Magazines Direct Reviews 810

Bought a single *digital* issue, 3 days later I still haven't received it.

Only received an email saying "We are processing your order".

This after trying for about an hour to find a way for them to accept a card payment (had to use PayPal in the end).

Update: July 21st, 2025:
I have to update my review as the customer service really gave it their all to solve the issue.
Despite a few hiccups in which I was sent 4 copies of a magazine I hadn't ordered, I now received all the magazines I ordered.
I really feel sorry for the customer service, though. Looking at the other reviews here, it is clear that there is something currently going awfully wrong with their order processing. It is awful to think that their customer service has to deal with all us upset customers due someone further down the processing line not doing their job properly.

So my thanks go to the customer service and their patience.
I hope the company will see these reviews and decide to solve whatever or whoever is causing all these issues so that ordering from this store can become a positive experience again.

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Previous review from June 23rd, 2025:
I spent over £30 on magazines, yet never received a single one of them. Customer service was responsive, but after they had first noted down the wrong magazines (their shop system should be able to tell them which magazine volumes I ordered!) they know claimed they sent a replacement, but… this has not reached me either.
I am considering taking legal actions should I not receive a refund or my order.
I wish I had seen the reviews earlier - customers beware!

Edit: After I published my review, customer service reached out to me to organise a replacement for the 3rd time. This time, I actually received 4 magazines, but: They were 4 identical issues of a volume I hadn't even ordered.

So, I am still fighting to receive the 4 magazines I actually ordered and already paid for or to receive my money back.
It will soon be a month since I placed my order and the problem still stands unresolved.

This company is a disgrace ! ...Ordered a subscription for my mothers 80th birthday , paid upfront for a weekly delivery of Chat magazine to start beginning of June ...
No magazine arrived ,emailed them and they explained the issue would start 26th June , I told them I was not happy at all as effectively 3 issues had been paid for and not delivered ..they said they would call me to discuss , 6 days have passed and no phone call ..Terrible company ...AVOID!

If I could give them zero stars I would. Purchased a digital version of a magazine because I didn’t want to wait. I received an email immediately upon purchase to say they’d be in touch regarding my order within 24-48 hours. For a digital product??????? I emailed them the next day to ask where my order was, they replied 24 hours later to say they’d be in touch soon. That was 4 days ago. I have contacted my bank to get my money back. They are not stealing from me!! Avoid at all costs!!

TLDR; don't buy anything through Magazines Direct. Too many hassles and magazines can barely arrive. The magazine is nothing protected in the envelope.

I bought 3 issues for £3 magazine trial from them. I changed my mind within 7 days and thought I could cancel and claim a refund. Turns out they are "not able" to refund any amount below £5. I couldn't see such things mentioned in the terms and CS told me it's on the publisher and not Magazines Direct.

Never mind, the payment was taken so I'd expect to receive 3 magazines. But no, they didn't arrive. The first time I asked the CS. They answered "We’ve recently experienced a system error that prevented your subscription copy from being dispatched. We’re working hard to make sure that this doesn’t happen again for anyone. We can confirm that your account has now been corrected." and kindly provided information of when and which of the next issue I'll get. Again, when the magazine issue is on sale it never arrives.

The second time I asked, I received the exact same respond about the system error. Clearly it has never been corrected since I still haven't received my product. CS promised they'll ship a replacement which I should wait for 7-10 working days. It has been 11 calendar days now and never receive my magazine. I think I'll have to chase again.

There is a third time my magazine "lost" in the post, as I purchased another single issue of magazine from them. Similar experience I paid the money, magazine didn't arrive, had to chase them which they claimed it lost in the post, had to wait for another 5 days to receive. But at least that magazine arrived, thank God.

Scam. Do not subscribe to get 15% discount - they are just after your data, you won't get the discount code; I did not. At least I know not to buy from them now! Having read the reviews I feel lucky!

Please do not buy anything there. They do not ship the magazines. They do not make the refund. It is a fraud.

Cancelled a subscription last year as PSM was being replaced by Edge, not wanted any longer. I had an email back confirming it was cancelled, I moved address and guess what, they kept it going.

Trying to get hold of them is impossible, telephone number is disconnected and your stuck with emailing an inbox that doesn't reply.

DO NOT USE

OMG. I wish i had read these reviews before I renewed my subscription for 24 months. Magazines Direct have acknowledged my payment but cannot seem to actually deliver the magazine subscription. It beggars belief in this day and age that something so simple, that has been possible for decades, cannot be sorted out. DO NOT SIGN UP TO USE THIS COMPANY, they will drain your life force.

Customer service was very responsive, i can't blame them there.

But I ordered a special issue of a magazine and it never arrived - and is of course now sold out everywhere. Gutted.

Judging by the other review, more often than not items from them get lost in the post. That's just disappointing

Order Not Delivered — Had to Escalate for Refund

I placed an order with Magazines Direct for a digital magazine in April 2025. Due to a minor email mismatch (which I flagged immediately), I was unable to access my purchase.

Despite 9 days, over 9 emails, multiple reassurances from their customer service team, and even a formal complaint, the issue was never properly resolved.

Eventually, Magazines Direct stopped responding altogether. I was forced to escalate the matter through PayPal to obtain a refund — which PayPal granted immediately due to non-delivery.

Magazines Direct may be fine when everything works, but if any problem arises, expect scripted responses, no real resolution, and no accountability.

Very disappointing service. I would not recommend based on this experience.

Ordered a magazine for my son 3 weeks ago, has still not arrived. Have emailed twice and completed their online form twice, no response. Is this a scam website?

I had bought a special limited magazine for a band I love about a year and half or two years ago (I know a while ago but it comes back).
The two issues I bought both came in damaged, one less severe than the other, but it has a broken spine, cover torn, and damaged which is not great for collection purposes.
I had tried from that purchase day (and about two months+ it took for it to actually arrive), to contact them but have been unable to reach them through their email due to it constantly not sending due to 'an increase of traffic to the email ' and it would refuse to send the email to them.
Just two days ago, it finally sent through, after trying for a year+.
The response I get is 'oh, we'll make sure it doesn't happen again'.
I do not recommend them at all, seriously, please, do not waste your time. The customer service is a nightmare to work with and the way the products are handled (not even coming in a protective layer and just in a loose plastic bag), you're products will more than likely come in damaged.

Subscription was cancelled ahead of renewal yet they still took the next payment.
Still waiting for a refund.
Terrible customer care. Would avoid!!

I do love them, when the magazine arrives. And it does a lot more often then not. And I bet its not even their fault if there is a missing issue. And I recommend being patient, expect 2+ weeks for single issue delivery.

Thanks, magazine direct team, I do enjoy buying from you.

Paid for a subscription to 6 issues of Edge magazine, only 3 ever showed up. Emailed them about it and got ignored. Chased multiple times and finally got an apology saying that there was an ‘issue’ but I’ll still receive the next 3 issues from then. None ever arrived. Emailed again, got ignored, chased, another apology saying there was an ‘issue’ with their emailing system hence being ignored. They also said that there was again an ‘issue’ with my subscription so they are cancelling it. No questions of what I would prefer they just straight up cancelled it. After my complaint they literally replied ‘sorry now that it’s cancelled they can’t do anything to help’.

I’ve seen that this is happening to a lot of people in the reviews. My guess is the company is going under and they’re trying to quickly cancel any subscriptions that were made under deals with money off. In any case, this is absolutely not a way to win customers. Possibly the worst customer experience I’ve ever had.

To cut a long story short, I subscribed to 6 magazines. Only received 5. Chased this for 3 months. Still not received my magazine. Made a complaint, they asked when to contact me. I gave date and time, guess what, no call received. On going saga!

I placed a telephone order, was sent the wrong product, and the customer service team refused to issue me a refund or send the correct product.

They said the order confirmation letter that was sent with the product was proof I had ordered the wrong product, and the issue was my fault, not theirs.

I ordered a copy of Cycling weekly which never came.
Judging by the feedback this company receives, why am I not surprised?
I will never use Magazines direct again.

OK, so hearing back from them can take quite a long time.... But, ultimately, they always sort out issues and I feel they deserve some kudos for all the bad press...