When your order arrives

Print magazine subscriptions Free shipping

Shipping is free

Shipping on every print magazine subscription is free. There are no handling fees, and the price you see is the price you pay for the whole term.

When your first issue arrives

Most first issues arrive within 4 to 12 weeks of ordering, depending on how often the magazine publishes. This is the industry-standard time publishers need to add you to their active mailing cycle, and it applies to every retailer, not just us.

Many of our best-selling titles arrive sooner than this. Once the first issue lands, the rest follow on the publisher's normal schedule.

Why the first issue takes a while

Publishers print mailing labels weeks ahead of each issue to keep costs down. If your order lands after the cutoff for the issue currently in production, your subscription starts with the one after it. Occasionally a publisher will start you with the most recent issue instead so you are not waiting; if that issue is one you already have, let us know and we will adjust your subscription.

Renewals and DiscountLock

The wait applies to new subscriptions only. Renewals, including subscriptions renewed automatically through DiscountLock, are added to the end of your current term, so your issues keep coming without a gap.

How magazines are delivered

Publishers mail most magazines through the United States Postal Service, and a few use a courier. Because issues travel as standard mail, there is no tracking number for an individual magazine. Your DiscountMags account shows the estimated start date for each subscription.

Digital magazines Within 60 minutes

Nothing ships. Digital subscriptions and single issues are delivered by our digital partners, Zinio and Magzter, and you should have access within 60 minutes of placing your order. You will get an activation email with instructions for the platform your magazine is on; if it has not shown up, check your spam or junk folder first.

Zinio titles are also available in your DiscountMags digital library, in the Zinio apps for iOS and Android, and at zinio.com. Magzter titles are available in the Magzter apps and at magzter.com.

ZINIO Unlimited and Magzter Gold all-you-can-read plans start within 60 minutes as well.

Digital gifts go to the recipient's email address: enter it at the delivery step of checkout and they will receive the activation email while you receive the order confirmation.

Print + Digital bundles Free shipping

A bundle is one subscription delivered two ways: the print edition in your mailbox and the digital edition on your device.

Digital access is not instant with a bundle. The publisher sets up the digital side of your subscription along with the print side, so it takes longer than a digital-only order, but you will be reading online well before your first print issue arrives. How soon varies by publisher; you will receive an email with access instructions as soon as it is ready. Your first print issue then follows the same first-issue windows as a print-only subscription.

Books, calendars and other goods

Shipping cost

Shipping for books, calendars and other physical goods is not free. It is calculated at checkout from a base rate plus a small charge for each additional item in the shipment.

Tracking

Orders usually ship within 2 to 3 business days. When yours does, we email you a tracking number and an estimated delivery date. Shipping charges do not apply to any magazine subscriptions in the same order; those still ship free.

Returns

Books and goods can be returned within 30 days of delivery. See the Refund Policy for the details.

Where we ship

We deliver print subscriptions and physical goods anywhere in the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and PO boxes. Digital products are available anywhere.

Military addresses (APO, FPO and DPO)

We are proud to ship to service members and their families overseas. Most magazines can be delivered to APO, FPO and DPO addresses; at checkout, choose AA, AE or AP as the state. Overseas military mail moves through the military postal system after it leaves the US, so allow a little extra time beyond the estimates above.

Gifts and multiple addresses

Every magazine in your order can go to a different address, so you can buy for yourself and a few gift recipients in one checkout. Gift subscriptions can include a themed e-card or postcard announcing the gift.

Correctional facilities

We accept orders for people in correctional facilities. Each facility sets its own rules about which magazines are allowed and may hold issues without notice, so check with the facility before ordering. Include the inmate ID number directly after the last name and use the name the facility has on file; mail without a matching name and number is usually not delivered.