Blanchard Gold Explored: Your In-Depth Analysis

Operating under the name of Blanchard Gold, Blanchard, and Company distinguishes itself as a dealer of precious metals. Yet, their shipping procedures raise eyebrows, and many highly critical reviews are hard to ignore. Is it worth navigating the potential inconveniences?

We've dissected the offerings of this firm, identified who may reap the most rewards from their provisions, and evaluated whether you should contemplate an investment alliance with them. Additionally, we provide suggestions for gold dealers with a more vital track record of exceptional customer service in case you seek an indisputable commitment to your satisfaction.

About Blanchard

Having set its roots over forty years ago, Blanchard has proven its mettle by guiding individuals to invest wisely, even amidst the most catastrophic financial upheavals in recent memory. Their driving mission is to empower folks to diversify their assets through investment in precious metals.

As well as facilitating purchases of precious metals, Blanchard caters to numismatic enthusiasts, offering rare coins for collection. Although these coins don't qualify for a self-directed IRA and carry a risk tag, they can be genuinely prized assets for coin collectors. The core value of the company lies in its unshakeable integrity and honesty.

Blanchard takes pride in a team that is exclusively composed of precious metal industry mavens. They are ready to share their insights about precious metals, their historical trajectory, and the factors influencing their market value, equipping you with an educated perspective.

Operating from the heart of New Orleans, Blanchard has made it their standard practice to equip clients with pertinent information before any investment. Their expertise covers broader investment tactics and economic forecasting beyond precious metals.

These specialists are on hand to elucidate the essentials of a balanced investment portfolio. Precious metals are often the go-to choice, given their counteractive performance to the stock market's ups and downs. When stock prices tumble, precious metals appreciate, and vice versa.

Consequently, precious metals form a crucial pillar in a diversified investment portfolio. For those in retirement or needing ready wealth for emergencies, precious metals are a buffer against market turbulence and economic downturns.

While Blanchard presents numerous strong points as an investment partner, it's worth mentioning that there are alternative providers who outshine them in certain areas. Blanchard can undoubtedly facilitate your metal purchases for personal storage, but their storage solutions might not be worth your while.

Should you consider incorporating precious metals into a retirement account, we suggest partnering with a dedicated gold IRA firm. Such companies possess a solid grasp of tax regulations and can effortlessly guide you through account initiation and funding.

Company History

A particularly fascinating facet of Blanchard lies in its influential role in shaping the precious metals sector. The company's founding figure was a prominent advocate for the rights of US citizens to possess personal gold, a privilege previously unavailable to Americans.

This crusade witnessed several pivotal events, with one of the most emblematic being the display of a banner by an airplane over President Nixon's second inauguration.

The campaign's efforts were finally rewarded in 1974 when President Ford responded to the public outcry by legalizing gold ownership once more. Jim Blanchard, the company's founder, was duly recognized by the World Gold Association as the Man of the Year in 1984, acknowledging his sustained contributions to the precious metals arena.

Blanchard boasts over four decades of gold trading expertise and offers a more multifaceted approach to investment strategies than many of its rivals. As highlighted earlier, all team members possess the know-how to advise on the most fitting investments tailored to your objectives.

Services Offered

Blanchard operates as a trader of precious metals. Their platform enables you to acquire platinum, palladium, silver, and gold bars and coins, all of which meet the required purity standards for inclusion in retirement accounts.

The firm also ensures a buyback guarantee. This means that when you convert your assets into cash, Blanchard stands ready to repurchase them. You'll receive an offer corresponding to the prevailing market rate. While you might end up with less if you initially paid above the market rate, you're safeguarded from being taken advantage of.

Gold companies often provide this buyback service as it encourages purchases. A challenging part of gold investment is transforming precious metals into spendable money. Knowing there's a buyer from the outset eases worries about potential losses when it's time to sell.

Moreover, Blanchard is open to buying gold if you possess gold, a service many gold firms need to extend. Such companies usually only repurchase items they initially sold. You can monitor market prices to estimate how much Blanchard might offer. Any quoted prices will be based on the current gold market price.

Absence of Gold IRA Services

Gold IRAs are among the most favored forms of gold investment, providing a tax-deferred mechanism for investing in precious metals. You only pay taxes when you're ready to draw dividends. This appeals to those desiring a diversified retirement portfolio, offering some security against economic downturns.

However, Blanchard does not provide specific IRA services. Unlike many competitor firms specializing in IRAs, they won't manage an IRA account on your behalf.

Should you wish to establish an IRA, engaging a specialist is advisable. Specialists can streamline the entire operation, eliminating the need for interaction with third parties. They'll guide you through the documentation, connect you with a custodian, and clarify the process.

Blanchard doesn't offer this. They're more suited to those seeking personal investment purchases, not the best choice for those intending to invest long-term.

Customer Reviews

Customer feedback is scarce in this business, and the few existing reviews don't paint a flattering picture. It's surprising to encounter a lack of consumer feedback for a company in the field for many decades.

TrustLink features just a single confirmed review, rating one star. Regarding BBB reviews, the company's overall average falls below 1.5 stars. However, the BBB has accredited the company with an A+ rating.

All complaints lodged with the BBB have been concluded and addressed. Even with the limited number of reviews available, the volume of BBB complaints could be more troublesome.

The Business Consumers Alliance is another reliable source where people seek information about various businesses. They disclose details about industry frontrunners in the precious metals market, providing insights into the most trusted companies.

No grievances have been registered against the firm with the BCA in the past three years. Despite this, the company holds a B rating, not one of the highest available grades. This remains to be seen but might be related to an inconsistent performance history.

TrustLink only displays a single company review. A disgruntled client scored their experience as one star, citing unnecessary fees, inflated commission rates, and collectible coins of questionable value. They advised only buying bullion.

The lack of positive reviews on TrustLink is unfortunate. This solitary negative feedback might make potential investors rethink their investment choices.

On the Ripoff Report website, two reports have been submitted. Blanchard has attempted to address the complaints via the site. Both grievances were related to dissatisfaction with the company's services and products. One mentioned a ten-day wait for their precious metals, a delay reasonably typical in the industry.

The Upsides of the Business

Indeed, while acknowledging the negative reviews, there are some essential company positives to consider:

Noteworthy points include:

• In the last three years, the BCA has received no complaints.

• The buyback program lets you sell your metals to them at the current market price.

• Various coins and bars of precious metals are available in their marketplace.

Arguably, the buyback program is the primary incentive to collaborate with them. Several other firms won't repurchase your metals, or they'll offer less than the market price to ensure their profit. That's not the situation here.

However, the buyback program has its stipulations. The main one is that only within ten days of purchasing can you sell collectible coins. Beyond that, Blanchard won't accept them. This is typical as collectible coins are an unpredictable investment.

If you need to know whether your assets will be included, you can contact the company to inquire about your potential purchases' coverage. Their representatives can elaborate on any other program details you need to understand.

However, some well-established firms offer good buyback programs, superior customer service, and more commendable reviews than Blanchard. Thus, we suggest one of these before squandering money on a potentially vexing experience.

The company emphasizes that trust is a crucial element in their client relationships. They aspire to cultivate enduring relationships that accommodate growth. Nevertheless, considering their focus on trust, it's odd that positive user reviews are hard to find online.

The team's expertise is a significant attraction. Indeed, it may be the company's most crucial feature. The founder has devoted his life to the precious metals industry, passionate about gold and enabling Americans to invest in precious metals.

The team also associates with specific organizations, including:

• The Cato Institute

• The Industry Council for Tangible Assets

• The Coalition for Equitable Regulation and Taxation

These organizations keep updated on the latest developments in the precious metals industry and the worldwide economy. The Coalition for Equitable Taxation also advocates for fairer financial regulations and more transparent tax laws for those with diverse investment portfolios.

Along with placing a part of your wealth into precious metals, Blanchard offers advice on how different assets can safeguard you. The kind and purity of various gold will affect the long-term value.

You can invest in several types of gold assets to achieve a better balance in your portfolio. Some of their fundamental guidelines include:

• Bullion is the best investment for potential short-term gains.

• Numismatic collectibles are riskier but can yield significant long-term returns as they grow rarer.

• Mint state gold is the most stable asset you can invest in and is suitable for financial security.

Is the Company Genuine or a Scam?

In operation for several decades, Blanchard and Company provides authentic products and never deceives customers about their offerings, ruling out their categorization as a scam. However, their shipping protocols have previously sparked issues and numerous grievances lodged with the BBB.

Investing your assets with a company that guarantees their safety is paramount. A reliable firm boasts well-versed representatives, a dynamic market, an efficient buyback program, and exceptional customer service. It should leave you feeling confident about your business transactions.

Regrettably, many clients have expressed dissatisfaction with their business interactions with Blanchard. They are a fitting option if your goal is merely to acquire precious metals without needing continued storage. Yet, if you're looking for an enduring customer relationship, exploring alternatives is advisable.

Blanchard employs its four-decade-long expertise as a testament to their capability. However, it's plausible that they've struggled to adapt to an evolving economy's requirements. They need to gain the digital prominence displayed by many of their competitors.

Final Thoughts

While Blanchard and Company don't fall into the category of the worst precious metals investment entities in the market, it doesn't claim the title of the best either.

The primary concern lies in the numerous consumer grievances concerning customer service, shipping processes, and charges. Customers have frequently reported extended delivery times for their purchases. Thus, they could be better if you're seeking a lasting business relationship.

On the bright side, their precious metals market does present cost-effective alternatives. 

Therefore, it is a perfect choice for individuals intending to make a one-off purchase of precious metals without needing continual storage expenses. You're at liberty to organize a storage vault independently.

For those interested in initiatives like establishing a self-directed IRA with precious metals, you'll achieve more fruitful outcomes by collaborating with a company specializing in that realm.