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In good and bad times, gold is in demand. People see the precious metal as a safe way to protect their money, betting its value will stand the test of time. It gives them peace of mind knowing they have a tangible asset they can trade. It’s also making gold holders a lot richer these days, at least on paper, as investors seek safer places to park their money amidst today's volatile stock market.
Gold prices closed at $3,250 an ounce May 13, down from a record $3,500 on April 22 but still up more than 22 percent since the start of the year. With the average gold bar weighing about 400 ounces, owning one bar will make you a millionaire. Furthermore, JP Morgan projects gold prices will cross the $4,000-per-ounce milestone in 2026.
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“I think there’s always a demand and appetite for gold and silver and precious metals in general,” says Jonathan Rose, cofounder and CEO of Genesis Gold Group. That’s not to say it’s the best way to save for your retirement or a rainy day. Just like other assets, the price goes up and down.
To buy gold bars and coins from the U.S. Mint, you need to go through a network of official distributors who sell to wholesalers, financial institutions and secondary retailers that sell to consumers either online or in person. If you are buying online, Rose says, do business with an American company that is licensed and bonded by its home state to sell gold bars and is known as a reputable dealer.
“There’s a lot of fake gold out there online,” he says.
While much of the gold sales happen through these authorized sellers, you can also get your hands on bullion at some surprising places, including these three national retailers.
1. Costco
The warehouse retailer claims to be doing a brisk business selling gold bars online. Costco members can buy 1-ounce gold PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan bars via the Costco website. The gold bars are not eligible for returns or refunds.
Because of the strong demand, the company is now limiting sales to one gold bar per member transaction (it had been two until recently). An October 2024 Bloomberg survey of more than 100 Costco stores in 46 states found that 77 percent had depleted stocks of gold bars, even those that had recently replenished supplies. Wall Street firm Wells Fargo estimated in April 2024 that revenue from gold sales was running at $100 million to $200 million a month for Costco.
Coming off the success of its gold bars, the warehouse club operator has added silver coins and platinum to its lineup. Shoppers can buy 1-ounce platinum bars and 1-ounce silver and platinum coins online. Supplies are limited, and purchases are nonrefundable. Costco limits it to one transaction per membership with a maximum of five units.
Costco doesn’t make much of a profit from gold bars, using them mainly to boost membership. As a result, consumers can get a good deal, says Rose. But if you want to diversify your portfolio with gold bars, he adds, Costco’s restrictions on sales can be limiting.
2. Walmart
The national retailer sells a variety of gold bars, coins and other precious metals via its Precious Metals shop online. Walmart has been doing this for some time, initially partnering with APMEX, one of the nation’s largest sellers of gold and silver, and later adding several other resellers to its precious metals marketplace. There are no membership requirements to purchase the gold bars online.
3. Amazon
For consumers who want to dabble in bullion on a limited budget, Amazon.com sells grams, gold coins and gold bar jewelry. If you are a Prime member, shipping is free. Amazon allows returns and refunds for gold purchases.
How to store your gold
Flush with your gold bars? Now comes the tricky part: where to store them. Rose says there is no hard and fast rule, and the amount you have will dictate where you keep them.
“Everyone has a different mindset,” he says. “Some people put them under their mattress or in a floor safe, others in a safety deposit.” If you are amassing a small fortune or don’t feel comfortable storing your gold at home, there are licensed storage facilities that specialize in that.
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