MagsForLess.com review: Buyers beware! 131

Ordered about 6 different magazines on December 10... is March 29 now and not one of them arrived! They say they will refund me for all but since i never saw my magazines... I'm definitely skeptical! My sister also ordered magazines at the beginning of January and is yet to receive as well! DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!

I ordered five magazines on 10/24/2006, one was a renewal and the other four were new subscriptions. Per the website for magforless.com, I was to receive all my magazines by 01/16/2007. I have made requests at their site numerous time, apparently they are never received, I've sent numerous separate emails, still no reply. What I find so baffling, is that on 12/03/2006, I ordered a free magazine that the site offered me, that magazine I am receiving and started getting within 4 weeks of placing the ordered. So why can I get the free magazine that I didn't pay for, but the five that I did pay for I can't receive?

I ordered 3 magazines in July of 2006 and after contacting support 3 times I have still not received a single issue of any magazine and it has now been 10 months. The only response I can get back are the standard stock emails from "Meagen Richards." Beware of MagsForLess, they will take your money and run without delivering any product.

Count me in as one who was fleeced and if you want to file a class action suit count me in on that as well.

I placed an order on Dec. 28th, 2006 for 3 magazines:

Field & Stream
Readers Digest
Outdoor life

Total: $25.83

It is now past the time they were due to arrive. I e-mailed the company yesterday directly from the website. I clicked order status and was able to directly e-mail them from there. I received a response today from them: (The following is exactly what they sent me). My response is for an immediate refund. I do not have a good feeling about this company.

E-MAIL FROM MAGSFORLESS.com on 4-6-2007:

Resolved by Meagan - MagsForLess Support Apr 6, 2007 16:09 EST

Dear Brianna,

I do apologize for the inconvenience. I located the orders you are referring to and was able to identify the problem with getting your subscriptions processed. The issue has been corrected.

I can go ahead and personally resubmit your orders to the publisher and put a rush on it. You would receive your magazine within the next 4-12 weeks. If you do not want to wait any longer I can issue a refund to your account. Please let me know which you would prefer to do.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation on this matter.

Best Regards,
Meagen Richards,
MagsForLess Customer Support
meagen@magsforless.com
http://www.magsforless.com

For immediate answers to your questions, we welcome you to visit our FAQs at:
http://www.magsforless.com/faq.cfm

You may also lookup the status of your order anytime at:
http://www.magsforless.com/ordering.cfm

I am going to file a complaint with BBB.com and also with my credit card company.

Megan, Kim, Whoever...we have filed complaints with BBB, FBI and mail fraud...what kind of company Did you run? Same thing as everyone else on this board - sent money, got zilch, no response to complaints. NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF CROOKS. EVERYONE'S GOTTA COMPLAIN AND BRING THESE CROOKS DOWN.

How can we file a complaint against these crooks and put them in jail? There web site is still out there, This is ridiculous.

They took my order fast enough, 3 months later I'm still waiting for my magazines. Today I am going into my bank to file a dispute before time expires on that. The whole set up seems to be to drag you on with polite emails of "we're working on it, wait another 4 to 12 weeks" until you can no longer dispute the charge with your bank and you still get no magazines. I'm also filing complaints with the BBB and attorney generals office.

I'm getting my money back today before they take that opportunity away from me too. I advise anyone who has an outstanding order to run to your bank today and dispute the fraudulent charge. You will never get your magazines!

I was ripped off by MagsForLess.com too. +1. Same story as others.

Sub: MagsForLess.com took my money, sent no magazines

MagsForLess.com took my order fast enough, 3 months later I'm still waiting for my magazines. Today I am going into my bank to file a dispute before time expires on that. The whole set up seems to be to drag you on with polite emails of "we're working on it, wait another 4 to 12 weeks" until you can no longer dispute the charge with your bank and you still get no magazines. I'm also filing complaints with the BBB and attorney generals office.

I'm getting my money back today before they take that opportunity away from me too. I advise anyone who has an outstanding order to run to your bank today and dispute the fraudulent charge. You will never get your magazines!

My credit card was charged the same day of the purchase. Its been two months and I have not received a first issue. Thats not the biggest problem the worst part is they have an "order lookup" in their website and my order number does not exist, nor my zip code, nothing. They have no record of my order, they have NO customer service phone number, there is NO ONE you can contact, only an email address which I have written to several times without any response. If a company does not even have a phone number to call its certainly NOT a respectable company. There is NOTHING you can do to complain or let them know or ASK! what the problem is. The only thing I can think of is request a charge back from my credit card company. That of course takes time and effort. They are thieves. I wish there was a way to know this BEFORE buying a subscription.

Wow! I thought i was the only one having problems with this company. After reading everyone else's complaints I have come to this realization- I'm out $16.20 and will have to order Popular Science from the publisher and will NEVER AGAIN order from magsforless.com.

Annemarie Cornell

I paid for a subscription for 'The New Yorker' through magsforless.com using my credit card in Aug 2006. It is nine months since then, I have neither received any magazine nor any refunds and no reply to my numerous complaints. There is no telephone number to contact them and I have had the impression that they are bunch of thieves given to stealing customer money. There are thousands of customers like me who are being daily cheated by them and yet they are still in business and no one is taking any criminal action against the company.

Beware people!

If you feel that you have been defrauded by MagsForLess.com or any of its affiliates, please consider filing complaints with the following entities:

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center - www.ic3.gov
Federal Trade Commission - www.ftc.gov
New York Attorney General - www.oag.state.ny.us
NY Better Business Bureau - www.newyork.bbb.org

I ordered mags on 02/07, and have repeatedly tried contacting the company about my order. I placed a complaint with BBB. There info. is... also affiliated with mags411.com

Business ID: 121-[protected]
Name: MagsForLess.com
Address: 41 W 72nd St Apt 10G
City: New York
State/County: NY
Zip/Postal Code: 10023

I had originally subscribed to Auto Week from its publisher, but when it came time to renew, I found a much cheaper renewal on line a few years ago. Then, in February 2007, when it was time to renew again, I used Google My1Mag.com, and since the magazine continued to come, i figured that was that (as I was pretty sure that my subscription ran out in late Feb.). Now, I'm hearing from Auto Week that I must renew by May 2007, even though i renewed for one more year. So, at most, I got two months, not one more year, of Auto Week for my $14.35. Add me to your list of very unhappy people screwed over by these people!

I placed my order in September 2006. 7 months and a dozen emails later, nothing. Anyone (including me) who does business with Magsforless.com is a fool.

Add me to the list of people ripped off by MagsForLess.com...

Please consider contacting the following to file complaints against Joel Simkhai and MagsForLess:

New York Attorney General - www.oag.state.ny.us
Federal Trade Commission - www.ftc.gov
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center -www.ic3.gov
National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch - www.fraud.org
Dateline NBC, Lea Thompson, NBC's Chief Consumer Correspondent - datelineconsumer@hotmail.com
Better Business Bureau - www.newyork.bbb.org

Info:
Joel Simkhai
41 W 72nd Street, 10G
New York, NY 10023
[protected]

If we bring enough attention to Simkhai's criminal operations, we might be able to get him shut down. Every complaint counts, no matter how seemingly nominal the amount may be.

Ed Magedson, Founder of Rip-Off.com has some great suggestions on how to get your money back from Simkhai and MagsForLess:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: �we could not do anything for you� or �you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days�.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember� Don't let them get you! Make sure they make the Rip-off .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.

And good luck� Let us know how you do!

I too have been a sucker. I order things off the internet often and so felt no ambivalence about ordering from magsforless; I guess I should have done some research before I gave them my money. I placed my order in July 2006 and am still waiting for it to be filled in May 2007. Wow. I guess they figure I will forget about my 35.00, but I can't. I am in the military and take it personally that someone would treat a veteran this way. I am even more bothered, however, that they don't seem to care about customer service at all...that is just flat out unamerican! I don't subscribe to the theory that the customer is always right, but not even attempting to provide service is outrageous to me. I was also temporarily appeased by Meagan's sweet email, but NO MORE! I want my refund.

I have had the same issue. I ordered magazines for my bridesmaids as a gift. It's been more than 6 months since I ordered and none of my girls have received their subscriptions.

I went to sites of the actual publications to make the replacement orders. I'm out more money, but have saved face with my friends. No thanks to Magsforless. The reply I received is that they are updating their computer system and will reply to my email shortly. I am thinking that will never happen.

Be warned. This is a scam.

All -

I've been in contact with someone else (whom I met through one of these complaint forums) and we're set on getting a class-action lawsuit together against MagsForLess/Joel Simkhai.

I've created a website for folks that have been scammed so we can get some contact information in order to pass to a judge/lawyer. If we're able to go through with the class-action, we'll be contacting you if we need anything further or just to give you some general information.

http://rippedoff.drewgiefly.com

Please keep in mind that any information submitted on that site is private and confidential, and will be used exclusively to try and get this class action rolling.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email Keith (the person I'm working with) at rookie139@yahoo.com.

The more of you that submit your information, the better chance we have at taking down this ###

Thanks!

Scam, Scam, Scam. There is no customer service, just empty replies via email at best. Every phone number is busy or disconnected. No magazines were ever received after contacting them and waiting almost 4 months.

On Dec. 23 2006 I ordered 3 subscriptions for 3 different mags from Magsforless.com. After 14 weeks I still hadn't received the mags so I e-mailed them and got this reply:

~I do apologize for the inconvenience. I located the orders you are referring to and was able to identify the problem with getting your subscriptions processed. The issue has been corrected. I can go ahead and personally resubmit your orders to the publisher and put a rush on it. You would receive your magazine within the next 4-12 weeks. If you do not want to wait any longer I can issue a refund to your account. Please let me know which you would prefer to do.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation on this matter.

I told them I wanted a refund and then~

Reply:

I understand your frustration. I am assigning your ticket to the Refunds Manager. You should see a refund posted to your account in the next 4-5 business days.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation in this matter.

Needless to say the Refund NEVER came~

Next Reply:

I understand your frustration. I am assigning your ticket to the Refunds Manager. Thank you for your patience and cooperation in this matter.

After getting the same reply one more time followed by many ignored e-mails I finally received this e-mail.

Follow-up by Meagan - MagsForLess Support Apr 27, 2007 14:56 EST.

We know you are waiting on a response to your email. We are currently in the process of upgrading our systems and will reply to you shortly. Don't worry, we promise that we will get your issue resolved to your full satisfaction.

Thanks for understanding.

As of May 7th I still haven't received any refund. In my opinion WORST COMPANY / CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!

I ordered magazines for friends for christmas on December 9th, and they have yet to have rec'd any of them... so now i am out 3 subscriptions... I have emailed complaints, only to get no response, and have hunted high and low for a working phone number to no avail... RIDICULOUS and very frustrating!

Hi, I've been ripped off as well. I ordered a magazine in December 06 for Christmas and have never received shipment. I've contacted Magsforless several times and only gotten one response which said they were looking for it and I would have an answer in two days. Needless to say, its been 10 with no reply. My suggestion to everyone involved is to fight the charges with their credit card company. If the card company get to many complaints about the same company they will not allow Magsforless to continue processing their cards. This would severely hurt the company's ability to do business. Hope everything works out for you... I'm going to call my credit card company right now!

Same story as everybody else's, will get back to you , our system being upgraded, there is never a refund, they just take your money and laugh at you.

Update: Finally, after waiting for over a month for a reply to my messages, MagsForLess sent me 8 emails in the span of one hour; 11 emails in three days. BUT, they did not even try to explain why I haven't received the magazines I ordered in JULY 2006. Instead, EACH email contained the following "message":

"Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 9, 2007 00:45 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 16:40 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:47 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:45 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:38 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:36 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:36 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:36 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:36 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:35 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 12:33 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 11:31 EST
Asking that you expedite this order

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 8, 2007 11:31 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 4, 2007 19:41 EST
Requesting full refund

Follow-up by Joel Simkhai May 4, 2007 19:41 EST
Asking that you expedite this order"

I don't know what is going on with the MagsForLess "customer service" dep't and computer system, but I'm not even getting one of the canned answers from "Meagan Richards" or "Holly Goldstein" anymore.

Does anyone else suspect that "Holly" and "Meagan" are figments of Joel Simkhai's imagination?

I was scammed too. Report it to the Attorney Generals Office of New York, so they know how much this company does this. Follow the link below:

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/online_forms/complaint_alert.jsp

I read on another website http://timharrisportfolio.com/wordpress/?p=174 that the NY Attorney General is currently investigating Simkhai.

If this is true, and you have not already, please consider sharing your story with the NY AG at: www.oag.state.ny.us

It only takes about 10 minutes, but your complaint can really make a difference. You will need the following information when making the complaint:

Joel Simkhai
41 W 72nd Street, 10G
New York, NY 10023
[protected]

Do NOT purchase any magazines from this fraudulent company... YOU will NOT get your magazines, they will take your money and give you the run around. I also found them promoting there crap on Myspace...

I've attempted to contact this company several times since ordering in January 2007, and to date I have not rec'd a response from them nor have I rec'd my magazine for which I paid. My last correspondence with them was in april and was promised a reply as to why within 48 hours. I'm still waiting. Efforts to get them online to register a complaint have been unsuccessful as well.

Wow... I sure do wish I would had known this. I ordered a subscription on January 22 and have still not received the first magazine! I did send them an email on March 4 and actually got a reply... heres what the reply said:

Dear Jaclyn,

I do apologize for the inconvenience. I located the orders you are referring to and was able to identify the problem with getting your subscriptions processed. The issue has been corrected.

I can go ahead and personally resubmit your orders to the publisher and put a rush on it. You would receive your magazine within the next 4-12 weeks. If you do not want to wait any longer I can issue a refund to your account. Please let me know which you would prefer to do.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,
Charles Mcallister
Customer Service
Mags411
questions@mags411.com

I chose to not get a refund because I really thought since he took the time to write me back that I would receive my magazines... it's May 16th and still no magazines!

I ordered two magazines from Magsforless on June 10, 2006. This company billed my credit card and received their payment. However, after a number of months without receiving my renewal magazines, I checked their website for the status of my order, which showed it was completed. On January 20, 2007 I emailed a complaint to the company and received a phone call from a female representative stating they found the problem, apologized, and promised immediate delivery. I still haven't received the magazines. Today is May 20, 2007. I went to their website again. This time I requested a complete refund, which is supposed to be issued to me within the next 14 days. This company appears to be a complete fraud. Is there a class action suit being formed against them? If not, there most certainly should be... Buyer beware!

The con artists name is Joel Simkhai. Look him up on myspace.com He is 30 and gay and rips people off through magsforless.com

Like other posts I ordered on July 26, 2006 and never received my magazines. I did get an email saying they were sorry and would credit me. No credit. I called the phone number listed with the charge on my credit card and got a voice message to leave information about my subscription but in the end you get a "mail box full". The credit card company said that I don't have a legal recourse to dispute because is has been too long. Don't do business with this company.

I experienced exactly the same as the above, and at approx the same time of year. Luckily, my order was for less than 10 dollars and my credit card company refunded me the $$, even after 6 months.

[protected] - Leave a message NOW... for JOEL L SIMKHAI

Using http://www.zabasearch.com I retrieved following which had a matching address for this JOEL which matched a post from another person on this complaint board. IMPORTANT: THERE IS A DIRECT DIAL PHONE LISTED... I will be calling it often to ask for my refund - Will YOU be calling too? Good luck - and call that number and say... SHOW ME THE MONEY!

http://www.zabasearch.com/query1_zaba.php?sname=Joel%20Simkhai&state=NY&ref=$ref&se=$se&doby=&city=&name_style=1

I ordered a renewal of my Sports Illustrated subscription on March 9, 2006 since it was to expire by July, 2006. Sports Illustrated has no record of being contacted about this renewal.

I have emailed this company several times and have received no response. The phone number listed above is an answering machine which gives the following message: “Thank you for calling. Goodbye.”

According to the New York Better Business Bureau, there have been several complaints vs. this firm. In checking opinions.com, numerous people have also complained about not receiving their subscriptions. BUYERS BEWARE!

S. R.
Details:
Magazine subscription serviceMagsForLess.com

Location: 41 West 72nd Street, 10G
New York, NY 10023
Phone: [protected]
Fax: [protected]

This merchant is the Worst. I ordered 3 magazines on Dec31, 2006 and I have never received the magazines as of today (June 5, 2007). I had made repeated attempts to get a refund and have been very unsuccessful.

Never order from this place.