As money gets tighter, consumers are looking for more ways to get their hands on some cash. A relatively new trend is the "gold party." Similar to the Tupperware or Mary Kay parties of days gone by, the invitees come to make money instead of spend it. A friend told me about a group of local women who've sponsored several. "They must be making good money because they've got all kinds of wines and munchies spread out," she told me. The hostess provides the venue for an independent company to evaluate the jewelry and hand out the money. "I made $300 on some jewelry I didn't want anymore," my friend said. Ever the watch-dog journalist, I asked her if she'd checked the credentials of the "appraisers." She hadn't and didn't care if they were shady. "I got what I wanted and I'm satisfied," she said. With the price of gold once again selling at near all-time high prices, more people are finding this a quick and easy way to trade unwanted stuff for much-needed dollars. But the American Society of Appraisers cautions consumers to learn the ropes before jumping into a gold marketplace that may not offer the best deal. With gold parties springing up in people's homes and in hotel ballrooms across the country, and mail-in gold businesses multiplying, it is important for consumers to become educated about the gold market before selling their gold. "If consumers don't know what they have and approximately what it is worth," said Margaret Olsen, accredited senior appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers, "they have absolutely no idea if they are getting a fair value for their gold." After seeing the success of companies such as Cash4Gold where consumers mail in their loot and receive a check in the mail, Steve Frank, CEO of Secured Gold Buyers, started up a similar service. "Some people didn't trust the process of mailing in their jewelry so we've made it more transparent," he said. Secured Gold Buyers videotapes the merchandise as it's being evaluated, weighed, etc. The video is then made available on the company's Web site for viewing via a secure customer ID number, Frank said. "We make the entire process transparent for our customers so that they can see their items being processed to know that each of their items sent in are being properly accounted for." Even with that option, ASA urges consumers to beware. "It really is a bit complicated for the average person to know exactly what they have to begin with and to do the math to figure out what they should be paid," Olsen said. "That is why it is really important to deal with a reputable local jeweler with ties to the community."

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