What Are the Best Choices for Selling Palladium Sponge and Powders?
We get this question a lot. Someone calls up with a jar of palladium sponge they've had sitting in their lab for months (or years), and they finally want to cash it in. Or they've got accumulated powders from their manufacturing process and need to know if it's worth their time to sell.
Here's the thing – palladium is valuable. Really valuable. But where you sell it makes a huge difference in what you actually walk away with.
We've been in this business long enough to see people get burned by refiners who promise the moon and deliver... well, a lot less. So let me give you the straight story on your options.
Why Your Palladium Sponge Actually Matters
First off, if you've got palladium sponge or powders, you're not dealing with scraps here. This stuff often has surprisingly high palladium content – sometimes higher than people expect. we've seen research labs sitting on thousands of dollars worth of material they thought was "just lab waste."
The problem? Not every refiner knows how to properly assess and process these materials. And some... let's just say they're better at marketing than they are at fair payouts.
Here at Specialty Metals – What We Actually Do
Here's what we are: honest about our fees and consistent with our payouts.
When you send us palladium sponge, powders, dust, grindings, or pretty much any form of palladium material, here's exactly what happens:
You get 98% of the palladium content we find. Not 95%, not "up to 98%" – just 98%.
Our fees are straightforward:
$10 per troy ounce treatment fee
$150 for the assay
$500 processing fee
That's it. No surprise deductions for "handling" or mysterious "administrative costs" that some refiners love to tack on.
Processing usually takes about two weeks, then you get paid within 15 business days. You know exactly what to expect, and we hit our timelines.
The reason we can do this is simple – we base our pricing on actual NY and London market rates, and we've been doing this long enough to know what palladium sponge and powders are really worth.
The "Fast Cash" Alternative (and Why to Be Careful)
There are companies that promise same-day payment, sometimes within 24 hours. Sounds great, right?
Here's the catch – speed costs money. When someone's paying you that fast, they're building in extra margin to cover their risk. They might not tell you their exact payout percentage, or their fees might be built into a lower offer price.
That said, if you genuinely need cash immediately and you're okay with potentially leaving some money on the table, the fast-pay route exists. Just go in with your eyes open.
What We Suggest
After 20+ years in precious metals, here's our honest take:
If you want to know exactly what you're getting and you're not in a huge rush, work with us. We're predictable and fair.
If you need money tomorrow and you're willing to give up some return for speed, go with one of the fast-pay national outfits.
If you've got weird industrial waste or complex catalyst materials, we can help you.
But for regular palladium sponge and powders? Most of the time, the transparent approach wins. We've seen too many people get excited about quick promises only to be disappointed with the actual check.
A Few Real-World Tips
Ask about the fee structure upfront. If they won't tell you clearly, that's a red flag.
Document your stuff. Take photos, write descriptions. It helps with the assessment and protects everyone.
Pay attention to timing. Palladium prices move around a lot. Sometimes it pays to wait a week or two.
Ready to Move Forward?
Look, selling palladium doesn't have to be complicated, but it shouldn't be a mystery either. We've built our business on being the straightforward option – the one you can count on.
Got questions about your material? Just call us. We've probably seen whatever you've got before, and we're happy to talk through your options. Even if you decide to go elsewhere, at least you'll know what you're dealing with.
That's worth something, right?
Want to get started? Give us a call at 800-426-2344 or send over some photos of your material. We'll give you our honest assessment and a clear quote – no games, no surprises.