What do buying and selling prices mean?
A gold price table usually has two columns for each product: Buying and Selling. The easy-to-miss point is that both are stated from the perspective of the business or organization publishing the prices, not from the customer’s perspective.
In simple terms:
- Buying price: the price at which the publisher expects to buy gold from a customer.
- Selling price: the price at which the publisher expects to sell gold to a customer.
You take gold to the business to sell → use the Buying column.You want to buy gold from the business → use the Selling column.A quick way to remember
Put “the gold shop” before the labels in the table. This phrasing helps prevent the two columns from being confused.
- The gold shop “buys” gold from the customer.
- The gold shop “sells” gold to the customer.
Example: reading a gold price table
Suppose a price table contains the following illustrative figures:
- If a customer sells one lượng of gold to the publisher, the reference amount is VND 140 million.
- If a customer buys one lượng of gold from the publisher, the reference amount is VND 143 million.
- The difference between the two prices is VND 3 million per lượng.
These figures are provided only to explain how to read a table. They are not the current gold price when you read this article.| Product | Buying | Selling |
|---|---|---|
| SJC gold bar | VND 140,000,000 per lượng | VND 143,000,000 per lượng |
What is the buy–sell spread?
The buy–sell spread is the difference between the selling price and the buying price quoted by the same provider, for the same product, at the same time.
To express the spread as a percentage of the buying price, you can use the percentage formula below.
A spread percentage can use a different denominator for a different presentation purpose. A website should therefore state which formula it uses so readers do not confuse the results.
Buy–sell spread = Selling price − Buying priceVND 143,000,000 − VND 140,000,000 = VND 3,000,000 per lượngSpread percentage = (Selling price − Buying price) ÷ Buying price × 100%3,000,000 ÷ 140,000,000 × 100% ≈ 2.14%Why is the selling price usually higher?
The spread may reflect several factors, including operating costs, inventory management, price volatility, product characteristics and each provider’s policies. It is not fixed and can change over time.
Spreads can also differ between:
- Gold bars and plain gold rings.
- 9999 gold and jewelry with a different gold content.
- Brands or quoted locations.
- Products with different fabrication charges.
- Price updates at different times of day.
Only compare data for the same product type and unit of weight, with update times that are reasonably close together.Does the buying price apply to every gold item?
Not necessarily. The actual price may depend on:
- The brand and type of gold.
- Fineness or gold purity.
- The item’s actual weight.
- Packaging, serial number, invoice or supporting documents.
- Condition, including dents, scratches or damage.
- Each provider’s inspection and purchasing policy.
- The transaction’s location and time.
An online price table should be treated as reference information. The price applied at the counter may be confirmed only after the business inspects the item.How to compare price tables more accurately
When comparing SJC, DOJI, PNJ or other providers, check each of the following:
For example, if a table shows VND 14,300 thousand per chỉ, it can be converted as follows:
- Same product: do not compare a gold bar with a plain ring or a piece of jewelry.
- Same fineness: for example, compare 9999 gold with 9999 gold.
- Same unit: VND per chỉ and VND per lượng must be converted to one common unit.
- Same location: prices may differ by province, city or branch.
- Same time: prefer tables with update times that are close together.
- Correct side of the transaction: when selling gold, use the buying price; when buying gold, use the selling price.
VND 14,300,000 per chỉ × 10 = VND 143,000,000 per lượngMistaking “thousand VND per chỉ” for “VND per lượng” can produce a very large error.Are domestic buying and selling prices the same as XAU/USD?
No. XAU/USD usually represents the international gold price in US dollars per troy ounce. A Vietnamese price table, by contrast, may quote VND per chỉ or VND per lượng and apply to a specific product.
A comparison requires at least three steps:
- Convert troy ounces to lượng.
- Convert USD to VND using the selected exchange rate.
- Account for differences between the products and markets.
Even after conversion, the result is only a mathematical reference value. It does not automatically equal a shop’s buying or selling price.Frequently asked questions
Which column should I use when I sell gold?
Use the Buying column because it states the price at which the publisher buys gold from customers.
Which column should I use when I buy gold?
Use the Selling column because it states the price at which the publisher sells gold to customers.
Is the buy–sell spread a fee?
The entire spread should not be treated as a separate fee. It is the distance between two quoted prices. Any other fee or fabrication charge, if applicable, should be disclosed separately by the seller.
Is the website price the final transaction price?
Not necessarily. A price may change over time and may depend on the result of a product inspection. Check the update time and confirm with the provider before completing a transaction.
Conclusion
The two most important rules for reading a gold price table are:
- When comparing prices, make sure you are looking at the same type of gold, unit, location and update time.
- These checks help you interpret the data correctly without making or implying any trading recommendation.
- See the latest reference gold price table at giavangbac.app.
Selling gold to a shop → use the buying price.Buying gold from a shop → use the selling price.