How do I know if a buyer's offer accounts for current PGM spot price or an outdated reference?
Short answer: Check a current, independent reference for platinum, palladium, and rhodium spot pricing yourself, and ask the buyer directly what reference price and date they're using for their offer — PGM prices, especially rhodium, can move significantly and sometimes rapidly, so an offer based on pricing from even a couple of weeks earlier could meaningfully understate current value.
Skip the phone calls. List your catalytic converters or precious metal scrap once and let verified buyers on ScrapTrade come to you.
List Free →Why PGM prices specifically can move so much
Platinum, palladium, and especially rhodium have historically shown significant price volatility, sometimes moving substantially within short periods — this makes PGM pricing considerably more prone to becoming outdated quickly compared to more stable reference prices.
What to check before accepting an offer
Look up a current, independent reference for current PGM spot pricing, then ask the buyer specifically what reference price and date their offer is based on — a buyer working from current pricing should be able to state this specifically and confidently.
What a stale reference might cost you
Given how much PGM prices can move, an offer based on outdated pricing, even from a few weeks prior, could represent a meaningfully lower value than what current market conditions actually support — this is worth catching before accepting rather than after.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Comparing current offers from multiple ScrapTrade buyers helps you sense-check whether a specific quote reflects genuinely current PGM pricing or a stale reference.
Ready to sell your catalytic converters or precious metal scrap without the guesswork? ScrapTrade connects verified buyers and sellers with escrow-protected payments and transparent weighing.
List or Find Scrap on ScrapTrade →