Today we will take a look at Universal Coin & Bullion. What is Universal Coin & Bullion? A scam or a legit company? Will it be the best option for you, or are there better alternatives? These are some of the main questions this short review will focus on.
Company: Universal Coin & Bullion, Ltd
Website: www.universalcoin.com
Owner: Mike Fuljenz (President)
Price: Depends on the size of your investment
Who is it for Precious metals investors
Overall rating: 
(2 / 5)
Important to mention (before we go into more details of this review)
We strongly recommend doing your research online before choosing a company to invest in. There are so many reviews online of clients being ripped off and scammed. So please investigate thoroughly and compare different alternatives before you make your decision.
One example: 99.9% of companies got “pushy” salespeople trying to stress you into acting fast.
Here is the thing, the #1 Recommended Gold & Silver IRA Dealer on our top-5 list got No-salesy representatives… So they won´t bother or terrorize you with phone calls.
You are a smart person, so I am sure that you understand the benefits of dealing with such a company instead, right?
+They got a couple more benefits you might appreciate as much as I do. You will understand yourself once you have visited the page (link) above.
==> See our Top-5 List of Precious Metals IRA Companies on this page <==
With that being said, let´s continue with the review on Universal Coin & Bullion!
Update! Mars 29 – 2022)
The website of Universal Coin & Bullion can not be access at the moment, if anyone have any idea how long this have been going on then please share your knowledge in the comment section below this post! One thing is for sure, it is a very bad sign…
What is Universal Coin & Bullion about?
Universal Coin & Bullion (UCB) is a gold dealer. The company was founded in 1994 and has been in business for 24 years now.
The company’s physical address is 7410 Phelan Blvd, Beaumont, TX 77706, USA.
How does it work?
The company offers precious metals for you to buy. They also buy precious metals from you. You can also get help with setting up an IRA account.
The Products
UCB offers its customers gold and silver in coins and bars.
They also offer IRA setups for their clients through other companies that they are partnered with.
IRAs?
However, IRAs are offered not by the company itself but by other companies (custodians).
In this part of the review, I normally provide screenshots from the “fee table” to see the exact fees associated with setting up an IRA with the particular company.
As UCB does not offer IRAs by themselves, there is no info about this on their website…
Important to mention here:
There is no info on their website on which IRA custodians they deal with. Also, that makes it a “mystery” what kind of annual fees are associated with setting up an account with their “mysterious” partner.
***Click here to read the review on the #1 rated IRA custodian instead
Can you get the gold (and other metals) delivered to your home?
Yes, you can. Below is an exact excerpt from UCBs website on this subject:
Shipping
What is the shipping charge for my order?
We offer free shipping for online orders over $99.00. Online orders that are $99.00 or less will be subject to shipping charges of $6.00.
When will my order be shipped?
Credit card orders typically ship within 2-3 business days after receipt of payment.
Personal check orders typically ship within 10-15 business days after receipt of payment.
Cashier’s check and money orders typically ship within 5-10 business days after receipt of payment.
Bank wire orders typically ship within 2-3 business days after receipt of payment.
Shipments may occasionally be delayed due to overwhelming demand or other factors.
How are orders shipped?
We ship orders via U. S. Postal Service, Federal Express, and UPS. Most orders will require a signature to confirm delivery.
Are packages insured during shipment?
Yes, we fully insure all shipments from our company for damage or loss during transit.
Can you store your investment with the company?
No, you can not. If you purchase metals and put them in an IRA with the company, you will be offered storage options by their third-party partners.
All fees associated with that will depend on the custodian you are dealt with by the UCB company.
Can you sell back to the company?
Yes, you can. Even if there wasn´t much info on this on their website, I managed to find the answer on their FAQ page. Below is the exact excerpt:
Do you buy gold, silver, platinum and coins from customers?
Yes, we do. Don’t hesitate to contact us at (800) 459-2646 to discuss.
Can anybody in any country use the service?
No, their services are for citizens living in the U.S. only.
Is Universal Coin & Bullion a Scam?
So, is Universal Coin & Bullion a scam or not? The answer to that is that it is not a scam, of course not. It got a real physical address and a real owner. Also, they would (most likely) never have survived this long (founded in 1994) if it wasn´t legit.
However, if they are your best alternative for precious metals, investing is another story…
That leads us to the following:
Online Reviews, Ratings, and Complaints on UCB:
BBB (Better Business Bureau)
Overall rating: A+
Review score: 
(3.7 / 5) (from 4 reviews) click here for details (opens in new window)
Trustpilot
Overall rating: N/A
Trustlink
Overall rating: N/A click here for details (opens in new window)
Yelp
Overall rating: 
(2.5 / 5) (out of 3 reviews) click here for details (opens in new window)
Glassdoor
Overall rating: 
(3.2 / 5) (from 3 reviews) click here for details (opens in new window)
Ripoff Report
Overall rating: 6 reports click here for details (opens in new window)
Pissed Consumer
Overall rating: N/A
Are there any Red Flags?
The fact that there is nothing to be found on the Trustpilot site is what concerns me the most, as those are the consumer protection agency I put the most weight on . The reason for that is because it is impossible for anyone else other than the customer to leave a review there… Also, as you can see above, there are not that many reviews on the company. That can (at least in my book) be a warning sign by itself. It is not hard to score a 5-star rating if it is based only on one or a couple of reviews, right?
Even if it was hard to find any reviews at all on the company, I managed to find some pretty serious complaints (see below for an exact excerpt from a “not so happy” client of UCB):
This coin company, Universal Coin & Bullion, is run by Mike Fuljenz, who has ripped me off before at another Texas coin company. He claims to be a “consultant” for coin companies in Beaumont, Texas, but he only “consults” for those he makes money off of. He also claims to be “the official coin company of the National Rifle Association,” but only because of the marketing dollars he has spent with them. By mistake, I responded to an ad in an NRA magazine and was bludgeoned by some sales guy who sold me repeatedly, telling me my coins were worth more than I paid. When I told him I wanted to sell and take my “profits,” he claimed I had, he was rude and told me they had miraculously gone down since our last talk. They were even rude to my husband. When I talked to the manager, I was given a laundry list of Mike Fuljenz’s credentials and accomplishments but never returned my money. I paid about five times what I should have. The last I heard, he was being sued for millions, so I gave up trying to get my refund. Avoid this rip-off company completely unless you like being insulted and ripped off. This speaks loudly about the NRA. I guess they do not check out the criminal background of those they deal with.
Click here to read the full complaint + a few other negative reviews from the complaints board website (opens in new window)
Warning:
You need to be aware that gold brokers and IRA custodians have THOUSANDS of review. That is also why I find it strange that I didn´t even find 10-20 reviews (!) on UCB.
What is going on?
How´s the support?
One thing that I always put a lot of importance on when it comes to the support quality of a company is whether they got a live chat function on their website.
UCB does not have this, and that is another minus (at least in my book)
They do offer a phone number, e-mail, and also a physical address for you to contact them with your questions or concerns.
Why Should You (Or Should NOT) Join Universal Coin & Bullion?
To get a better overall picture of a company, one thing that is smart to do is to compare its pros against its cons. Below I have highlighted some obvious points to make this job easier for you:
The Good
- Been in business since 1994
- Offer a wide range of different silver and gold coins and bars
The Bad
- VERY few reviews online
- Some serious complaints online
- Website can not be accessed
- The website lacks in support and info, for example, about their IRA custodian partner and the fees associated with setting up an IRA
==> Click here to see the top-5 rated gold brokers & IRA Companies
Do you Own or Represent Universal Coin & Bullion?
If you are a representative or associate of Universal Coin & Bullion and have found something not to be correct in this review, please, feel free to tell, and I will make sure to update the info on this post. The easiest way to do it is in the comment section below, or else you get the e-mail on the about page.
Final Words and Verdict on Universal Coin & Bullion
Verdict: Legit (but not recommended)
Overall rating: (2 / 5)
Ok, I think that sums the whole overall picture of this company up pretty well. It is a legit company, yes.
However, there are some pretty serious online complaints from the VERY few reviews we found, and the missing fee table and info on their IRA custodian partners make it hard for me to give a higher rating than 2 out of 5 stars.
So, three stars it is! And it feels fair for now.
It can change to a higher or lower one in the future as the reviews on this website are getting updated as soon as some “news” on a company comes up.
You have made a smart choice reading this review as it is always recommended that you research and compare many different companies against each other before making an educated decision.
I Am sure that you will find an IRA custodian that is right for you as you clearly understand this concept (you wouldn´t have read this far if you wasn´t) 😉
As always, the choice is up to you!
Which Company Do You Recommend?
If you are looking for a reputable gold IRA custodian besides any other company, you should check out Augusta Precious Metals.
They have ZERO complaints from A LOT of real users. They are used by celebrities respected by well-known publications and websites. Waives your storage fees completely for up to your first three years.
And A LOT more benefits!
==> Click here to learn more about why Augusta Precious Metals is the #1 rated IRA & Gold broker <==
I hope you found this short review on Universal Coin & Bullion to be helpful, and now you should have a better understanding of what it is and if it is a scam or not, and importantly, will it be something for you? If you have used any of its services, please share your experience with us in the comment section below, as it can help others. Also, if you got any other questions on this review, I will be more than happy to answer them below.
I wish you the best!
Michael
Founder of: Gold Retired
Great review of Universal Coin Buillion. I have been researching options for buying and selling silver and gold coins. I have to agree with your conclusion. With just one review thru the BBB, that is scary all by itself. It could be someone associated with the company that did that review. Also, I found some negative reviews online doing my research on this company. So I am glad you shared your observations as well. I will do as you say, and do a bit more research. Do you know of a good company I can research?
Thank you! Makes me very gla to hear that you liked the review and found it interesting.
Agree that it is very strange that they only got one review on BBB.
Yes, you could start with the Top 3 List of the highest rated gold brokers and ira custodians on this page: https://startmakestopwaste.com…
There is also a “bonus” company for you to research there that are more “beginner friendly” in the form of no minimum investment, so you can get started with as low amount as you want.
Hope that helps!
/Sincerely
I find it odd that, because a company has very few reviews, this is a bad thing. I believe quite the opposite. Most reviews I run across for any business are negative ones. Who has time to create a good review when the service is good? Most people will only take the time when they want to complain about something. So a lack of reviews is a Green light for me.
I just placed an order with Universal Coin yesterday, so hopefully I can give a good review when I receive my product. Yes, I will take the time.
First of all, thank you for your comment, yes that is, of course, one way to look at it, am hoping you will come back here and tell us about your experience also, hopefully, it will be a good review 😉
Thank you again for your comment,
/Sincerely
I would like to preface my comments by saying I have never dealt with Universal Coin & Bullion. However I have been buying and selling rare coins, silver, and gold bullion for over 40 years. I have been to local and national coins shows and have purchased online through many different companies over these years. If I were new to this I would probably make the same mistake everyone else does and buy from this company. Universal Coin & Bullion raises red flags all over the place. First off when doing a google search the word ‘Scam’ or ‘Ripoff’ appears within the first ten links. After deciding to visit their website I noticed that anything over app. 99 dollars requires you to call them. Third when reviewing a product called the SS Central America ‘pinch’ of gold it states clearly as low as 99 dollars, however its really 102.99 unless you send them, a wire or check, also they do not give the weight of this pinch. Finally they list a brand new American 2019 American 10 dollar gold coin (again no weight ) for app. $370 dollars. Save yourself some money and buy this same coin at APMEX for half that price or app. $150. Universal Coin & Bullion is not a scam nor is it a ripoff, what it is though is a VERY BAD DEAL.
Thank you for your comment,
and also for sharing your own experience, am sure it will help others to think twice before investing in this (or any) company online as it is (recommended) to compare different ones against each other before making a decision.
Yes, I would say APMEX is a good dealer also, however, if it is your best alternative out there is another story, have you looked at our Top 3 rated list?
/Sincerely
Universal Bullion & Gold uses high pressure, boiler room sales tactics with scarcity and the promise of wealth as their top two emotional triggers to get people to buy. Their sales people call frequently to fill you in on their latest ‘deals’ and continuously encourage you to depart with your money TODAY! There are no deals in Mike Fuljenz company – other than the one’s he working hard to get for himself. They continuously try to sell overpriced coins they can profit heavily on. Stay far away!
First of all, thank you for your comment!
It is complaints like yours that help others to think twice before doing business with the company.
Most complaints we get from similar companies are that they try to push coins, and in particular “numismatic coins” like they are something that will skyrock in value over time when in fct they won´t.
Thank you again for your comment!
/Sincerely
I have been doing business with UC for several years. In that time I have two complaints 1. that a sales rep did not return my call once and 2. that you cannot order most coins on weekends without going through a sales rep. Otherwise they have been accurate with their delivery times, quality of the product has been excellent, and customer service very good. And their prices are frequently slightly less than competition. They also offer free shipping for purchases of $99. or more. I have tried other companies and paid higher fees along with higher prices for the same items and longer delivery time.
I will use UC and its two sister companies as long as they have the product available. If not, and I still want the item, I will pay the extra fee. Overall, for past few years I would give them 4****. Than for providing this space to share my thoughts.
Thank you for telling us your experience,
it will help others making better decisions.
Thank you again,
/Best
I have read your review and was going to maybe put an order in but now I am reluctant.
I do however know for a fact that many places hire a company who make sure they get a LOT of good reviews.
The person I have heard about this place is a radio person and well known. He said he uses them and I do trust him.
I think I will contact that person and ask him if he knows anything about the place being a scam. I am sure he doesn’t because I am sure he would not encourage his listeners to go there and saying he himself uses them for his purposes.
I just looked at their site and I did find another thing that does bother me and that is that they say because of volume of callers (or business I cannot remember) it will take 30 BUSINESS days to receive your order!
My husband said right away he will NOT order when they get to hang on to our paid for coins that long.
Yet, I am curious to know if this is just a poke at them as everything on the WWW nowadays can be fake or true and just a warning.
Thank you if just a warning to check them out better.
Linda
First of all, thank you for your comment.
I get what you are saying and my recommendation would be to NOT listening to anyone, no matter if it is said on the radio, tv or online.
I ALWAYS recommend my readers to do their own research and compare different companies against eachother before you make any decisions.
Make sure that you know exactly what fees you are going to have to pay as most scams and ripoffs take place with so-called hidden fees.
We have reviewed 100+ gold & silver companies on this site and a good place to start your research might be by looking at our top-5 list and compare them all against eachother and to the company and/or companies you are already looking at.
Here you can see our top-5 list of gold & silver IRA companies: https://goldretired.com/best-gold-ira-companies-top-5-list-additional-resources
Hope that makes sense?
Thank you again for your comment and for sharing your thoughts.
/Sincerely