You stay in control
A photo on WhatsApp is enough for us to tell you which testing pack fits, what the report can and cannot tell you, and what it will cost. Only when you are comfortable do you order the pack.
No part of this involves a shop visit. The testing service is postal-only, anywhere in the UK, with the phone and WhatsApp answered 8am to 9pm, seven days a week.
What this pack is for
A handful of pieces from one inherited jewellery box, a small set of rings off a parent's dressing table, a few coins or sovereigns kept in a tin, the contents of a travel-souvenir purse. Five items is the typical inherited-box count and the pack is priced for it.
If the count rises above five, move up to the estate pack (10 items, £95) or the probate pack (20 items, £195) — both are better value above the £65 family threshold.
What is different from a single-item report
- Five individual reports, one per item, each with its own ID and QR code.
- One comparison table showing every item side by side, ranked by fine gold content.
- One inventory page with photographs of all five items together for a record copy you can keep.
- One cover summary in plain English ("of these five pieces, three are 9ct solid gold, one is 18ct, and one is heavily plated").
How testing works
- Ask first. WhatsApp a photo of the item. You get a quick read on which testing pack to order and an honest answer on whether the test is worth the money for that item.
- Order the pack. Pay online for the testing tier that fits. You get a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, tracked and signed for. No printer needed — a QR code works at the Post Office counter.
- Post when ready. Wrap the item in any padded envelope. There is no deadline. Drop it at any Post Office.
- Test and report. We weigh, photograph and XRF-scan each item across multiple points. You receive a written report inside 24 to 48 hours of receipt.
- Item returned, free. Your item is sent back the same day the report is issued, by tracked, insured Royal Mail Special Delivery. Return postage is included in the testing fee.
Insurance and tracking
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. For higher cover we can arrange a tracked courier before you post, with the cover level agreed in writing first.
The label is Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm next working day, with full tracking and signature on receipt. The tracking link is emailed to you the moment the label is issued.
Return policy
Every item is returned by tracked, insured Special Delivery the same day the report is finalised. The return is included in what you have already paid. Nothing else is added at the end.
If we cannot complete a test for any reason — for example, the surface is too contaminated, or the item is a non-metallic composite — you are refunded in full and the item goes back the same day.
Testing is testing
Plenty of gold buyers will offer a "free test" if you send your item in. That is a sales tool, not an independent service. This page is the other way round: you pay for the test and the report stands on its own. Whether you sell anything afterwards is a separate decision, and one we do not get involved in unless you ask.
The full reasoning is on the dedicated independence pledge page.
What this report is, and what it is not
The report identifies the elemental composition of an item to the accuracy of the analyser. It does not replace a UK hallmark, an Assay Office fire assay, or a written valuation from a qualified valuer for insurance reinstatement purposes. We say so in plain English on the front page of every report.
If a report leaves any doubt, we will tell you what the next step would be — typically a UK Assay Office fire assay (destructive but definitive) for high-value disputes, or a written insurance valuation from a qualified independent valuer for reinstatement cover.
Why sellers choose GoldPaid
GoldPaid is a small, owner-run UK business built on one promise: show the working. Every item is XRF-assayed and weighed on calibrated scales, every offer is itemised in writing, postage is free and insured both ways, and there is never a countdown or a hard sell. If something is worth more to a specialist than to us, we say so.
Common questions
What if one of the items turns out not to be precious metal at all?
It is still reported — the elemental table for that item will simply show the base metals present, and the report says so plainly. The pack price stands.
Is there a deadline for posting after I order?
No. The label stays valid until used. Take as long as you need to find every piece you want included.
Can I add items at the door if I find a sixth?
Tell us before you post. If you want six tested, we will upgrade you to the estate pack and you pay the difference. After the parcel arrives, items above five would need to be returned untested and a top-up paid.
Will the report tell me which one to keep and which to sell?
The report is a composition report, not an emotional or aesthetic judgement. The ranking is by metal value; the rest is your call. The independence pledge applies — the report does not push you to sell anything.