When investing in precious metals, JM Bullion and APMEX are top-tier platforms known for their comprehensive services and diverse product offerings.
Founded in 2011 and based in Texas, JM Bullion specializes in helping investors diversify their portfolios with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Recognized for its reliability and excellent customer service, the company provides competitive pricing, a buyback program, IRA assistance, and a loan program secured by precious metals.
Find the Best Gold IRA Company of Your State
Introduction to JM Bullion
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Texas, JM Bullion has become a prominent force in the precious metals industry. Established by Jonathan Wanchalk and currently led by CEO Michael Wittmeyer, the company is committed to helping investors diversify their portfolios through precious metals investments.
Specializing in the buying and selling of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, JM Bullion serves as a valuable resource for those looking to protect their retirement savings or expand their investment strategies.
With over a decade of experience, the company has earned a reputation for reliability and professionalism, making it a trusted partner for investors navigating the complexities of the precious metals market.
Introduction to APMEX
Based in Oklahoma City and formerly known as the American Precious Metals Exchange, APMEX is a dominant player in online precious metals trading, ranking among the largest e-commerce retailers in the U.S. Since its founding in 2000, the company has been led by President and Chairman Scott Thomas, alongside CEO Kenneth Lewis.
APMEX sets itself apart by providing a superior experience in the precious metals market, offering high-quality products, secure storage solutions, fast delivery, and exceptional customer service. Notably, its customer support is highly responsive, with multiple assistance channels, including live chat for urgent inquiries.
Types of Precious Metals Available
JM Bullion — Precious Metals Available
JM Bullion offers an extensive selection of precious metals, catering to both investors and collectors. Their inventory includes gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper products from prestigious mints worldwide.
Investors can choose from popular coins such as the American Gold Eagle, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, and American Silver Eagle.
For those interested in bars and rounds, JM Bullion provides options ranging from 1 gram to 1 kilogram, sourced from reputable private mints like PAMP Suisse and Johnson Matthey. Collectors can also explore a variety of limited-edition and customizable products, including engraved bars and specialty coins.
APMEX — Precious Metals Available
APMEX offers an extensive product lineup that rivals and often surpasses JM Bullion’s selection. Like JM Bullion, APMEX provides a diverse range of physical bullion, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and even rare metals like rhodium.
Their inventory features coins, bars, and rounds from renowned mints such as the United States Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Perth Mint, with investment-grade bullion options like the American Gold Eagle and Canadian Silver Maple Leaf.
What sets APMEX apart is its broader selection of international coins, giving investors access to a more geographically diverse range of bullion options. Additionally, APMEX excels in offering rare and hard-to-find items, including vintage coins, limited editions, and exclusive series such as the Lunar Series coins.
Comparison:
Both JM Bullion and APMEX provide an extensive selection of precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper.
JM Bullion focuses on offering a well-rounded inventory that caters to a range of budgets and investment needs, while APMEX sets itself apart with a broader collection of international coins and a strong emphasis on rare and exclusive items. With its focus on unique and limited-edition pieces, APMEX is a top choice for collectors seeking distinctive and hard-to-find treasures.
Shipping, Storage, and Costs
JM Bullion — Shipping, Storage, and Costs:
JM Bullion is widely recognized for its exceptional customer service, along with competitive shipping and storage options. Orders under $199 incur a $9.95 shipping fee, while those exceeding $199 qualify for free, fully insured shipping.
For secure storage, JM Bullion partners with Transcontinental Depository Services, offering safekeeping solutions with the first six months free for assets valued over $3,000.
However, specific storage fees are not disclosed on their website, raising concerns about pricing transparency. A global map of available storage facilities is provided for investor reference.
APMEX — Shipping, Storage, and Costs:
APMEX charges a $9.95 shipping fee for orders under $199, while orders exceeding this amount qualify for free, fully insured shipping.
For secure storage, APMEX partners with its subsidiary, Citadel Global Depository Services, Inc., offering safe, fully insured storage at competitive rates—approximately one-third the cost of some competitors. Unlike JM Bullion, APMEX provides transparent pricing for storage fees, which vary based on portfolio value. Investors can also use a convenient slider tool on the APMEX website to calculate exact storage costs.
Additionally, APMEX supports a wide range of payment methods, including wire transfers, credit/debit cards, paper checks, eChecks, PayPal, and select cryptocurrencies.
Comparison:
Both JM Bullion and APMEX provide free shipping for orders over $199, charging $9.95 for smaller orders, with insured shipping.
For storage, APMEX’s partnership with Citadel offers more transparency and lower fees compared to JM Bullion’s Transcontinental Depository Services, which lacks specific cost details.
APMEX’s clear pricing structure for storage and the user-friendly tool for calculating costs provide a more transparent and straightforward approach for customers.
Extra Services
JM Bullion — Extra Services:
JM Bullion enhances the investor experience with a range of additional services. Their buyback program allows investors to sell their precious metals, with pricing details available upon request.
The company also assists with setting up precious metals IRAs, helping investors incorporate gold and silver into their retirement portfolios. Additionally, JM Bullion offers a loan program through CFC, allowing investors to leverage the equity in their precious metals holdings for financial flexibility.
APMEX — Extra Services:
APMEX provides a range of additional services designed to enhance the investor experience. Their Portfolio Management tool allows users to track the daily value of their precious metals holdings and set up pricing alerts for market movements.
APMEX also offers The Bullion Card, a credit card that rewards investors with 4% cash back on all APMEX purchases.
Additionally, their AutoInvest program enables investors to schedule automatic purchases, making it easier to implement a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy for long-term portfolio growth.
Comparison:
Both JM Bullion and APMEX offer value-added services to enhance the investor experience. JM Bullion provides a buyback program, IRA setup assistance, and a loan program that allows investors to leverage their precious metals holdings.
On the other hand, APMEX distinguishes itself with innovative tools, including a Portfolio Management feature for tracking portfolio value, The Bullion Card, which offers cash-back rewards on purchases, and an AutoInvest program for automated investments using dollar-cost averaging.
Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on which additional services best align with an investor’s needs and financial strategy.
Conclusion: JM Bullion vs APMEX
Both JM Bullion and APMEX provide a vast selection of precious metals, competitive shipping options, and valuable investor-focused services.
JM Bullion excels in portfolio diversification and liquidity, offering a buyback program, IRA setup assistance, and a loan program that allows investors to leverage their precious metals holdings.
In contrast, APMEX stands out with a broader selection of international coins, rare and exclusive items, and transparent storage fees.
It also offers unique services such as Portfolio Management for tracking investments, “The Bullion Card” with cash-back rewards, and the “AutoInvest” program for automated investing.
These features cater to investors looking for advanced tools to manage and grow their portfolios.
Ultimately, the choice between JM Bullion and APMEX depends on individual preferences whether prioritizing comprehensive support and buyback options or a wider range of exclusive products and portfolio management tools.
Regardless of choice, both companies are trusted industry leaders, ensuring a secure and professional experience for investors.
