Avoid Fees and Wrong Networks When Paying With Crypto
The mistakes that cost people money when paying with crypto, and how to avoid them: exchange fees, wrong networks, mistyped addresses and sending too little.
In short: Add the exchange's withdrawal fee on top of the amount, send on exactly the network shown on the order page, paste or scan the address instead of typing it, use a normal fee setting, and send within the payment window.
Crypto payments cannot be reversed by a bank, which is a strength and a risk. Most of the money people lose paying with crypto is lost in a handful of predictable ways. A PC is a large order, so it is worth knowing them. None of this is hard, and all of it takes minutes.
1. The exchange takes its fee out of your amount
When you withdraw from an exchange, many take a withdrawal fee out of the amount you type. Type the exact order amount, and a little less arrives. The order then shows as short.
What to do: check the exchange's withdrawal fee, and add it on top. Some exchanges show "amount to receive" before you confirm, so use that figure and make sure it matches the order.
2. The wrong network
Many coins exist on several networks. USDT, for example, runs on Tron, Ethereum, Solana and more. The address looks different on each, and a transfer on the wrong one will not arrive. Some wallets warn you, but not all do.
What to do: read the network name on the order page, then read the one in your wallet or exchange before you confirm. They must match exactly.
3. The wrong coin
Sending a lookalike coin, such as Bitcoin Cash instead of Bitcoin, or USDC instead of USDT, is a different payment to a different thing.
What to do: check the coin symbol on the order page against the one you chose to send.
4. A mistyped or swapped address
Addresses are long and cannot be corrected once sent. Some malware quietly replaces a copied address with a different one.
What to do: use the copy button or scan the QR code instead of typing. After pasting, compare the first and last few characters with the order page before you confirm.
5. Network fees that are too low
On some networks, a very low fee can leave a transfer pending for hours. Bitcoin is the usual example when the network is busy.
What to do: use the standard fee your wallet suggests. The cheapest setting saves a little and risks a long wait.
6. Forgetting the fee coin
Sending a token needs a little of the network's own coin to pay the fee, such as ETH on Ethereum, TRX on Tron or SOL on Solana. Without it, the transfer will not go.
What to do: check the balance of the fee coin before you start. Exchanges cover this inside their withdrawal fee.
7. Sending after the window closes
The order page gives you 90 minutes. A payment already on its way is not lost if the window closes, but a person has to match it to your order by hand, which takes longer.
What to do: send soon after you place the order.
A short routine for any payment
- Compare the coin, the network and the amount on the order page with your wallet.
- Paste the address and check its first and last characters.
- If the order is large and you are new to this, send a small test first, to your own second wallet.
- Send the exact amount, once.
- Keep the order page open, or keep the order ID.
If you have already made a mistake
Do not send another payment to "fix" it. Contact us with your order ID and the transaction ID from your wallet. If the amount was a little short or over, we pause the order and contact you with the options, and nothing is lost. A wrong-network transfer is harder, and we cannot always recover it, but we will try.
Ready to order? See how to buy a gaming PC with Bitcoin, check each coin's network on the coins page, or read the FAQ.