: As of early 2026, many refineries have paused intakes or significantly delayed processing due to supply chain stress and extreme market volatility.
Buying silver directly from a refinery is a strategy often used to bypass retail markups, but it typically requires high minimum order volumes and is currently facing significant market hurdles.
: Many refineries only work with established businesses (B2B) and may not open accounts for individual retail "stackers". What to Ask Before You Buy
: Settlement times for silver at major refineries have recently extended to 4–6 weeks , with prices often not locked in until the actual day of processing. Pros and Cons of Refinery Purchases Pros :
: Eliminates the "middleman" fees charged by local coin shops or online retailers.
: Without a "price lock," the market value of your silver could drop significantly during the multi-week processing wait.