Briefgold: Selling Old Gold Safely by Post

The short answer first

Is Briefgold safe? Yes, provided you follow a few basic rules — above all, adequately insuring the shipment, properly documenting your items before sending, and using a vetted, reputable buyer. For anyone without a nearby branch, or who'd simply rather skip the trip, Briefgold is a convenient, location-independent alternative. If, on the other hand, you want to be present for the valuation yourself and have the money in hand immediately — especially for valuable individual pieces — a branch visit is the better fit.

Not sure what your old gold is worth? Get an estimated buy-back value directly online with Geiger Edelmetalle's old gold calculator — non-binding and free of charge.

What exactly is Briefgold?

Briefgold is simply the shipping route for selling precious metals: instead of presenting your old gold in person at a branch, you pack it securely, send it by post to the buyer, and receive an offer after inspection — plus, if you accept, payout to your account. At Geiger Edelmetalle, you can sell the same items this way as via in-branch old gold buy-back: jewellery, coins, cutlery, silverware and dental gold. Excluded from buy-back are items with a precious metal content below 30 percent, as well as gemstones, pearls and amber, since these can't be valued by fine content.

The word "Brief" (letter) isn't meant literally here — it's a special, padded, insured shipping envelope, not an ordinary letter envelope.

Why do customers choose this route? Not everyone lives near a branch, and not everyone has time during the day for an in-person appointment. Briefgold saves the journey and can be handled calmly from home. The trade-off: instead of immediate cash payout on the spot, you need to accept the processing time and the shipping route.

How shipping works at Geiger Edelmetalle, step by step

The process breaks down into a few clearly understandable steps:

1. Get an estimated value online in advance: the old gold calculator gives you an initial, non-binding sense of the possible buy-back proceeds.
2. Request a shipping envelope: afterwards, you can request a shipping envelope including a return label, free of charge — shipping within Germany is free for you as a customer.
3. Pack carefully: your precious metals first go into a security pouch, which then goes into the padded shipping envelope with a secure, tight seal.
4. Enclose the accompanying form and a copy of your ID: the completed item accompanying form, plus a clearly legible copy of your ID card (front and back), must be included with the shipment — this is a legal requirement for buying precious metals.
5. Drop off at a post office: using the enclosed label, you hand in the shipment, insured, at a post office. For larger or higher-value shipments, Geiger also names UPS, DHL, Malca-Amit and INTEX as further shipping partners.

One advantage of this standardised process: you don't need to organise anything yourself, especially not suitable packaging or your own EUR 12,500 insurance. Keep the drop-off receipt from the post office anyway — it's your proof that the shipment was actually sent, and therefore important for your own protection (more on that shortly).

What happens once your shipment arrives?

After receipt, Geiger professionally examines your precious metals and determines the current daily buy-back price. If the actual quantity or fineness deviates by more than 10 percent from your figures, Geiger contacts you beforehand. The online calculator therefore provides a reliable estimate for guidance, but not a binding offer. This is an important difference from a branch visit: there, you see the assessment result immediately and can decide on the spot, whereas with shipping there's naturally somewhat more time between sending your items and receiving an offer.

Assessment usually takes 5 to 10 business days after your shipment is received. If you agree to the assessed price, payout follows within a few further business days directly to your bank account — a cash payout isn't available for the shipping route, unlike at a branch.

What if I don't agree with the offer?

You're under no obligation to accept an offer. If you decline it — entirely, or for individual items — your items are shipped back to you. Here's the key point: the return shipment is insured, but it isn't free. The cost is either deducted from any credit for the items you did accept, or billed separately. You should factor this into your decision from the outset, especially if you only intend to sell part of what you sent in.

Is Briefgold safe? Here's what the Verbraucherzentrale advises

Shipping valuables by post always carries a degree of risk — unlike an in-person handover at a branch, you're parting with your items before knowing the final offer. Germany's Verbraucherzentrale, in its guide on selling old gold, points above all to one problem: ordinary parcels are often insured only up to around EUR 500, so with higher-value shipments, a loss can mean real financial damage. Its recommendations for shipping:

• Document weight and condition before shipping — ideally with photos and, if available, a scale. This gives you your own evidence in case of a dispute.
• Insure the package sufficiently and use registered/value-declared shipping or dedicated gold shipping envelopes.
• Only ship to dealers with a fixed company address, and document all communication with the buyer.
• Look for certified dealers — according to the Verbraucherzentrale, though, this doesn't replace doing your own due diligence on the offer.
• For amounts above EUR 1,000, the Verbraucherzentrale recommends preferring an in-person sale.

This last recommendation is worth taking seriously — and putting in context. It's aimed primarily at the risk of under-insured shipments. That's exactly what Geiger's default EUR 12,500 coverage on the shipping envelope addresses. What the shipping route can't offer, though, is a valuation in your presence, which the Verbraucherzentrale also recommends. For valuable individual pieces, inherited jewellery or larger collections, the takeaway is: for values above EUR 12,500, be sure to register higher insurance coverage in advance — or, in line with the Verbraucherzentrale's recommendation, choose an in-person branch visit instead.

Do I need ID to ship?

Yes, regardless of the value of your shipment. A clearly legible copy of your ID card (front and back) must be included with every Briefgold shipment — without it, the buy-back can't be processed. This stems from the legal requirements for buying precious metals, which are meant, among other things, to make trading in stolen goods harder.

Don't confuse this with the anonymity limits that apply when buying precious metals for cash. For when you can buy gold anonymously, and from what amounts identification and reporting requirements kick in, see our article Buying Gold Anonymously: Limits, Rules and Reporting Requirements.

Who is Briefgold particularly suited for?

Briefgold plays to its strengths especially in these situations:

• Long distance to the nearest branch: if you don't live near a Geiger location, the shipping route saves you the journey entirely.
• Little time for an in-person appointment: packing and dropping off at a post office can be done flexibly, without being tied to the buyer's opening hours.
• Individual pieces of jewellery, dental gold or smaller sets of cutlery: here, the effort of a branch visit is disproportionate for many people.
• A first, non-binding estimate: the online calculator gives you a non-binding assessment before you even need to decide on shipping at all.

The shipping route is less suited, on the other hand, if you want to be present for the valuation yourself or are selling very valuable individual pieces. There, an in-person appointment with direct handover and immediate cash payout is often the more reassuring option.

Briefgold or selling at a branch — which suits me?

Both routes have their place, depending on how much time you want to invest and how valuable your items are. For a detailed comparison of all selling routes — including pawnshops, banks and private sales — see our article Selling Gold: Where Do You Get the Best Price?

Do I have to pay tax on a Briefgold sale?

The same tax rules apply to old gold sold via Briefgold as to any other gold sale: what matters most is whether the items count as investment gold or as jewellery/old gold without investment character, as well as the holding period. We explain the exact rules, deadlines and the current exemption limit in detail in our article Selling Gold and Taxes: Holding Period, Tax Office & Exemption Limits.

Summary

Briefgold is a convenient, location-independent way to sell old gold without having to visit a branch — provided you follow a few basic safety rules: adequate insurance, thorough documentation before shipping, and a vetted, reputable buyer. If you want to be present for the valuation yourself, or are selling especially valuable pieces, an in-person branch visit is the better fit. Which route is right for you ultimately depends on the quantity, the value of your items, and how important an immediate payout is to you.

At Geiger Edelmetalle, we insure your Briefgold shipment up to EUR 12,500 by default, with higher amounts by arrangement, and we're happy to advise you personally on which selling route best suits your situation. Calculate your buy-back value online now

Frequently asked questions

What is Briefgold?
Briefgold refers to selling old gold and other precious metals by post: you pack your items securely, send them to the buyer, and receive an offer after inspection — plus, if you accept, payout to your account.

Is shipping gold by post insured?
At Geiger Edelmetalle, the shipping envelope is insured up to EUR 12,500 by default. Higher insurance amounts are generally possible but must be registered in advance. Ordinary parcels, according to the Verbraucherzentrale, are often insured only up to around EUR 500.

How long does a Briefgold sale take?
Assessment usually takes 5 to 10 business days after your shipment is received. If you agree to the assessed price, payout then follows within a few further business days to your account.

Do I need ID to sell via Briefgold?
Yes. Regardless of the value of your shipment, a clearly legible copy of your ID card (front and back) must be included — this is a legal requirement for buying precious metals.