Occasionally questions come up about magazines to which you've subscribed through CSS. Our Customer Service department has compiled this list of some of most frequently asked questions.

When does my subscription begin?
Please allow 4 weeks for Newspaper to begin, 5-6 weeks for weeklies and 8-10 weeks for monthly titles.

Why so long for a new subscription?
CSS processes orders on a weekly basis and transmits them to the various publishers for fulfillment.  Depending on the frequency of the title (if it's a weekly, monthly or bi monthly), the publishers run your mailing label on the next available issue. 

So you don't mail the magazines from your office?
No.  The publisher will mail from their printing facility to you.  That's why it's important to give us your current address----bad addresses only delay your magazines

How do I check when my subscription expires?

Since CSS is a magazine agency, we do not have your expiration dates on file, only your order dates.  The publishers control subscription start and expiration dates.  However, your subscription expiration information is almost always printed on the mailing label of the magazine. Depending on the location and format of the label, it can be located in a number of different spots. For examples of these, see below:

Before contacting us, please look on your label.  And remember to always mark your renewal orders as such, so that they will be added to the end of your current subscription.

If I already paid my bill, why do I get another invoice?

Perhaps your payment and our invoice crossed in the mail. If you have already paid your bill, simply disregard the invoice. If you continue to get invoices, let us know and we will correct the problem.

What do I do if I miss an issue of my subscription?

Let us know immediately! Sometimes magazines get lost in the mail. If that happens, the
publisher can send you another copy of the issue you missed or extend your subscription.

What do I do if I get duplicate copies of the same magazine?

Sometimes subscriptions for the same person may be entered with different versions of the same name. For example, Mary Anne Doe and M.A. Doe are the same person, but the database doesn't know that and produces two mailing labels. To correct this problem, send us the address labels from BOTH copies and tell us which of your subscriptions was duplicated and we will correct the error.

What if I do not like the magazine(s) I subscribed to?
If you are not satisfied with any magazine that you subscribed to through CSS, just send us the invoice or the receipt and write the word "Cancel" next to the title of the magazine you no longer wish to receive. If you have already paid, we will refund your money for the value of the remaining issues on your account. We can also apply the credit to any outstanding balance you have with CSS or issue you a credit for a future order.

How do I renew my magazine subscription(s)?
Before your subscription runs out, the publisher of the magazine may send you renewal
notices as early as six months prior to the expiration of the subscription. These are simply reminders...we will be happy to renew your subscription at the current educational discount rate. Just let us know at least 12 weeks before your subscription runs out so you don't miss an issue.

Do I have to use a Credit Card to get the order started?
Even though Credit Card payment is preferred, it is not necessary. You can select the
"Send me a Bill: One Payment" option when you check out, however, your subscriptions
will not be submitted to the publishers until full payment is received. We accept all of the
major credit cards including American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard, and also
Debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logos on them.

How do I place an order on the web site?
The best place to start is our "Shop for Magazines" page. From there you can search for the particular magazine you are looking for, browse our categories, or pull up the full list of titles we carry. If you find one you like, press the "Add to Cart" button and the magazine will be placed in your shopping cart. When you are done shopping, click on the "My Cart" link at the top of the page and you will see a list of the magazines you chose. From here, you can select whether or not the magazine is a renewal, or if you want to keep a particular magazine in your cart. If you take any titles out of your cart, press the"Update Cart" button and your shopping cart will then reflect the changes you requested. When you are done here, press the "Check Out" button and this will start the check-out process.

Can I order Gift Subscriptions through CSS?
Yes, you can order any discount magazine as a gift from our selection of over 500 titles for anyone you want...whether they are a student or not. Just remember to fill out the Gift
Recipient information when you check out. When we receive your order, we will send you a CSS gift postcard to announce your gift.

What if I am moving or have already moved?
Please try to inform us of your new address at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance so you won't miss a single issue of your subscriptions.