I recently bought some silver from APMEX and had a good experience. I don't want people to think I'm spamming so I won't post a link but you can find it with a quick google search. It looks like they're current prices are about $3 over spot but volume purchases give you a better discount.
Like the previous poster said silver is silver so bars or rounds are no difference. If you're investing then eventually you will want to sell them. My friend buys and sells precious metals and he says what does make a difference when selling is the manufacturer or mint. The big names are more recognized and thus will give you a better payout when you do sell. Look for names like Engelhard, Johnson Mathey, Sunshine, Perth Mint etc. Of course you can also buy American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, or Mexican Libertads. Their costs are higher over spot but they seem to hold their value over spot over the long term, especially Eagles because they have numismatic value in addition to Silver value.
It's definitely a good time to buy silver! It seems like its a little undervalued right now. However silver is not a get rich quick investing method. It is something to buy and hold for a long time. I will say it's really cool to hold some in your hand! And it's a good pice of mind to have the physical metal in the event the economy should crash and paper currency becomes worthless. Then your silver collection could be a real life saver!
