Disclaimer: We are reader supported. We may be compensated from the links in this post, if you use products or services based on our expert recommendations. Please read our Advertising Disclosure.
Boston Bullion is a precious metals dealer based in Burlington, Massachusetts, operating out of a storefront at 127 Cambridge St since it was founded in 2006.
Owner Ken Murphy built the business around a straightforward idea: sell investment-grade gold, silver, platinum, and palladium at fair prices, buy it back at fair prices, and never make customers guess what they'll pay.
That formula has held up for nearly two decades, and in a market now seeing gold above $4,000 per ounce and silver posting historic gains, it has attracted a growing number of Northeast investors who want a dealer they can actually walk into and talk to.
Key Takeaways
- Boston Bullion has maintained an A+ BBB rating since its accreditation in December 2008, with no significant complaints on major consumer protection platforms.
- The company publishes its buy-back price formulas publicly on its website, so sellers know exactly what they'll receive before they call.
- Gold IRAs are available through custodians including Madison Trust Company, with annual fees starting at $95.
Before we get started with this review:
We understand how difficult it is to pick a company that you can trust with your hard earned savings. That's why we create informative and useful information to give you as much knowledge as possible to make the right decision.
We created a list of our highest recommended investment companies, to make comparing and choosing the company best suited to your needs as easy as possible.
Look to see if the Boston Bullion was selected to our "highest recommendation" list this year!
Or...
Get a FREE Gold Investing Packet from our #1 recommendation:
Protect Your Wealth & Get Huge Tax Savings!
Company Background and Credentials
Murphy opened Boston Bullion in 2006 with a focus on physical bullion rather than rare collectibles or numismatic coins. The company won the 2021 Company of the Year Award from the New England Precious Metals Dealers Association, and it has held a BBB A+ rating since first being accredited in December 2008.
Bullion.Directory also assigns the company an A+ rating. For a small business with two to five employees, those credentials carry weight.
The operation runs by appointment and phone order rather than a walk-in storefront model, which suits the nature of high-value transactions.
Murphy has over 20 years of experience in the precious metals sector, and customer reviews across Yelp and Google consistently point to his hands-on involvement as a differentiator. You're not dealing with a call center. You're talking to the person who set the prices.
What Boston Bullion Sells
The inventory covers all four major investment metals: gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Products are sourced from government mints and recognized private refiners, and every item comes with proper certification of authenticity. The range includes:
- Gold coins: American Gold Eagle (1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz), Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Krugerrand, Austrian Philharmonic, Chinese Gold Panda, Australian Kangaroo
- Gold bars: 1 gram through 1 kilo, from brands including PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, and Boston Bullion's own-label bars
- Silver products: American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, silver rounds, 10 oz bars, 100 oz bars, and 1,000 oz bars
- Platinum and palladium: bars and coins from major mints, including PAMP Suisse platinum bars
- Pre-1933 gold coins and junk silver for collectors
- Fractional gold bars for buyers who want smaller entry points
Boston Bullion also handles insurance appraisals, which is a useful service for customers who already hold metals and need documented valuations for their policies.
Protect Your Wealth & Get Huge Tax Savings!
Pricing Structure: How It Actually Works
This is where Boston Bullion separates itself from many online competitors. Most dealers require a phone call just to get a price quote. Boston Bullion publishes its buy-back formulas directly on the website, so there's no guesswork.
The buy-back model generally works on a flat deduction from spot price rather than a percentage. For example, many common coins such as the Canadian Cougar and Canadian Wolf are purchased at spot price minus $20 per ounce.
Some products like the Panda Gold use a percentage formula, typically spot minus 1%. That flat-fee structure is often cheaper for sellers than the percentage-based models used by larger online dealers, particularly when spot prices are high.
On the selling side, Boston Bullion adds a small brokerage fee above the best available wholesale price. The company states it sources at dealer prices for quantity purchases and passes that advantage along. That claim is consistent with customer feedback, which generally describes pricing as competitive for a local dealer.
Pricing Comparison Snapshot
| Fee Type | Boston Bullion | Typical Large Online Dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Buy-back formula | Published publicly; flat $20 deduction (most products) | Often requires phone quote; percentage-based |
| Price lock | Locked at order confirmation, no change up or down | Varies; some lock only for limited window |
| Shipping (buying) | Free for up to 5 oz gold; $19.95 below that | Often free at lower thresholds or order totals |
| Payment surcharge | None stated for bank wire | Credit card surcharges of 3–4% are common |
One thing worth knowing: Boston Bullion does not process credit cards for checkout. Accepted payment methods include bank wire transfer, PayPal, and physical checks.
Customers who mail a check must postmark within two days of order confirmation and then wait at least ten business days before the metals ship. Bank wire orders ship within two business days of payment confirmation. For anyone making a large purchase, the wire transfer route is faster and more practical.
The Ordering Process
The website functions as a product browser and shopping list, not a full e-commerce platform. You can review live spot prices, look through inventory, and add items to a cart, but you finalize the purchase by calling during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM).
step is intentional. It gives the company the chance to confirm availability and lock the price, and it gives buyers the chance to ask questions before committing.
Every shipment is fully insured and requires a signature on delivery. If you miss the delivery, the package goes to the post office for redelivery. That's standard protocol for insured precious metals shipments, but it means you should place orders when you'll be available to sign. All products are guaranteed authentic.
Gold IRA Services
Boston Bullion offers precious metals IRA setup in partnership with established custodians including Madison Trust Company and Broad Financial. Annual custodian fees with Madison Trust start at $95.
The company's IRA services have grown at roughly 40% annually according to company data, which tracks with broader national trends. Gold IRA rollovers allow investors to move funds from a 401(k) or traditional IRA into a self-directed account holding physical gold or silver.
The process follows four steps: choose a custodian, fund the account via rollover, select the metals, and track the order in real time. Murphy handles consultations directly and advises on IRS-compliant options.
The company works only with IRS-approved metals for IRA purposes, which means bullion must meet minimum purity standards: 99.5% for gold and 99.9% for silver.
Why the Market Timing Matters Right Now
The market context for precious metals in 2025 and into 2026 is unlike anything seen in recent history. Gold climbed over 60% in 2025, surpassing $4,000 per ounce and reaching all-time highs, driven by trade tensions, central bank buying, and broad institutional demand.
J.P. Morgan reported that investor and central bank gold demand in Q3 2025 totaled approximately 980 tonnes, more than 50% above the prior four-quarter average. J.P. Morgan forecasts gold could push toward $5,000 per ounce by Q4 2026.
Silver's move was even more dramatic. The metal delivered a historic surge in 2025, with the nominal record high set at $121.67 per ounce in January 2026. Global investment demand for silver in 2025 reached 1.334 billion ounces, up 8.2% year-over-year, according to World Silver Association data.
The silver market has run a supply deficit for five consecutive years, with the cumulative shortfall from 2021 through 2025 approaching 820 million ounces. Gold ETFs globally now hold more than 4,000 tonnes, with holdings rising roughly 25% in 2025 to over $650 billion in assets, according to BlackRock.
For investors in the Northeast, this environment makes the question of dealer trust more pressing. When prices are this elevated, the spread between what you pay and the real market price matters. So does the buyback guarantee.
Boston Bullion's published formulas and stated commitment to buying back everything it sells at current market prices addresses both concerns directly.
Customer Reputation
Customer feedback across BBB, Yelp, and Google consistently highlights two things: the service from Murphy personally, and the transparency of pricing. The company has no significant complaints on Ripoff Report or similar consumer protection platforms.
The BBB profile has been active since December 2008 with an A+ rating maintained throughout. One representative Yelp comment captures the general sentiment: a customer who moved out of the Boston area described Boston Bullion as one of only two dealers they trust.
A 40% annual growth rate in IRA services also suggests the company is converting first-time buyers into repeat customers at a strong clip. Small operations don't grow those services without referrals.
Protect Your Wealth & Get Huge Tax Savings!
Limitations to Know
Boston Bullion is a small business. With two to five employees, it cannot match the inventory depth or same-day fulfillment speed of national online dealers. Some items may require a next-day or multi-day wait for availability. Complex, large-volume orders may take longer to source and fulfill.
The $19.95 shipping fee for smaller gold purchases is on the higher end compared to larger online competitors, many of whom offer free shipping at lower order thresholds.
Buyers who cannot accept bank wire transfers will also find the check-clearing window inconvenient. And for anyone outside New England who cannot or does not want to manage transactions by phone during Eastern time business hours, the model may feel less flexible than a fully automated online platform.
Who Boston Bullion Works Best For
- Northeast investors who want in-person access and can visit the Burlington, MA location
- Buyers setting up a gold or silver IRA who want direct guidance from an experienced dealer
- Sellers who want a published buyback formula rather than negotiating over the phone with no reference point
- Investors building a long-term physical metals position and prioritizing dealer trust over lowest-possible premium
- Collectors looking for pre-1933 gold coins alongside standard bullion
Conclusion
Boston Bullion has built a track record over nearly 20 years on transparent pricing, genuine buyback guarantees, and direct customer relationships that larger online competitors cannot replicate at scale.
In a precious metals market posting historic gains, those qualities matter more, not less.