Abstract: A secure method and reverse vending machine to facilitate the formation of a contract to purchase an article comprising a precious material from a user comprising providing a kiosk for public access, receiving an article from a user on a first member, determining a property of the article, communicating a preliminary offer to the user, receiving authorization from the user to retain the article within the kiosk, collecting and inspecting the article, communicating an offer to purchase to the user, receiving the user's acceptance of the offer to purchase and transferring funds to the user. An embodiment of the kiosk may comprise at least one of a scale, a camera, a storage member releasably dockable with the kiosk, a telephone and/or Internet data connection, and a dispensing device for use in dispensing at least one of enclosures, debit cards, vouchers, receipts, cash and user instructions.