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I was told by a friend who used to own a local Pawn Shop that Garfield Refinery was a dependable place to send your scrap gold to for converting to cash. I had already taken my gold to a local pawn shop and was told they would pay $11.00 a gram for 14 Karat gold. I called Garfield Refining Company, and they said they would pay me $16.21 per gram to individuals for 14 Karat gold AFTER their small refining fee. I was pleased to see they would pay this much. I tested my gold, weighed it, and calculated I had AT LEAST $856.00 worth of gold according to their quote, and I also sent in over 2 pounds of sterling silver (with an approximate value of $400.00). When the check arrived, it was for $302.00!
I immediately called, and was told it would be TWO DAYS before they could pull my information to see if there was a mistake. I was also told 'Perhaps the items you thought were gold were actually gold plated.' Again, all of this gold was tested twice by myself and the local pawn shop before sending it in! When this didn't work, they told me perhaps they could try to give me a better OFFER two days from now! I was also told 'perhaps you should have included a detailed list of what you sent us and what you had already been offered for the items...this way, we could see if our company could match or beat that quote.' **I told them I was quoted $16.21 per gram by THEIR company BEFORE sending it in!** Their 'detailed report' accompanying the check stated 'Gold--$165.00; Silver--$137.00.' No details such as weights, any non-precious metals found, etc. I asked them on the phone 'How much did my metals weigh?' They would NOT tell me! I just told them I was sending the check back to them. They still tried to get me to wait until two days later (this would have made me pass the 10 day guarantee date, and by default, I would have had no choice but to take the $302.00!)
I returned the check, and received melted blobs of what 'looks' like gold and silver. Now I have no clue what percentage of gold vs alloy I have, or what percentage of silver vs alloy! What in the world can I do with this now! Send it off to another refinery? I DON'T THINK SO! I would have been better off to have kept my gold and sold it locally. I am glad of one thing...that I do not belong to a company who reaps their rewards by preying on the elderly and those who desperately need any money offered to them. If that's what it takes for this company to get ahead in life, I don't see how they can sleep at night knowing that it all comes back to them in the end.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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I have sold gold to Garfield for over 30 years and ALWAYS been paid market rate. Amounts varied from $800 to $9000 and shipments were processed with detailed assay amounts with a check arriving within 72 hours via overnight service, usually with no charge for shipping. A great company who has always treated me and my referrals fairly. I can only assume that this isolated case is exaqctly that, isolated.
I had a similar problem with them. My gold was bought as flat sizing stock and round wire from Stuller inc. Since I have been dealing with Stuller for years and they dont sell their reputation for money, the issue was all Garfield. The scrap was melted into a disc and sent in to Garfield. I calculated the gram weight and it was all 14K. They returned with a low, low ball check and essay at 4K. Thats FOUR KARAT and not FOURTEEN. I called right away and was treated very badly by a wise [censor] named Joel. He claimed that the scrap was in filings and that they added X amount of copper to the total to get another gram weight and karatage. I called the district attornys office in Philadelphia and they were not surprised and wanted the details. I sent them the copy of the Garfield essay and reciepts from Stuller. They said that they would take it from there as they had similar issues and complaints. With gold at an all time high imagine the opportunity for theft. Items were scrapped, tested and then sent in to them once more. This time they managed to send the proper amount but with no details of the gram weights or karatage. Everything was presented to the prosecuters office.
Your welcome Joel, Your good buddy Sam who you treated like it was my first day in the feild and not my twenty fifth year. Your not as smart as you think you are.
I work in a refinery and rarely find people have what they think concerning scrap gold and silver. When you start dealing with gold the issue can get heated very quickly, and now we are at $1300 plus it is going to bring the true junk in.
GARFIELD CLAIMS THEY WILL SHIP YOUR CHECK WITHIN 24 HOURS. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. THEY RECEIVED MY ITEMS ON DECEMBER 15, 2010. I CALLED ON DECECMBER 17, 2010 TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT. (NANCY) TOLD ME THAT MY PACKAGE WAS THERE BUT WOULD NOT BE ASSAYED UNTIL DECEMBER 20th. I THEN ASKED ABOUT THE 24HOUR STANDARD. SHE TOLD ME THAT MY ITEMS CONTAINED BASE METALS. THIS REALLY TICKED ME OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT I'VE HAD WITH GARFIELD. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS WHEN THEY SHORTED ME ON THE AMOUNT I WAS OWED. I QUICKLY CALLED AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I AM NOT STUPID AND HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH GOLD AND SILVER FOR A LONG TIME. THEY THEN SENT AN ADDITIONAL CHECK. FOR NOW ON I AM STRICLY DEALING WITH MIDWEST REFINERIES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH MIDWEST REFINERIES PLUS THEY PAY MORE. THE MOST GARFIELD WILL PAY IS 90% FOR GOLD AND 70% FOR SILVER. MIDWEST REFINERIES PAYS 95% FOR GOLD AND 90% FOR SILVER. AND MIDWEST HAS NEVER BEEN LATE WITH THE CHECK.
I sent in several silver shipments and only seemed to get half the value, and it was also no where near 24 hours
I just went to Garfield Refinery thinking big reliable business VP Joel worked with me. 43.2 grams of gold i was told was plated or metal! this was my personal jewelry and jewelry i purchased wholesale from big ligitamate companies in NYC for years! I should have gotten $1700 and got $950 mostly from 1200 grams of silver from MY silver business. Like you they offered to give me my scrap melted and return the advance. What the hell am i supposed to do with a lump of who knows what. People STAY AWAY! I PARTED WITH PERSONAL JEWELRY I ALSO KNOW IS GOLD TO PAY BILLS AND NOW I HAVE NOTHING FOR IT BUT A [censor] LIE! Yes Joel was politely rude saying he is disturbed about it! huh! What kills me is i parted with jewelry to pay bills to be lied to and robbed by this company and yes I will call the District Attorney as well.
Collecting PA Sales Tax on Silver = Tax Fraud.
Garfield's Refining has been reported for tax fraud! STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
THEY DONT WANT YOU BUSINESS!
I just recently ran a test on the speed of service between Garfield refining and Midwest refining company. I sent in two seperate shipments to each company on the same days. I have already received the two checks from Midwest refining company. I have not received any checks from Garfield. I called Garfield refining and was told that if I would have sent in bigger lots I would have received faster service and more money because it costs them 30 or 40 dollars to assay my items. I was also told that they dont make money from my lots. I was also told that since I didnt sent in $10, 000 worth of gold I would not be paid a big percentage as they would others. Midwest refining will pay you a fair price no matter what you send in. Garfield Refining will treat the small customers like crap. Your checks will come in slower and slower until you finally get the point. THEY DONT WANT YOU BUSINESS!
GARFIELD ARE THE BIGGEST THIEVES EVER BY FARRR! I DID BUSSINES ONCE AND THEY TOOK ME BIG TIME. I AM IN THE JELWELRY TRADE FOR 40 YEARS. I KNOW EVERITHYNG AND ANYTHING IN THIS TRADE. I STARTED IN NY; IN THE HEART OF THE JEWELRY INDUSTRIE . STUPID ME I SEND TO GARFIELD A FEEW POUNDS OF GOLD SCRAP, I STILL WAITING FOR MY MONEY. I COMPLAIN EVERY WHERE; I EVEN CALL THE AUTORITIES TO HAVE THEN INVESTIGUETED FOR GRAN LARCENY... THIS COMPANY ARE BEING DOING THIS FOR EVER AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING STOLEN FROM ALL OF US. DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKE, AND TELL EVERYONE WHAT THEY ARE: CROOKS!
I also was ripped off by Garfield refining and I would advise consumers to stay away. This company was recommended to me by my dentist who pulled a 22k gold molar out of my mouth. I took my tooth home to show my kids and they said "how much will the tooth fairy give you for that tooth?" I said I had no idea, so I went into a pawn shop where I was offer $54. My kids were so impressed. I put the tooth under the pillow, left myself some money and shipped the tooth into Garfield Refining figuring I would actually get a little more than $54 since Pawn Shops low ball things. Weeks later I received a check for $15.18! I was obviously not happy about this and told them I had the paperwork showing it was a 22k gold tooth. They offered to ship the metal back to me, which of course I didn't trust them, if they were going to cheat me so badly with the value, who knows what they would ship back to me. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND NOT USING THIS COMPANY. THEY ABSOLUTELY CHEATED ME. I have reported them to my Dentist and now to the better business bureau. Your dentist will tell you how much gold is in your crowns - companies like this should be avoided, once you mail your valuables in, they have you, and they know it.
I do not understand these complaints. I am a Custom Jeweler and have been in the business for 45 years. I run a Custom Jewelry only business. That means that We have no inventory and, we have been rated the Best jeweler in Nashville on Citysearch every year since 2002. As a forensic Gemologist I carefully test all gemstones and carat % of all gold that I take as trade in for the specific job that I am doing. We do not buy gold, off the street. That's a dirty business as far as I'm concerned and I will not take advantage of a person who is in financial distress.
We test every scrape of gold that we send to Garfield and seperate all the different metals into their own envelopes. When we send them
our scrap Jewelry, they have never never never tried the cheat us or tell us we were wrong.
THE PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT MOST CITIZENS THINK THAT THE JEWELRY THAT THEY GOT OR WAS GIVEN TO THEM ARE LIKE THE ENGLISH ROYAL GEMS. THIS IS SO STUPID and this happens every day.
I know my businerss inside and out and if were to think that Garfield refiners are not Kosher, I would not do business with them.
Andrew is there for you and he will honestly answer your questions.
If People think that Garfield refinery is dishonest then go to anPawn shop or your local Jeweler and see what they will give you.
J.Yontef Diamonds & Custom jewelry.
I sent some gold and silver to get refined there trying to pay me 63 dollars even know the value was at least a couple thousand dollars . Called someone there and they said there was little to no gold in the box even know half the stuff was marked 14K. Shipment #1365808