Overview
In this review of Costco Merchant Services, we'll provide an insightful look at this division that resells Elavon contracts for payment processing solutions. We'll cover their offerings, including credit and debit card processing, POS systems, and the Talech Terminal. We'll also evaluate their rates, fees, and contract terms.
We'll address common customer complaints, industry ratings, and the pros and cons of using Costco's services, focusing on issues like competitive pricing and customer service experiences. Additionally, we'll discuss the impact of recent lawsuits and customer feedback trends to give a well-rounded view of the company's reputation and performance.
Our goal is to present an unbiased perspective, helping businesses make informed decisions about using Costco Merchant Services for their payment processing needs.
About Costco Merchant Services
Costco Merchant Services is the merchant services division of Costco, a well-known wholesale retailer. Costco Merchant Services is actually a reseller of Elavon contracts, and this relationship was indicated clearly on the department's website. Elavon is part of U.S. Bank’s (U.S. Bancorp’s) payment services division. This means that businesses that sign up for a merchant account through Costco will receive the processing services of Elavon.
![](https://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Costco-homepage.webp)
Costco Merchant Products and Services
Payment Processing
Costco Merchant Services handles processing for all major debit and credit cards across various business types. Their offerings include POS systems, EMV card readers, swipers, mobile processing, and online processing solutions, with Elavon as the actual processor behind these services.
Talech Terminal and POS Solutions
The service includes the Talech Terminal, a smart terminal equipped with a built-in card reader and printer, designed for mobile payments without needing a cell phone. It features an intuitive user interface, inventory and customer tracking, and is Wi-Fi and 4G enabled. Talech also provides POS solutions specifically for retail, restaurants, and service industries, offering features like inventory management, table management, and online booking.
Business Management and Security
Costco Merchant Services aims to improve cash flow with options for receiving funds within hours of batch submission or by the next day. They also provide business management tools, including employee and inventory management, invoicing, and security technologies to protect sensitive data.
![Costco Merchant Services payment processing](https://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/costco-merchant-services-payment-processing-1024x472.png)
Carla Brugge
I am a member of Costco and went thru Elavon for my credit card purchases for my business. I have found Elavon to be rude, condescending, and unable to assist me when they shut my account down and refuse to assist me or answer my questions as to when the account will be reopened. It has been 3 days short of a month since the closing and no answer as to when it will reopen. Trying to talk to Assumption Agreement department is impossible. They don’t answer the phone and state that they will respond within 72 hours and then don’t. I am a customer of Elavon and sit here with no answers and can’t process credit card charges for my business thru the holidays thru Elavon. Unbelievably terrible company!!
Rudy
m a costco executive member and they told me to get elavon credit card processing for my small businesses but they got me good over charge me
and back charges with out any nonitification at all
and a high percentage on credit cards at 4.1%
i dont recomend this company find other one
also they refuse to take any responsibility horrible busness practice .
Georgette
We had to create a new account, we could not use the old owners Costco membership. The Elavon sales person is fantastic. I was told that I would be renting the unit, I asked why and was never offered to purchase the unit outright. Everything was going well. The system is easy enough to operate. The employees took to the updated unit favorably. It was smooth sailing until the charger stopped working. I called for weeks to get a new one. No one could help me, I was bounced everywhere for weeks. I was told once we were underway, that I had to deal with the support end of the business. That is a very poor label for that back end. The unit is portable, very large and bulky, I feared it would be dropped and it did happen, so now I had to replace the whole unit, as it has a hairline crack across the screen. I ramped up by calls. A month in, and a few heated conversations later, I had nothing. I was advised, by the ‘other end’ – who could not figure out why I could not get a replacement charger for my rental or buy a new unit – I was told along the line that I would have to pay $500+ for a it, I said fine, sign me up. Nothing. Others advised me to elude that it wasn’t dropped so I wouldn’t have to pay. I stated many times that I did not care about paying. Nothing. I was told, “Well, you dropped it, it isn’t covered.” Fine, charge me. I was told I would have to open a new account or something like that. Okay! let’s do it. The majority of the time that I called, the rep could not find my account, said they didn’t have my info that matched. Yes, well that is because you are looking at the previous owners account – as you do not allow for transfers. I have an account number, they never start with with simple, vital tidbit. It has been a couple of months, I have threatened that I was in search of a new credit card processing company. Our bar is 90-95% electronic payment based. I am not so concerned anymore with the lowest fees. I am more interested in decent customer service and getting a replacement, especially when I state that I will pay! I found another company, i don’t know how the rates and fees will stack up. I have been assured that if I have any issues, I can call this person, the initial sales person I spoke to and get my needs satisfied. There is no contract. They sold me the unit outright – which I prefer, I never get insurance – I have no desire to jump through hoops for replacements, finagle the truth to fall within the coverage parameters, etc. I am shocked that Costco does business with Elavon, as far as their customer service level is concerned. Otherwise, the processing and web based reporting is and has been fantastic, no complaints there. I tried to find a review section on the Costco website, there is none, although they do post a few highly rated customer one-line or so reviews. This is the only forum I could find to share my experience on.
Roxi
They suck .I’m small bussines they take 400 dollars a month
Leslie chin
Poor quality machines, poor customer service. Took 3 days to resolve a sim card issue. receipt print tiny, machine battery don’t last a day. We had 4 of them, all such bad build and all stop working due to sim card. Took 3 days of getting transferred around to get new sim cards.
Rosa Carretero Fung
HORRIBLE Service with Elavon! I’m disappointed COSTCO has a partnership with them! I have a ingenico iCT250 I purchased through Costco some years back. Im a small business & only use their merchant services and was in need of software upgrade. So I call technical support for assistance, after 1 hr 45 min support was unable to further assist me and told me to take my devise home to try to do the download at home. So I do that set up at home call leave a message to call me back, they call me back after 30 min, I get transferred they hang up on me, don’t bother to return my call. I attempted to call again (3rd time) leave message elavon call me back in 30 min, I beg the tech support lady pls don’t not transfer me and not call me back. Gave her my number just in case this happened again. She was unable to help me, she “warm”transferred to support I wait for 40 min on the warm transfer. Finally a get help I beg them not to hang up and gave him my cell to call if I get dropped on the support call. On the phone with him gives me hope after he trouble shoots my software (1 hr) then YES he DROPS my call! Doesn’t bother calling me back! Nobody I’m did at this point! What the hell are they doing all day over there. What a dam waste of my off day (I’m a small business trying to get back on my feet) grand total of my wasted day with Elavon Support 4 fricking hours and they did NOTHING and didn’t fix my issue!!!! Costco wake up pls this company is so poorly managed! What a waste of my day! Moving on to a different system. No to cancel all of my account with this merchant!
Sheiva Pousti
Elevon has completey defauded our account as well. We are executive members with Costco and are appalled how Costco is able to refer their members to this dishonest company. DO not use their services. I have been on a call for over 4 hours and their employees even refuse to disclose their names. They have fraudulent chargebacks without any letters or client names attached to it and they refuse to give us back our money. They are a scam. Do not use them. WE will be filing a lawsuit against them.
John Mahlmann
I was defrauded of a great deal of money as a result of processing credit card transactions online. My manager had Elevon confirm the first transaction was valid and continued processing based on confirmation the transaction didn’t raise any flags. Now that the chargebacks have started to pile up, I’m required to pay hundreds of dollars in fees. Additionally, Elevon is withholding money from my account I will not owe for 90 days after the last chargeback. Getting call-backs and names of supervisors has proven exceeding difficult. This is not what one expect from a company that receives $25,000 a year in fees. I strongly recommend exploring alternative options.
William Cline
BEWARE!!! Elavon does absolutely nothing to represent or stand behind their merchants, so even if they offer slightly lower fees it just isn’t worth it as just one unjustified chargeback more than offsets any savings. We had a cardholder claim they returned an item back in February 2017 – it is now May 2017 – which they did not, and in their chargeback claim provided no documentation whatsoever of any such return. And yet, all Elavon did was route form letters to us ignoring all of the evidence we provided as to the charge, matches on address and security code, and authorization to process the charge. I don’t think they even took the time to read anything, instead just reflexively rolling over to allow this cardholder to commit overt fraud. Complete and total FRAUD. So do business with Elavon at your own risk, especially if you’re a small or medium size business that they take for granted. Of course maybe they take everyone for granted and are just running their own scam pocketing all the savings from their non-existent customer service and pathetically inadequate and incompetent transaction authorizations bordering on outright negligence.
Jon Acord
Horrible, stay away! I am AMAZED costco went thru them, I had talked to someone about perhaps going thru Costco payment processing. The person took some info, was going to call me back to fill me in with what they could offer, they charged my credit card $150, I have called them and repeatedly told them I dont want this, they have been charging my credit card every month, they will call me to say they want to help set it up, and I repeatedly tell them I did not want this, please stop charging my credit card. STAY AWAY!
SD
Elavon is a rip-off….
Everything looks good in the beginning with the low rates but look out !!! I had a terminal stolen, and Elavon wants $1226 to replace it !! How you ask… Elavon is asking me to buy out the full term of my contract as well as pay for the terminal to rectify this, and them start over with a new contract right away. They will not just sell me a new terminal to replace the old (3months) terminal and allow me to carry on business as usual. And they think this is alright and I will be happy to just go right back to them. They are smoking something down there.
Stay awayfrom them.