MagazineCity.com review: Poor service! 34

I ordered a magazine subscription on December 22nd, 2017. It was to be a Christmas present for someone. I paid via credit card $70+. In February when no magazines had been delivered yet, I followed up with an e-mail. They responded saying that delays often occured, but if there was still nothing by the end of April, to contact them again. Since then, I've sent them 2 more e-mails, which they haven't ever acknowledged. I called them at the 1-800 number they provided, but was put on hold for in excess of 1/2 hour, and eventually hung up.

They took my $70, and haven't provided a single magazine, let alone the 2 year subscription I paid for.

This is definitely a scam. Don't order from them.

I ordered a magazine subscription for my husband for Valantines day on Feb 14, 2017 and have contacted this company several times with lies, lies and more lies. Then I complained to the BBB in Virginia, then I got a response saying the would re submit the subscription to the magazine company. They also sent me a copy of the magazine they had in their office. Four months later still no magazine. Contacted BBB again, same thing again, they sent me a office copy of the magazine and still nothing. I asked for money back as nothing else is acceptable to me now and haven't heard from them since. Liars and Thieves.

In late July 2017 ordered a 3 year renewal subscription to USA TODAY SPORTS WEEKLY for $90.95. This offer by far topped any competitors offers including the publisher. SPORTS WEEKLY renewal was supposed to start 4-6 weeks from that date around the time my original subscription was expiring. Renewal from MAGAZINECITY.COM never happened. Wound up renewing myself through the publisher for 1 year.

E-mails were never returned. Phone calls were never returned. Got the run around from a Supervisor named Christine who likewise never returned follow up messages left on her voice mail. The excuse I was given by Christine when I actually spoke to her was that the Fulfillment House messed up and the order had to be resubmitted. She promised to call me at the end of that business day with a resolution. Weeks later, I'm still waiting for her call.

Later, spoke with Anne Marie Feris who allegedly is the Boss, the company Director. She insisted that the subscription I had renewed for 1 year came from her company, etc. Reality is that my renewal through the publisher expires in 2017. The MAGAZINECITY.COM sub if in effect would have expired in 2017.

MAGAZINECITY.COM kept telling me the publisher told them my renewal was from them and the publisher kept telling me they had no record of any renewal in my name from MAGAZINECITY.COM. Since I had paid with a credit card I went through my card company and received a full refund. I complained to my card company days before my statute of limitations to file a complaint for a refund would have expired.

MAGAZINECITY.COM based on my experience is a TOTAL RIP-OFF. Will never do business with them again, and NEITHER SHOULD YOU!

A magazine was ordered from magazinecity.com on Jan. 31. It is now July 9 and no magazine has arrived. I called the magazine itself and they have no record of an order for me. Great. I am trying to call magazinecity.com’s 800 number. It is not a 24-hour number and you must call between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern time. Four out of five times when calling the number [protected]), I get a message that the call cannot be completed. I also tried the Charlottesville, VA number at [protected]. On the few occasions when I got through, I was on hold for minutes before getting a message that they were too busy to take my call and that I should call back. So, after 7 months, so far they have my money, I have no magazine and I can’t get through to talk to them. Don’t use this service.

On December 16th, 2017, I placed an order for two very expensive subscriptions ($76.00 each for Octane Magazine) as Christmas gifts for my brother, and brother-in-law. Here it is, March 5th, 2017, and the magazines have yet to be delivered. Not only am I out a bit of money, but I look foolish. The automated customer service line will keep you on hold for seven to ten minutes, and then hang up on you. The emails to the customer service website will go unanswered. Do not, I repeat, do not give these clowns your money. The real issue, is there is almost no recourse, as your credit card company typically will not provide a refund after two months. Magazine City claims monthly subscriptions should begin in eight to ten weeks. Convenient for them, yes? I intend to inform everyone I can about this scam.

This is the absolute worst company I've ever had to deal with...yes, worse than the phone company and yes, their customer service department IS worse than Earthlink's outsourced customer service department. Their reps are USELESS, at least Earthlink's reps have a manual to read out of!

In March of 2017 I ordered a few subscriptions for my nieces and my nephew, naturally when I told them, they were SO EXCITED and couldn't wait to receive their first issues. Needless to say, those NEVER came and after months and months of 40 minute hold times and customer service calls that gave me no information at all, I finally was told that the order was NEVER SENT TO THE MAGAZINE! Naturally, I asked for a refund and it is now nearing the end of September and still nothing. I can't even get a hold of them by phone or email anymore. They simply don't answer or don't respond. I've left messages and I just can't believe they are still in business!

I placed an online order to magazinecity.com for a one year subscription of TV Guide Crosswords magazine. My credit card was charged but i never received the magazines. I called several times and emailed them. Even though they said that they would return all calls within 24 hours and emails within 7 business days they never did. I finally had to dispute the charges to my credit card company almost 4 months later. This is a completely unreputable company. Buyer beware of this fraudulent company!

I purchased or so I thought a 1year subscription to Air Classics for my brother for his birthday. I purchased this subscription on April 12, 2017. I was told by the girl who answered the telephone on June 7, 2017 that they -Magazine City does not respond to email complaints till the magazine is at least 12 weeks over due. On 06/29/2017 I was told that a refund would be issued that day (as normally it would take up to 30 days to process and they normally only process refunds in the 15 and the 30th of the month) as I have been very attentive in contacting them. On 07/15/2017 I was told the refund request had been processed but the actual refund would not post to my account for 2-3 business days. On 07/19/2017 I spoke to Carol at extension208 she explained there had been some misinformation (because she only does refunds once they are approved on Friday's when she has big batches of them.)and was so sorry about the confusion but the refund would be issued by 6:30 pm on 07/19/2017. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and intend to file a criminal complaint with the federal government as this has crossed state lines. I learned the 800 number is useless and they never respond to emails. I did ask Carol about this problem.. She wasn't aware of the complaint procedure as it is not her department. Magazine City is still advertising Air Classics on there web site. Challenge Publications has pulled their license to sell from Magazine City in March of 2017 (well before I placed my order).

My experience w/ MagazineCity.com ended on a positive note. I finally received credit for my full subscription and Carol (the MagazineCity.com rep) even mailed me the issues I missed during the 4 month delay. That said, the whole fiasco took more time and energy than should have been required for a $16 purchase so I wouldn't order through them again.

Thank you for the Fax #! I am faxing Mr. Russell E. Halley right now!
CC: The Better Business Bureau of Virginia

I'm trying to find a Fax number so I can fax them my emails. They NEVER answer them!

This is a quick follow-up to my previous message.

Just a few minutes after posting my complaint, I received a call from Carol @ magazinecity.com in response to my most recent email to them. She was extremely apologetic and assured me my subscription problem had been corrected and that I would start receiving my subscription immediately.

I will follow-up again once my first issue (from the distributor, not directly from them) is received.

I live in Charlottesville, VA! I haven't ordered a magazine from here, but just looking at the comments makes me want to go and screw with them though... it would be fun.

Ditto!

I order a subscription nearly 4 months ago--still waiting for my first issue. Fortunately this was a cheap lesson, only $14.95 + $1.00 processing, but it's annoying never the less. I just sent them one last email demanding my subscription start immediately (with proof of validity) or receive a full refund. I don't expect to hear from them and will proceed to file a complaint with the BBB and my state attorney general. I believe this kind of thing is considered mail fraud.

Take it from me and the countless others (the web is chalk full of complaints and scam reports), magazinecity.com is a complete RIPOFF. I don't understand how they've been allowed to stay in business this long. They are a stain on society.

Somebody who lives in Charlottesville, VA, ought to pay their office a visit on behalf of all the people they've ripped off.

I agree 100%. In fact, I ordered a magazine, Guitar Player, on the same exact date. I tried multiple times to call the customer service number and have never been able to talk to anyone. I have tried customer service multiple times and just eventually get bounced out of being on hold. All my emails have gotten the generic response that it takes x weeks to receive the magazine. I don't know if I can get a refund from the cc company at this point. One other time, I ordered from another set of crooks, Nordicstore, and never received an order of over $300 worth of merchandise. The cc company said that as over 3 months had elapsed, I was SOL!

I too got scammed - BE SURE TO REPORT THIS TO THE FTC - perhaps if they get enough complants maybe they will shut them down or go after them for fraud. I get on every fraud site and report them - the more the better. DO NOT sign up on any of these discount magazine sites - they are all a fraud. Just go to the magazine site themselves and its the same price that they charge you.

Same exact thing happened to me! It's been 6 months since I ordered a Christmas present for my boyfriend and he hasn't received it. When I call it just hangs up on me after 10 minutes, and when I try to e-mail them, it cannot be delivered. Something has to be done about this!

This Company is a JOKE! Every time I call I get placed on hold for about 5 minutes then a message comes on saying, " Thanks for calling magazine city, our customer service department business hours are Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm EST. Please call back during normal business hours." WTF! When I call it is between 9am and 6pm EST. I have left them several voice mails and even sent them an email and have yet to get a response. I have notified my bank of the charge (40.99) and I notified the "Better Business Bureau" of my complaint. I wonder if there is a class action law suite against this company? I cant believe this company has not been shut down for FRAUD and THEFT! Taking peoples money and not following through on their promises of supplying people with a service is a CRIME!

Same story here. Ordered my subscriptions through MAGAZINESOFAMERICA.COM. The same company as Magazine City. It's been almost a year and many dollars of long-distance charges for sitting on hold. Funny, because the "supervisor's" telephone number I finally got is the same one the other writers above have recieved. She probably doesn't even exist.

I totally agree with you. I ordered Oct. 2017 and never received anything. Unanswered email... the worse company I ever dealed with.

More information:

The BBB rates this company with an "F" for too many complaints. Here is more company contact information:

Business Name:
MagazineCity.Net LLC
Magazania
Magazine Staple
Magazinecity.com
Magazines of America
Business Address: 650 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 190
Charlottesville, VA 22911
See the location on a Mapquest Map
See the location on a Google Map
Original Business Start Date: 9/1/1998
Type of Entity: Corporation
Principal:
Russell E. Halley, C.E.O.
Phone Number:
[protected]
[protected]
[protected]
[protected]
Fax Number:
[protected]
Email Address:
dlyon@magazinecity.com
BBB Accreditation: This business is not a BBB Accredited Business
Type of Business:
MAGAZINE SALES
INTERNET SHOPPING SERVICES
Website Address:
http://www.magazinecity.com
http://www.shop.magazania.com

Unfortunately, I didn't find this site beforehand. I had the same experience. I ordered on October 12th, 2017. My confirmation email states the magazine should arrive in 6-8 weeks (10-12 if bi-monthly or quarterly magazine). It has been 14 weeks and still it hasn't arrived. I called them twice. They said it will come in February (4 months later). I don't believe it. They won't connect me to a supervisor. They say she is on the phone. I told them I would wait but they transferred me against my consent to the supervisor's voice mail. Supposedly, this is her direct line [protected] x216. I've left voice messages but she won't call back. I'm going to try to contact the BBB and dispute the charge with my Credit Card company.

I just tried the 800 phone number listed on the website [protected]) it gave a message that it was an invalid phone number. I tried the other phone number listed and it kept me on hold for five minutes then said something about the routing server is busy and hung up on me. I have tried contacting via email with no response.

I ordered 3 subscriptions from magazine city over 6 months ago. About a month after I subscribed, I began recieving issues of the cheapest of the 3. I never recieved ANY copies of the other two more expensive magazines. I tried calling the service several times, only to have the line disconnect after holding for 30 minutes or more. My emails were returned. I filed a complaint with the BBB 2 months ago. Magazine City responded and said that they had talked to the companies that put out the other two magazines and that those subscriptions would begin shortly. 2 months later I STILL have not recieved a single copy of either.
DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY. IT IS A SCAM!

Same experience here in Australia, immediate debit but nine months later, no magazine.

Being way oofshore, can anyone give any advice about making a complaint - Better Business, Dept of Justice, other? Do not know how your system works, would be grateful for any guidance. Will
offer a free 12 months subscription for a magazine of your choice from Magazine City for anyone that can help!

I fell prey to Magazine city in December of 2017. I ordered a subscription as a gift in Canada. After 3 months, i called and they said I had to wait longer because it was in Canada. I waited another month and called and complained, the girl was very nice, took my email address and said she would get in touch with the fulfillment department and email me back that same day. She emailed a day later saying they hadn't gotten back to her but that she would email me as soon as they did. I waited another month and called, this time i asked for the supervisor...they told me that there was no supervisors there, only from 9-5 eastern time 7 days a week. She patched me through to the supervisors line and i left a very detailed message with order #s the dates I called, etc. Still nothing. I called the next week and again asked for the supervisor, but i only got the machine. This continued every day for a week. I was frustrated and started researching online. I came across these complaints and panicked! They really were crooks and I may never get my 100 bucks back!

So...I called once more, this time I called a number I had found by looking up the company info on the business listings for Virginia (where they are based). A woman answered, I told her my problem. She took my telephone number and very rudely said she would pass it on. I said that I was not content for that because I have been doing that for months now. She actually said too bad and then hung up. NOW I WAS MAD...I did what the guy said he wanted to do at the beginning of this post...I tracked down the appropriate BBB for their location (the RICHMOND BBB) and I sent my problem to them. The company is given a month to respond to the complain. Within 2 weeks the MAGAZINE CITY had responded and assured me my money would be returned. A month later, indeed my VISA was credited!

SUCCESS! I will NEVER EVER purchase from them again. They boast a less than 1% complaint rate, but I believe its simply less than 1% that they respond to. Thanks to everyone here, because it was through this that I figured out how to get my money back! FOLLOW THE SAME SUIT! RICHMOND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

What a ripoff! Just a pack of thieves running this imaginery company called "magazine city". I paid for a subscription for a Christmas gift that never arrived and that was 6 months ago. Calling this company to complain is useless. They never pick up. You're "on hold" forever and then you get a message saying "due to heavy traffic, all our operators are busy, please call back at a later date". Then I went online at www.magazinecity.com, lodged a complaint there and waited 2 weeks and never heard from them. This is so frustrating as there's no way to get my money back. However, I am going to call VISA and at least let them know about these scam artists.

I'm in the same boat as you right now but out of $52.95. They won't even answer calls now and it's actually too late to complain to my credit card company though I guess I can try. I made my order on December 23, 2017.

I guess I also have been scammed by these people, I placed an order with them as a gift for my mom in Dec 07 and it is now May 08 and have heard nothing they totally give you the run around . They will put you on hold for fifteen minutes then will disconnect you, if you try to email them the email comes back, if you leave a message they do not return your calls.
I also intend to report them
DO NOT ORDER from these people they are crooks !

I agree with all of the above. Magazine City is a waste of time. I have had the same experience. No magazine after 4 months and was told "we are just a 3rd party provider"! Who cares! They are the ones who have charged my credit card.

Customer Service should also be renamed to Customer Insults as they are the rudest people on the phone that I have ever come across.

DO NOT ORDER FROM MAGAZINE CITY

I had ordered a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to MINITRUCKIN MAGAZINE back in February of 2017, and told i would recieve my first issue in 8-10 weeks. So, i waited patiently. I finally got my first issue in June (4 months later). I had recieved another in July, then it ended. I had called in September thinking maybe there had been a mix up. The woman i had talked to said it would be no problem and that she was fixing it in the computer as we spoke. I had called back in December (2017) and told them that i still had not recieved any issues, once again i was told it was getting fixed as we spoke. As of January 2017, i have been calling them consistantly atleast 3-4 times a month and i am never able to get through. Here it is April 25, 2017 and i still can't talk to anyone. MY ADVISE IS: DO NOT GO THROUGH THIS COMPANY FOR ANYTHING, THIS COMPANY IS A HUGE SCAM AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN. ( APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON SAYING THIS!)

Had the same issue with these thieves. I just mailed a complaint to the Attorney General's Office and to the BBB.

I wish I had taken the time to investigate this company before signing up for 2 subscriptions for a total of about $200. I have submitted their online inquiry forms and tried calling... I can't even get a human on the line to be rude to me. I just sit on hold forever and then get a message saying the line is not in service and to leave a voicemail. My online requests have gone ignored.

I've also found other sites with the same complaints about Magazine City. Months of non-delivery after immediate billing followed by rude or no service or resolution or lies that the next issue will be delivered and more months pass without service.

There must be some way to shut down these businesses so honest commerce can thrive!

MagCity is a scam. I made an order in April - it is now November and no magazine. They say they guarantee delivery! But when! It's six months down the track! They will not refund money either. They are rude (I dealt with April) and a scam. What a waste of money.