Finding gold is hard, and in order to see some real gold, buying paydirt could be a viable option! With many prospectors and hobbyists buying this product, it is natural to wonder whether it is worth investing in it!
Depending on your prospecting needs, paydirt can be worth buying. The bags might contain placer or be seeded, which allows you to practice your skills for future trips outdoors. However, the gold value provided in the bags often doesn’t match the price paid.
Investing in paydirt might not be the most convenient of choices for all prospectors. Read on to check whether it could be an advantageous choice for you!
Table of Contents
What Are Pay-Dirt Bags?
Paydirt is the material collected from a streambed that contains paying quantities of gold. The seller of paydirt will collect the placer from a location rich in deposits and concentrate it using a sluice box, or other recovery systems. Ultimately, the paydirt is packaged in ready-to-ship bags.
While buying such bags can be a valuable investment for prospectors looking at refining their gold panning skills, the amount of gold in each pack can vary. Moreover, it is essential to understand that most bags will NOT yield a return on investment (ROI), which would make the purchase worth.
In many cases, the bags are “seeded” with gold nuggets and flakes, to increase the chances of prospectors and clients to find gold. Despite this, most bags will not contain enough gold – or just as much to cover the cost of the paydirt pack and shipping.
You need to remember that paydirt sellers run a business like anybody else. They have to make a profit on the gold they provide as part of their paydirt bags.
ROI (Return on Investment)
The return on investment (ROI) generated by the paydirt bags is an excellent way of rating the quality of the company shipping the containers. Indeed, while nearly all are advertised as guaranteeing you to recover high quantities of gold, the value might not just add up.
Moreover, some companies tend to seed some of the bags in their stock. They can do so by adding extra flakes to deliver ideal quantities to some consumers. However, this is not a characteristic that you will find in all bags of paydirt.
As a matter of fact, many paydirt suppliers run their business quite similarly to how a lottery is run. They add extra gold to some of the bags, and thereby practice intermittent reinforcement, which gets the buyers hooked up. The result becomes that buyers buy more in hopes of getting one of those really rich bags. In the meantime, the seller can cash in on a majority of the bags that contain less gold than they are sold for.
Where to Buy Pay-Dirt
The paydirt market is growing, and today, prospectors will find a range of products that can fit their budget and expectations. Many sellers will also add to the shipping fee to the price of the bag. Reading the reviews of previous customers for products is always a good idea!
Alternatively, on platforms such as eBay, you might find prospectors selling bags of concentrated placer deposits more affordably. In any case, it is essential to research the company or seller thoroughly to find the bag’s provenance and the average ROI the bags will yield.
On our recommended gear page we will keep an updated list of the paydirt suppliers we recommend!
Considerations to Make When Buying PayDirt
The same paydirt bag might not be the right choice for two prospectors. Here are the factors to consider to gain an estimation of whether you should buy one or not!
Not All Bags Contain the Same Amount of Gold
The paydirt quality is undoubtedly a determining factor to consider. When buying your paydirt, ensure that the bag derives from an area that is naturally rich in gold and contains rich placer, rather than just gravel. Again, it’s worth reading the comments from previous buyers!
It might be smart to check the average ROI of other bags from the same company to understand whether the purchase is likely to result in you getting your money back.
The Equipment Can Make a Difference
Unless you have opted to buy a complete panning kit along with your paydirt, you should consider that you will need the right equipment to recover the gold from the bags. Since, in most cases, you will be dealing with flakes and sand-like gold, the tools you are using for the recovery process can be a determining factor.
Alongside this, if you are considering panning the paydirt to recover gold, your prospecting skill might make a difference in the amount of gold you will be able to recover. Of course, there is always the risk of losing individual particles and sediments in the panning process.
You should always make sure to pan your paydirt in a closed system where it is possible to recollect the material and pan it again. Going down to your nearest river or creek is not a good idea, as any gold that escapes the pan will be lost.
The Provenance Matters
Independently on whether you have bought your paydirt from a company or seller, you should ask about the provenance of the product. Undoubtedly some areas boast more substantial deposits, which, in turn, can increase the chances of finding gold in the bag.
However, provenance not only matters in terms of the quantity of gold. The shape, size, and coarseness will vary depending on where it has been dug. In addition, the streambed material and black sands that come with it will vary quite a lot as well.
As a matter of fact, I even know some prospectors who buy paydirt solely because they want to study varying characteristics of gold and material from different areas!
Who Is Buying Pay-Dirt Convenient For?
The decision to invest in a paydirt can undoubtedly be beneficial for some prospectors. However, this highly depends on the prospecting needs you are looking to meet. Indeed, expert prospectors and gold hunters near a gold-rich area – might not benefit as much from this product.
Hobbyists Improving Their Skills
If you are new to the gold mining and recovering field, you might be looking at increasing your knowledge and refining your skills. Indeed, the results you will be able to see in real life will depend on your skills when undertaking a prospecting trip.
Especially if you are using manually-operated tools such as a gold pan and sluice box, refining your technique can make a difference. Therefore, you might opt to buy a paydirt to practice your panning abilities before making the most out of them while on the field.
Families and Kids
If you are looking for a convenient and affordable way to get your kids to move the first steps in the world of prospecting, buying pre-packaged paydirt can be an ideal solution. This product can teach them the basics of recovering gold and supply hours of recreational fun for the family.
Recreational Prospecting
Not all prospectors are lucky enough to live within reachable distance of a gold-rich location. Naturally, those hobbyists might decide to take a prospecting trip sometime during the year. However, buying paydirt can help them fill the gaps when they are unable to practice their skills for months,
Pros and Cons of Buying Paydirt
Pros:
- Paydirt is excellent to practice your gold-recovery skills and techniques and get familiar with a gold pan.
- This product is perfect to practice prospecting if you are not nearby a suitable location.
- Paydirt is perfect for recreational prospecting for the whole family.
- If you sell what you recover at a more advantageous time, you could see a satisfying ROI .
Cons:
- Not all bags will contain the same amount of gold.
- In some cases, the gold recovered will not be enough to cover the price of the bag and shipping.
- Provenance and the seller’s practices can make a difference in the product’s quality.
- The gold in these bags is often found in the form of flakes and sand-like deposits(Might not be a disadvantage).
- Your equipment and skills can make a difference in the gold recovered.
- The prospector might need to buy a recovery tool separately.
Conclusion
Buying a pre-packaged paydirt might not be the most convenient choice for all prospectors, but in some cases, this purchase can be worth the initial investment.
However, most people don’t buy paydirt to make a profit, but to try out gold from various locations, and refine their panning technique!
Happy Panning!