Why Doesn't Everyone Take AMEX???

I live off of my AMEX card...I carry a Mastercard just in case, but given the choice, I always reach for the AMEX. Well, planning this latest purchase, I ASSUMED that this particular dealer would surely accept it. When I asked Irish how he paid, he said by check...like me he ALWAYS reaches for AMEX, so I was guessing that maybe they didn't. To my dismay, I called the next morning and it was the V/MC/D options ONLY!!!! I was freaking out. My other two cards, although tiny APRs, have relatively small limits, definitely not enough to cover this purchase. So I called my friendly broker and had the cash transferred to my regular bank, and they said it will definitely be in my account on Monday the 8th. WHAT?!?!?! I pick it up on Friday night!!!!I was freaking out....can I ask them to hold the check until Monday? Maybe write a check for the $2k I had in the bank and then spread the rest over my two cards? Maybe beg a relative or a friend to lend me the cash til the transfer clears? Those options made me feel like I was bringing a bag of pennies and nickels to pay for it. Then I realized, I can always just ask for a limit increase. Woooohhh...heartbeat slowing...jackpot, problem solved. That definitely sucked for like an hour or so this morning as I freaked out.