Acre Gold is different from your typical gold store. Instead, you subscribe monthly, gradually building your investment. Once you've saved enough, you receive a 2.5-gram gold bar with Acre Gold's unique stamp, delivered straight to your home. After securing your gold bar, the subscription continues, prepping you for your next purchase. Sounds straightforward.
Now, is Acre Gold truly reliable?
About Acre Gold
Per Acre Gold's official site details, it's an innovative venture pioneered by seasoned fintech professionals. These experts have a deep grasp of financial trends and commodity price shifts.
The vision? Transforming the way individuals approach gold investments. Instead of the usual online or pawnshop purchases, Acre Gold lets you gradually save for gold monthly until you can claim a bar.
With operational hubs in Santa Monica, CA, and Boise, ID, Acre Gold may be a budding enterprise (established less than two years ago as of 2021). Yet, the plethora of online reviews suggests its rising interest and growing customer base.
The brain behind Acre Gold? Brendon McQueen. He's notably recognized for creating Tuition.io in 2012, a platform streamlining student loan management, overseeing over $2 billion in student debts. Subsequent ventures saw him co-establish Shuttle Finance, which birthed Acre Gold. This Columbia University alum seamlessly marries tech with his modern business undertakings. Preceding his finance journey, Brendon championed socially impactful content, leading Columbia Observer Magazine and later venturing into public radio hosting and film production.
Brendon propels Acre Gold's vision by harnessing his rich background in debt management and insights from Shuttle Finance. While the firm is in its nascent stages, only time will reveal its long-term impact and growth.
Understanding Acre Gold's Operations
Acre Gold functions like a savings plan. As a budding investor, you set up an account and maintain a monthly subscription. Three subscription options are available based on your pace to secure a gold bar: the $50, $100, and $250 plans. The plan you choose dictates your timeline to accumulate gold.
When your subscription accumulates enough for a 2.5g gold bar, Acre Gold dispatches it to you. Be prepared to cover shipping and handling charges. Your gold is sent discreetly. Even after your first delivery, your subscription continues, sending you a gold bar each time your savings suffice for another 2.5g bar. Any leftover amount rolls over towards your next gold purchase.
For those who opt for a $100 monthly contribution, every time your savings hit the mark, you receive a five-gram gold piece. A minimal $12 initiation fee is applicable, and after that, you're all set. Reliable online service ReCharge processes your monthly contributions, a trusted name overseeing numerous subscription models.
Costs and Tariffs at Acre Gold
Apart from your regular subscription cost, there are charges for delivery and handling. A $3.35 processing charge is also applied, alongside a continuous membership fee of $12 for as long as your account is active. Should you decide to terminate your subscription, a fee of $20 is levied.
The firm doesn’t openly share the exact cost of their gold bars. With volatile gold prices, you might need to chip in a bit more to get your gold bar. When rates dip, just a few monthly contributions can suffice. Still, they assure competitive pricing for their gold, sourced from well-known mints, reflecting the highest quality.
Understanding Acre Gold’s Quality
If you’re investing, you’d naturally want clarity on the gold's standard and its durability over time. Acre Gold provides comprehensive details, ensuring their clientele have faith in their offerings.
Their bars boast a purity of 0.9999 fine gold - that’s top-grade. Subscribers paying $30 or $50 monthly receive bars weighing 2.5 grams, whereas those paying $100 receive bars that weigh up to five grams. Gold bars are dispatched in sealed assay packets to maintain confidentiality, ensuring your gold's security. The parcel, appearing ordinary, conceals its precious content, a strategy the company employs.
Each bar prominently displays the Acre Gold Logo, denoting its weight and gold's purity. The flip side also carries the Acre Gold emblem. Each package is nestled in a sleek box featuring a display drawer. The gold's lustrous finish undoubtedly captivates potential purchasers.
Acre Gold's website stands out for its simplicity and user-friendly design. This straightforwardness is a plus, yet it lacks some elements that gold enthusiasts typically seek. Beyond the main page, you'll only find an 'About Us' section.
The main page outlines everything an investor might need: the fee structure, the investment journey, and foundational company information. They also proudly display positive feedback from their clientele.
Where many gold investment platforms provide blogs, educational content, and news updates, Acre Gold's site doesn't. To deepen your gold investment knowledge, you'll need to explore outside sources before diving in. The FAQ section needs to be present, which leaves potential investors with gaps in their understanding of the platform.
Nevertheless, they are active on social media, with visible links to their Facebook and Instagram pages. Their social channels are open for communication if you need to reach out, inquire, or provide feedback.
Customer Care at Acre Gold
Acre Gold's primary contact method is via their email at [email protected]. Additionally, they're active on their social media profiles, providing prompt replies. Sadly, they don't offer a direct phone line or a real-time chat on their official site.
This means immediate feedback is only sometimes guaranteed. That said, their email support team quickly addresses concerns and queries. Notably, on BBB, they've tackled every complaint brought forward. While a handful of responses might not hit the mark, most effectively handle customer concerns.
After your initial two months of subscription, Acre Gold provides monthly updates directly to your inbox. This summary showcases your contributions and indicates how much more you need to accumulate to qualify for a gold bar. Moreover, when your gold bar is ready for dispatemail, I will email you the shipments.
In essence, email stands out as Acre Gold's predominant communication avenue. Beyond that, their engagement mainly takes place on their social platforms. Their Instagram often features gold-related news and insights, while their Facebook tends to lean more towards promotional content, nudging folks to consider gold investments.
Feedback from the Consumer's Corner
Upon scanning their social media activity, numerous positive feedbacks emerge. They boast around 20,000 Instagram followers and a commendable 55,283 on Facebook. While some individuals express difficulties reaching customer support, the vast majority echo favourable sentiments about the platform; the enterprise holds on the Better Business Bureau platform B- ranking. When considering A+ as the pinnacle, this rating seems relatively low. Additionally, the enterprise still needs to achieve BBB Accreditation, indicating they fall short of BBB's accreditation standards.
A common thread in BBB reviews is the perceived information gap and insufficient contact avenues with the firm. Reviewers frequently point out the limited communication modes, terming them as sluggish. Additionally, some customers lament the company's perceived opaqueness about pricing and the absence of a contribution tracking mechanism. The sole dependency is the monthly report they dispatch. Such transparency issues have unsettled a few.
However, it's worth noting that Acre Gold diligently addresses all concerns raised on BBB. The company grapples with communication hiccups. Email correspondences often face prolonged response times, exacerbating issue resolution delays. Moreover, some report tardiness in gold deliveries. In response, Acre Gold clarified the surging gold demand since 2020, resulting in an overwhelmed minting process, thereby delaying gold dispatches.
Currently, the firm sits at a three-star rating out of a potential five. Addressing these hurdles could enhance their standing, as other significant issues seem absent. Platforms like TrustPilot and similar consumer review sites must have their footprint, leaving potential clients to lean on BBB and social media testimonials.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Acre Gold
Advantages
The monthly subscription rate is within reach for most individuals. If you've ever dreamt of having gold but couldn't gather thousands instantly, this plan offers a starting point for your investment journey.
Getting started is a breeze. Just provide your details, and you're set to begin your gold acquisition.
Every piece of gold is pristine, 0.9999 fine quality, sourced from Switzerland, ensuring unparalleled standards. To date, there have been no qualms regarding its calibre.
The company's approach is straightforward – contribute a monthly fee, and once it accumulates sufficiently, gold gets dispatched to your address.
Downsides:
The onus of covering shipping and handling for gold deliveries falls on you. Additionally, a service fee applies.
Contact routes are limited to just email and social platforms.
Unlike numerous gold investment peers, they don’t impart investor know-how. An FAQ section is conspicuously missing where one might gain insights about the venture or firm.
The firm's openness, especially concerning gold pricing and account updates, leaves room for improvement. The website doesn’t offer tools for account oversight.
Affiliate Program
When you refer individuals to the company, you stand to gain a commission. Managed by LeadDyno, the affiliate program has received glowing feedback online. Upon enrolling in their affiliate scheme, the firm provides resources to kick off your promotions. They offer a real-time dashboard to watch your earnings grow and track your commissions.
Is Acre Gold Legitimate?
Rest assured, Acre Gold isn't fraudulent. Though relatively fresh in the market and facing negative feedback online, no reviewer has flagged them for stealing funds. Some users mention that they opted out of their subscription and were fully refunded, save for a $20 termination fee. Such refund instances are notably mentioned on Better Business Bureau, showing a consistent trend of successful cancellations.
While there have been hiccups in communication and clarity, up to now, there's been no instance or claim of deceitful practices by the company.
Is Investing in Acre Gold the Right Move for You?
Acre Gold is an appealing option for those who find hefty gold bars from other firms out of reach. With as little as $30 set aside monthly, you're on your way to owning a small gold bar after a few months. It's a manageable route for those without significant savings.
Opting for Acre Gold, however, means navigating the hurdles that come with newer businesses. Be prepared for a somewhat delayed customer service and gold delivery experience. Plus, the absence of a streamlined account management system might pose challenges.
Disclosure: The information provided on this website is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. We may earn a commission if you decide to open a gold IRA account with one of our affiliate partners. Please note that investing in gold IRAs carries risks, and it is important to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not guarantee any specific returns or investment outcomes. Please read our privacy policy carefully before making any investment decisions. The products offered on this website are not endorsed, sponsored, authorized, or associated with the Department of the Treasury or the United States Mint.
With over 20 years in the financial industry, Mike specializes in Gold IRAs and precious metal investments. Inspired by his family's history and the financial wisdom of his grandfather, Mike is passionate about helping individuals secure their retirement through stable and guaranteed assets. A Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Financial Consultant®, he's a trusted voice in the financial community.