For smaller purchases, card is usually the fastest.
For high-ticket purchases, bank rails (bank transfer or wire) usually have fewer surprises and fewer “why did my bank decline that?” moments.
TL;DR (quick recommendation)
- Under $5k–$10k: Card is usually easiest.
- $10k–$25k: Card can work, but bank transfer often has fewer declines.
- $25k+: Prefer bank transfer or wire for predictability.
Agchange can present multiple payment options at checkout; we recommend a path based on amount and reliability.
Why large card charges fail (even if you “have the money”)
Card declines for large purchases are common because:
- Daily purchase limits (per card, per issuer, per merchant category)
- Fraud/risk models that flag unusual amounts or new merchants
- 3DS / verification requirements that can fail silently on some banks
- Mismatch of billing details (address/ZIP) or travel-related account flags
If you still want to use a card (best practices)
- Call your bank/card issuer before checkout and ask them to approve the charge.
- Ensure your billing address/ZIP matches exactly.
- If the charge fails once, don’t spam retries—switch rails or contact your bank first.
Bank transfer vs wire (what’s the difference?)
Bank transfer (ACH / bank rails)
- Pros: Great for high-ticket amounts; fewer card-limit issues; clear funding flow.
- Cons: Can require additional bank verification steps depending on your bank.
- Best for: Most high-ticket purchases when you want simplicity without wire complexity.
Wire
- Pros: Highest predictability for very large transactions; common for $50k+.
- Cons: Manual steps; bank fees; can require verified recipient details.
- Best for: The largest purchases or when you want the most “institutional” rail.
What to do if checkout “couldn’t be started”
When checkout can’t start, it’s usually one of these:
- A required acknowledgment wasn’t accepted (category-specific)
- Your selected payment method needs a different verification step
- A temporary bank/issuer restriction
Best next steps:
- Try bank transfer (if card failed).
- If bank transfer is blocked by your bank, use wire.
- If you’re still stuck, capture a screenshot and contact support via
/contact.
Copy/paste checklist for buyers (high-ticket)
- Decide your payment rail before you bid/offer: card vs bank vs wire
- If using card, call your issuer for an “allow” on the amount
- Keep all communication in
/dashboard/messages - Pay only through Agchange checkout (never off-platform)
Related guides
- “Trust badges, explained”
- “Welcome to Field Notes”