I tried to renew my son's subsription to Rolling Stone magazine through Best Deal Magazines. They promptly charged my credit card. After four months of not seeing the renewal show up on his magazine labels, I contacted their customer service department. They said that they would contact the clearinghouse and get back to me in two weeks or less. I had to contact them again, when two weeks had gone by, then waited some more to hear back from them. After all that, they told me that the publisher rejected the order because of decreased circulation needs and they were issuing me, not a refund, but a coupon good for 71 cents more than I had paid. Whoopdeedoo!  
In the meantime, the magazine subscription is on the verge of expiring and I will have to start buying issues at the newsstand until I can get it to renew from another vendor. Had I not been diligent in contacting Best Deal Magazines again and again, I would still be waiting. Now, they have my money and I have nothing. That's what I call a scam! This place is not worth the effort or the uncertainty. Avoid.

Frustrating... Poor Customer Service... BDM obviously does not understand the magazine subscription either. In today's world, everything is trackable, and yes, Woodcraft Magazine can go into their records and determine the date this magazine was received from Superior Plan (I would assume BDM's Clearinghouse) was the end of August. It was entered into the system on 9/3/09.  
 
They say the lateness of this magazine is the responsibility of the publisher, but the publisher has emailed me and told me the exact date they received this order and the exact date the order was entered. THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THIS ORDER UNTIL the END OF AUGUST (a week and a half before it was entered).  
 
FATHERS DAY GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS WILL BE 18 WEEKS PAST ORDER DATE, if they ever show up! AND I'M NOW BEING TOLD THAT A SECOND ORDER, (# 75BATK17D6) WILL BE AT LEAST 17 WEEKS PAST ORDER DATE B4 IT WILL SHOW UP IF AT ALL!  
 
And of course, this is after navigating the BLAME GAME (BDM is blaming Woodcraft Mags, Woodcraft is saying they didn't get my 6/3/09 order until end of August). BDM "confirms" that their clearinghouse "would have" gotten the order out 1-2 weeks after it was submitted to their "clearinghouse."  
 
I ordered 3 subscriptions of WoodCraft mags on 6/3/09.  
 
9/14/09, I emailed asking about the status of all three subscriptions (14+ wks post-order date).  
 
9/14/09, received auto email response directing me to use FAQ pg or email a different address.  
 
9/14/09, I emailed 2nd email address as specified in auto email.  
 
9/14/09, received auto email stating my question had been rec'd, & to allow 2-3 business days for a response.  
 
9/14/09, received an email from K.S., Priority CS Mgr, stating she was starting an inquiry with the clearinghouse.  
 
9/22/09, I emailed asking the status of this inquiry.  
 
9/22/09, I tried calling the 1800 number listed on BDM's website, it only refers you back to the emailing process.  
 
9/23/09, I called BDM &left a voicemail stating my growing concern, requested someone to call me back.  
 
9/23/09, I called Woodcraft Magazine today. They said my 3 would begin coming mid-October (18 WKS past order date). They ALSO informed me that my order was rec’d by them on 9/3/09 (13 WKS PAST ORDER DATE).  
 
9/23/09, Upon finding this out, I emailed BDM this, I told them of the situation thus far, and how I felt 17 weeks was ridiculous. I asked for a partial refund of my subscriptions.  
 
9/23/09, received an email response, it said that my orders were submitted to the clearing house on 6/5/09. It said they would then made their way to the publisher within 1-2 weeks after that date. It then went on to blame the publisher, Woodcraft magazine, for failing to enter the subscription in a timely manner. It stated that they may have been particularly slow because Woodcraft is only published once every two months. It said this delay was "not normal" and gave me their "sincerest apologies" (but offered no resolution I felt appropriate, just the words, sincerest apologies).  
 
9/23/09, I responded to BOTH BDM & WOODCRAFT, an email ststing that I was not happy with "sincerest apologies" words alone, and that I had another order fro Men's Journal (a 12-issue, 1 year subscription) placed first week of July, that has also not arrived (approaching the 12 week mark). I told them I expected a partial refund for the lateness and my trouble, or if it was the publisher's fault, I would appreciate some extra issues credited to our subscriptions.  
 
9/24/2009, I received an email that my second order for Men's Journal will be delivering my first issue in November. The order was placed first week of July 2009; and that makes that OVER 17 WEEKS for that wait.  
 
9/25/09, I rec'd email from WC Magazine stating that they received the order end of August 2009. It was entered into their system on 9/3/09. They reiterated BDM was lying when they stated in their previous email that WC would have received within a couple weeks of going to their clearinghouse on June 5, 2009.

This review was modified by its author, morganstrf, on 9/30/09 10:33 AM.

Best Deal magazines, despite what their shills may have posted below, appear to be an out and out scam operation, taking money and providing nothing but an endless trail of emails claiming all the problems are with "the clearinghouse". More than six months since the order, there is still no magazine arriving.  
 
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SEND ANY MONEY to this company - you will NOT get anything in return except aggravation and lies.  
 
************  
In response to their reply below, as of yet, there have still been no copies of this magazine received, though I will post again when and if they begin to arrive. I imagine that many people would not pursue them this long, and just "write it off" - leaving Best Deals taking something for nothing.  
 
While they actively response to emails, only when pressed do they provide any meaningful information, as they finally did after I chased them for months for an answer.  
 
Any individual is far better off paying a regular subscription price and receiving their product in weeks rather than waiting as long as six months or more - if you receive anything at all - than dealing with this company.

This review was modified by its author, JDMC, on 9/18/09 3:03 PM.

Back on May 5th, 2009, I placed an order for a subscription to Consumer Reports with Best Deal Magazines. The bargain price they offered of just $16.56 for a 1 year subscription was too good to pass up.  
 
Fast forward to August 15th- 100+ days later. No magazine, no refund, endless runaround by Best Deal Magazines.  
Best Deal Magazines company keeps deflecting my requests for a refund by saying that they are 'still checking with the clearinghouse'. What clearinghouse is this- the one that cleared out my bank account for the false promise of a magazine subscription?  
 
BUYER BEWARE regarding this company (and others) that promise magazines at rock bottom costs but deliver nothing.

I placed an order for a renewal as well as a new order for 2 magazines. I have yet to receive either one and it's been 16 weeks. I sent in an inquiry at 12 weeks - the "normal" turnaround time they claim and received a form response. I have ordered magazines online from third parties  
in the past and have never waited so long.  
 
Sure you can save money, but if you never get the magazine, what's the point. I'll order directly from the magazine itself in the future.  
 
I smell scam. Just glad they didn't get me for a lot of $$$. Shame on them.  
 
Update 7/16/09  
 
After several emails and an extremely long wait, Best Deal was able to confirm my two subscriptions will start. So while not a scam, it's still unsatisfactory in my opinion and not worth the frustration. I think I'll stick with ordering from the magazines directly.  
 
Update 7/21/09  
 
Best Deal Mags sent me an email to let me know September would be my first issue but their response to this review states that July/August would be my first issue. would like to get a straight answer once and for all on when my subscription will start. This frustration is not worth the $ saved.  

This review was modified by its author, ringobeagle, on 7/21/09 12:14 PM.

I received your reply to my review. I have no order number as I was not given one. And regardless of what you claim, I have never received any responses - just your standard form email response saying I'd get a response - which never came. But of course, you charged my credit card for the subscription right away. And, your 800 number rings and no one answers.

This review was modified by its author, notpleased, on 6/24/09 4:05 PM.

I agree with the majority of the reviewers stating that the service is extremely poor and slow. I placed an order on FEB 8, 2009 for TWO magazines I have not received to date. On 5/29/09 I called both publishers directly and they advised me that Best Deal had not placed an order with them for either magazine. We are now in June 2009 and I received an email today from a customer rep that my subscription wouldn't begin until August 2009!!!. For the one or two dollars savings I could have ordered them directly from the publisher and avoided the headaches. I don't like dealing with a company in which you have to leave a message and wait for a return call or email. THE ORDER NUMBER WAS 9F8VCEGT6P. (CONSUMER REPORTS ON HEALTH AND HEART & SOUL MAGAZINE) I have sent emails to Customer Service Managers, Lori Greene & Kelli Shirley requesting a refund but have not received a response. Going forward, I will not place any future orders with this company as they do not take care of their customers and do not want to give you a refund.  
In all fairness to Best Deals Mag, they responded to "some" of my emails but NOT the emails I sent to their Manager, Kelli Shirley on 5/29/09 & 6/1/09 requesting a refund since I was unhappy with their service as no orders had been placed on my behalf until I inquired on the status of my order initally placed on 2/8/09 until the end of May 2009. I just want all future buyers to be aware that if you purchase from Best Deals Magazine you may not get a REFUND as I have sent TWO REQUESTS for a refund and have NOT received a reply. I keep copies of all of my SENT emails so they can't say that they responded to "ALL" of my emails. This is my experience, perhaps others will have a different outcome.

This review was modified by its author, DSWEATT, on 6/3/09 5:25 PM.

I ordered back in December. To date, I have received nothing. I ordered three magazines. I have emailed about five times back and forth with them, and every time they fail entirely to answer my questions. They seem overwhelmed by the fact that my order included requests for multiple magazines.  
 
They always take a couple of days to get back to me and they never actually help.  
 
I am notifying American Express and trying to get my money back. They are awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
 
UPDATED: To be clear, I have emailed them multiple times. Everytime, I have asked about all three orders, none of which ever have come. My response from them has only ever offered information about one magazine. It forces me to email again, asking about the other two.  
 
Their customer service department is arrogant and incredibly difficult to deal with! Avoid this company at all costs unless you want to waste money!  
 
Even though I am outside of the 14 week window which they claim it takes to begin receiving magazines, they are steadfastly refusing to give me a refund!

This review was modified by its author, tjpavlov, on 3/30/09 12:23 PM.

We ordered a 4-year gift subscription to Rolling Stone ($35.24) for our friends, and were embarrassed to learn that after 4 months, they had not received a single issue. In calling this company, Best Deal Magazines, they do not have a human answering the phone, just a message that tells you to interact with them from their website but does grudgingly allow you to leave a message. NOT HAPPY. They may have the best deals, but they have the all-time Lousiest Service.

Hello  
I just would like to save some frustration for you. I ordered a magazine in December. I have not recived an isue yet. First I called they rerfer to the wbpage. ok. so I wrote to them one, twice. asking fot my magazine. well on both ocasions I got a terrible insulting automatic response . They suggest I should read it carefully that it may have the answer for my question. Well simmply my question is why I do not have my magazine and the answer is gain an automatic response what I did wrong. Well if you want to save some time an effort STAY AWAY from this site. I am disputing it with my credi card company and try to reverse the charge. Very frustrating and disappointing costumer service.

It is now March 9, 2009 and I still have not recieved one issue of the magizines ordered and paid for back in July 4, 2008. This company has the worst personal skills in responding to inquires. Regardless how many Emails or attempts at resolving this issue I go ignored. I have yet to get a refund, even after asking for one six months ago. DON'T BUT ANYTHING FROM THIS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBER UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO WASTE!

I ordered two subscriptions from best deal magazines and never received my subscriptions.

Low prices, but definitely not worth the couple dollars you'll save. Unbelievably slow process... Their website clearly states "Please allow 8-14 weeks for your subscription to start. This is the industry standard." However, it is now 16 weeks after I placed my order and have yet to receive a single issue of either of the two I ordered. I emailed customer service, and finally got a response back after four days, saying that one of my magazines should be coming within the next "several weeks" and for the other one, an inquiry that will take two weeks has been sent to the clearinghouse.  
 
They really need to revise their time estimate to reflect a more accurate picture of the horribly slow process - regardless of whose fault it is, whether it is the clearinghouse, publisher, or theirs. I could understand a rare delay in the 8-14 week process, but it seems delays beyond the 14 week upper end are the norm.

I ordered a subscription for MacLife on Sept 10 and have emailed them twice. No magazines so far and only an automated response. Looks as if I had a 50/50 chance of getting the subscription from the previous reviews. Should have gone by instincts, if it's too good to be true, probably shouldn't have ordered it.

a great price is nothing if you never get the magazine! i ordered two subscriptions from this company last year. i waited 4 months for the subscriptions to start before contacting the company,which by the way can only be done via email as you only get a recording when you call their number. i contacted them three times over the next three months and never even got the courtesy of a reply. the only thing this company does well is charge your credit card quickly!! STAY AWAY AND BE SURE TO TELL OTHERS.