Abstract: The machine or method buys gold or precious metal items. A housing with a vault is linked to a central office for tracking buy/no-buy sales events and uploading current exchange rate data. The item is placed on a platform leading to processing stations which weigh, image, assay and convey the item to the vault (buy) or return-route (no-buy). User display commands and offers-to-buy, capture user images, scan identity and biometric data and permit user-keyed input. A computer processor calculates a discounted market value based upon exchange rate, weight, assayed purity and discounts. A compiler stores seller's data including seller responses, images and scanner data and buy/no-buy data. An acceptance module initiates a credit event and delivers the item to the vault. A rejection module negates acceptance upon user command or if an error in gold purity, weight, discounted market value or size.