The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota offers the following tips if you're giving to any charity, including earthquake relief in Japan.
• Go to www.bbb.org/charity or www.charitynavigator.org to research organizations to which you might donate.
• Don't give your credit card number or personal information to a telephone solicitor or in response to an e-mail.
• Be wary of any charity that exerts pressure for an on-the-spot donation. Don't give cash. Make out a check or money order to the charity.
• Beware of fake charities that confuse donors by imitating the name of a well-known charity, such as the bogus National Cancer Society and National Heart Institute.
Who's paying the most for silver these days?In a recent article, I mentioned that sterling silver has become so valuable that families and antique dealers are cashing in less desirable pieces for scrap. For example, eight-place settings of sterling flatware weighing 3 to 5 pounds can sell for $1,500 to $2,500. Many readers called or wrote wondering where they can sell their sterling.
I called six buyers (two scrap buyers, two pawnshops and two jewelry/coin retailers) last week and asked what they were paying for a small amount of sterling silver to be scrapped. (Silver-plate pieces are generally worth much less than sterling.)
Here's a list of the buyers, from highest to lowest paid.
