should be illegal. it's not an investment, it's a rip off. And then they hide behind the fact that they do business in another state and you will never be able to go in and demand your money back.

Do not trust these people. Any time you get a price quote from any gold dealer that advertises on fox news or some conservative talk program (where the host is getting paid to promote their product) always price shop them - especially with gold dealers - always check your local coin shop to see what they can get you the exact same coins for and if your salesman won't tell you the price per coin on the phone don't deal with them - RUN! dont' walk run! If you don't have access to a local coin dealer go to a third party website like www.pcgs.com to get an estimate on the value of the numismatic coins you are buying or go to www.goldshark.com to price shop or www.fidelitrade.com to buy bullion or www.apmex.com to buy numismatic or rare coins. and never pay anyone more than a 7% spread on rare coins and no more than 4% on bullion - if you do you are being ripped off.

Always buy locally first or you will be ripped off by these people - i know salesmen who work at these firms and they prey on your ignorance - they prey on your trust - don't trust them.

These people aren't licensed to sell investments so don't trust them when they say they are selling you an investment - in fact ask for their Investment Broker license - if they don't have one they are a salesman not an investment advisor. Investment advisors are registered with www.finra.org - gold brokers are unlicensed and crooked.

Gold is a great investment, but not from firms like Rosland, Leland, Lear, Merrit Capital Coast, or Aurum.