Using reputable dealers that deliver orders placed online. Strange as it sounds, it is, IMO, one of the better and safer (definitely low commission) ways to get

Using reputable dealers that deliver orders placed online. Strange as it sounds, it is, IMO, one of the better and safer (definitely low commission) ways to get gold. BD Bullion, APMEX are good ones. I did not check very recently, but when I did the difference with spot price were under 1% (slightly higher for APMEX, slightly lower for BD). A friend in Australia mentioned the same ballpark, 1-1.5% spread (combined, not each way). 10-20% is a highway robbery!! An important caveat: this only applies to reasonably large orders, 1 oz or larger. You cannot buy $100 of gold with 1% spread.