ComplaintsforHoffman Media, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  09/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Classic Sewing Magazine offered a two year subscription on ******* b day after her death. I took out two of these one for me and I gifted another. Now we learn that the company will cease publication with the last issue being winter 2024. I would like a refund for the magazines that I wont be getting nor my friend I gifted them to will be getting. Its unprofessional for a business to keep my money after they advertised and offered subscriptions. Also tacky that the downloads have to be downloaded before the end of 2024 or you lose that money that was spend also. That will take hours upon. Hours to download all of this information for approximately 32 issues. I paid for this information and was told the downloads would exist for a lifetime.

  

  Business response

  09/18/2024

   

  Our customer care team at **********************'s home office  responded to *** ****** phone call on 9/17/24. We are not sure why she chose to file a complaint rather than calling or emailing us first so that we could explain the very difficult decision to close a magazine and also explain the options of credits or refunds available. Below is the email sent to *** ****. 

  Good morning, *** Hall, 
  
  It was a pleasure speaking with you. I have generated your coupon to use on our website at *****************************************  and your coupon code is BE43SDDJ. You have available to you $188.10 which includes the $163.10 that you have remaining on your Classic Sewing subscription account plus your $25.00 coupon. Please note that your coupon will expire on December 31, 2024. Also, I have had our Classic Sewing team to update your email address so that you are able to access your downloads. We do recommend that any downloads you have to make sure they are downloaded and are working properly before December 31, 2024. Let me know if you have any questions. 
  
  Angela Hall
  *****************
  Magee MS
  39111-3144 US
  Show *******************************************************************************************************************************  
  **********************
  

• Initial Complaint

  06/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I ordered 3 cookbooks from this company 1 in April and 2 in June. They are all different. I have not received anything as of today. I would like the books or a refund.Thank you *********************

  

  Business response

  06/24/2024

  ************ - you ordered three *********************** cookbooks that were all preorders. The books are not printed yet and your credit card has not been charged. Mrs. ****** has mentioned this on all social media posts, it is on our website and also was included with your order confirmation email. You ordered Live Each Little Moment Y'all on April 27th. The cookbook was originally expected to be off press before Thanksgiving. We have announced that it will now be shipping in early August and credit cards will be charged on July 8th. The two reprints were just announced in early June for book 1 and book 2 with shipping dates in mid August. Your credit card will be charged on July 22nd for those orders that you just placed on June 6th. We apologize for any confusion but these are preorders and again your credit card has not been charged yet. If you have additional questions you may certainly email us at **************************************** or call ***********. We do not have any record that you have contacted us. All of your orders were placed online. Please let us know if we can assist you with anything else.  ***************************** - Vice President of Marketing, Hoffman Media. 

• Initial Complaint

  02/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I bought the Easter 2024 issue from Hoffman Media at a local Wal-Mart today, February 24,2024. I've attached a copy of my receipt. When I got home and began reading it, I realized it seemed familiar. I looked back through my collection of previously purchased magazines by Hoffman media and saw it is the exact issue that was released in 2022. I've attached a photo of both magazines, showing the same cover, other than one is dated 2022 and one is 2024.I feel like this is very deceitful of the company and am asking to be reimbursed for the second issue. I also feel the Better Business Bureau should be aware of this deception. I have bought many issues from Hoffman media, mostly from the Entertain and celebrate line but also Paula ****.I realize the founder of the company, ******* Hoffman, died last year and this may cause ripples in the company. If new issues couldn't be made due to this change, that is understandable. Changing the date on an old issue and marketing it as new is deceitful and unfair to the customer. Thank you for looking into this.

  

  Business response

  03/14/2024

  Hi ************, 
  
  Your issue of Entertain & Celebrate 2024 is on the way, and your USPS tracking number is 9400 1091 0515 6066 6065 19.
  Let me know if I can further assist you.
  
  **************** 
  **********************
  
  From: jlbird57 <******************> 
  Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 12:04 PM
  To: **************** <****************************************************************>
  Subject: RE: Hoffman Media/******* Purchase
  
  I would like the Spring 2024 issue of Celebrate and Entertain, if available. Otherwise the coupon and free shipping would be fine. Thank you. 
  
  Sent from my ******** ******* Galaxy smartphone
  
  -------- Original message --------
  From: **************** <****************************************************************> 
  Date: 3/14/24 12:55 PM (GMT-05:00) 
  To: jlbird57 <******************> 
  Subject: RE: Hoffman Media/******* Purchase 
  
  Hi ************, 
  
  That is a good question. I am located in our home office in ************** and if there is a publication that interests you, and we have inventory for that issue, I will be happy to send it to you at no cost to you. 
  
  **************************************
  
  **************** 
  **********************
  
  From: jlbird57 <******************> 
  Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:52 AM
  To: **************** <****************************************************************>
  Subject: RE: Hoffman Media/******* Purchase
  
  Thank you for responding so promptly. I looked at my 2 issues again and I do see the black label near the bar code. I'll be sure and check that in the future. I would appreciate the $20.00 coupon with free shipping to use on a different magazine issue. Out of curiosity, what do you mean you could send something else directly from the office? Thank you. 
  
  
  Sent from my ******** ******* Galaxy smartphone
  
  -------- Original message --------
  From: **************** <****************************************************************> 
  Date: 3/13/24 2:52 PM (GMT-05:00) 
  To: ******************
  Subject: Hoffman Media/******* Purchase 
  
  Good afternoon, ************, 
  
  As a standard publishing practice, we do reprint issues and sell on the newsstands for new readers. We note this by the barcode like you can see in the screenshot below, Reader Favorite Back by Popular Demand. Unfortunately, we cannot a refund for your ******* purchase. You would have to return to that store for a refund. We can offer you a $20 coupon with free shipping to purchase another Special Interest Publication from our store or we can send you something else directly from our office. We apologize for the inconvenience. 
  
  
  ****************  
  **********************
  

  Customer response

  03/14/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have several magazine subscriptions with them and keep getting emails asking me to subscribe as my subscriptions have lapsed. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOT!Calling their numbers *****************-361-8059, 866-400-0538 I've found that either they don't answer or a taped recording states that their hours are 8 to 6:30 and to call back then. I DO CALL BETWEEN THOSE HOURS! They won't allow messages to be taken for callbacks. I did get thru once. I described that their emails state that my subscription(s) expired and that they want me to renew. I was placed on hold and then disconnected. When I called back they wouldn't answer. I subscribe to SOUTHERN CAST IRON, BAKE FROM SCRATCH and TASTE OF SOUTH. Can you please look into this matter? Thanks

  

  Business response

  05/30/2023

  Customer was contacted on May 17th per below which details his current subscriptions and their renewal date. The customer was also offered a refund since he has prepaid for additional subscription years. We found an error in our renewal system where it was not correctly identifying expiration years of **** and **** since most customers only have 2-3 years on their contract life. This has been resolved in our system.  The customer did not want a refund for upcoming years and wanted to keep the subscriptions as they are. Customer is satisfied with our response.

  (email from *********************** - on staff customer service manager)

  Good morning, ****, 

  
  I am sorry to hear that you have had so much difficulty with your subscriptions. I have looked at your account and each of your subscriptions are active and the expiration dates are:  Southern Cast Iron will expire with the September/October **** issue; Bake from Scratch will expire with the July/August **** issue and your subscription to Taste of the South will expire with the May/June **** issue. 

  **** called me back
  

  (email from ********************************* - Production/Circulation Manager)
  What triggered his concern was the email on the 13th saying we want you back and mentions him being a former subscriber. He then Had trouble getting someone one the phone after calling customer service. He got a foreign representative and then the line went dead. He stated he is perfectly happy with his expires wanted to let us know that it seems to be taken care of. I told him if would follow up with him in our findings when I confirm that we have corrected our email audience and that the phone lines are working.
  

  Customer response

  05/30/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  04/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  We purchased Victoria magazine as a gift for a family member. Since then our bank account was automatically debited every October 17th. We have not received any communication from the company about auto-renewal or when prices increased. However, since the gift was continuing and the recipient was happy, we left that alone. They stopped shipping the magazine in Dec 2022. Our bank statement shows the auto-debit occurred as usual on 10/17/22. They are putting the onus on us to sort this out, while they continued to bill us for this subscription.

  

  Business response

  04/10/2023

  Hi ******, 
  
  I have taken care of this customer. I combined the two accounts for her gift recipient and ** sent her gift recipients missing issues to her. The tracking that I provided her is USPS Tracking **** **** **** **** **** 34.
  
  
  Customer Service 
  **********************
  
  
  

  Customer response

  04/11/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I never ordered a subscription to Tea Time magazine, yet I have received the magazine and now have a bill for a six month subscription. I am sending a check for $18.00 on 3/27/23 to cover the cost of a six month subscription I did not, to my knowledge. request. If this magazine, or any other magazine Hoffman Media prints, does automatic renewals, please know that I do not want any further subscriptions to anything you print. My account number is *********, The only reason I'm paying for this magazine is that I do not want this error on my credit report.

  

  Business response

  04/02/2023

  Hi ******, 
  
  I did reach out to the customer yesterday and she responded today. Below is what she wanted and below that is the action that I took and responded back to her. 
  
  To my knowledge there was no "transaction" for this magazine so I cannot give you details. Often I receive a complimentary copy of a magazine to see if I like it. When I did receive a copy of Tea Time and assumed that was the case. Since then I have now received a second copy of Tea Time I have sent you a check for $18.00 (personal check # **** mailed on 3/25/23) to cover the cost of a six month subscription that I did not order, but will pay for so I do not have an issue on my credit report.   
  Please remove my name from your mailing list. I do not want to subscribe to anything from Hoffman Media.
   Thank you.
  
  I have marked your account as to never contact. Currently, you have four issues left with this current subscription and your last issue will be November/December 2023 issue. You are not set to auto renew.  If you would like to look at the details of this subscription account, visit our website at ***************************************************** create an online account. Let me know if you need anything else.
  
  
  
  Customer Service *********************** (****************************************)
  Hoffman Media, LLC

  March 28, 2023

• Initial Complaint

  02/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  BBB In previous years I have renewed my two subscriptions one for me and another for ********************* with my debit card. However, I received a invoice last year in November to renew these subscriptions and it was 70% discount. I did that paying with a check $35.98 the check was cashed in November. On 1/31/23 ********************* subscription was charged to my card and on 2/2/23 my subscription was charged to my card. I called on 2 occasions asked to speak to a supervisor as usual, no supervisors available. On 2/6/23 I received a check in the amount of $10.19 I dont know what this is for. Simply, I have been doubled billed for 2 subscriptions. I would like my debit card credited in my account of $59.96 or or $49.77 less the $10.19. You can reach me via email at ******************** or my cell number ************. Please resolve this issue for me. I have learned not to use a debit card in renewing any subscriptions. Thank you,*************************

  

  Business response

  02/16/2023

  **** called me just now to let me know the 4 separate refunds deposited into her account today so she is taken care of. I am still going to check back on her account next week when the updates have processed at ****** to give her a final summary of her account. does that information need to go to BBB?
  
  
  Thank you,
  
  *********************************
  Production/Circulation Manager
  p.  ************
  e.  **********************************
  w.  hoffmanmedia.com
  Follow us on  Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest
  
  
  
  From: ********************************* <**********************************>
  Date: Monday, February 13, 2023 at 11:01 AM
  To: ***************************** <**********************************>, *********************** <***************************************>
  Cc: ************************* <********************************>
  Subject: Re: BBB complaint - Subscription
  I have spoken with **** this morning and after reviewing the account we noticed there were a few agency orders for Cooking with Paula Deen. **** had also sent a check directly to Hoffman Media October 20, 2022. I explained to **** that the agencies do have credit card continuous services. **** informs me that she would like for the agency orders to be canceled and does not want to order with a credit card. Only wants to order with a check and keep the orders active for herself and ***** that were direct to Hoffman Media via check.
  
  On behalf of ****, I called the two different agencies to cancel/refund her remaining credit card orders and be sure she is removed from continuous renewal. The refunds will go to ********** banking institution within 7 business days. Here are the details below. Once the account is adjusted properly to reflect the agency cancelations and refunds, I will be able to provide the proper expire issue for each account. Confirmation emails from each agency will go to Judis email for the cancellations and refunds. Total refund amount - $74.30. I will continue to monitor the account as updates are processed.
  
  
  1. ******* Credit *********************** ************
  
  Canceling remaining subscriptions from ******* (3 issues for **** and 3 for *****), refunding **** each for herself and ***** and canceling auto-renewal. **** ending ****
  
  10461225
  PI-0 1 Cooking with Paula Deen
  Purchase
  To ************************* ZPDCCTX3C edit/ 29.98 (to publisher: *****) Print Wed Mar 16 2022 13:04:48 detail
  
  
  2. Received confirmation of cancellation from magagent.com agency ***************). Client to received refunds and cancelations to show on **** ending **** within 7 business days. $29.98 each for **** and ***********
  
  Transaction ID
  Item ID Batch Item Quantity ******************* Code / Renew Code Item Total Price Delivery Type Status Remaining Transaction Date Action
  
  10847944
  PI-2594 1216-1251 1 PDC - MAGAGENT.COM-DTP GATE CS NEW - 7 Issues Print for $29.98 (Remit=34%)
  Purchase - agency
  To ***********************************************;/ 29.98 (to publisher: *****) Print Active 7 Wed Feb 08 2023 15:51:40
  Transaction ID
  Item ID Batch Item Quantity ******************* Code / Renew Code Item Total Price Delivery Type Status Remaining Transaction Date Action
  10847935
  PI-2594 1216-1251 1 PDC - MAGAGENT.COM-DTP GATE CS NEW - 7 Issues Print for $29.98 (Remit=34%)
  Purchase - agency
  To ********************* A04GDT1P / 29.98 (to publisher: *****) Print Active 7 Wed Feb 08 2023 15:51:40
  
  
  JUDI ********
  50 *********************
  ************* **
  77380 **
  
  Account Number: ********
  
  Email: ********************
  
  DORIS *****
  14642 ************
  ****** **
  77378 **
  
  Account Number: ********
  
  Email: ********************
  
  Thank you,
  
  *********************************
  Production/Circulation Manager
  p.  ************
  c.  ************
  e.  **********************************
  w.  hoffmanmedia.com
  Follow us on  Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

  Customer response

  02/16/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  12/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have had chronic problems with receiving Tea Time Magazine. I never received the November/December 2022 issue. I called **************** a myriad of times plus the Contact section on the magazine's website. No one ever contacted me from the Contact section of the magazine's website. I just kept getting emails that someone would contact me soon. I continued calling **************** and I would talk to a representatives who said that the warehouse would send me duplicate issue. I never received it. Finally, I called again after waiting weeks, and asked for my subscription to be cancelled. I was told by **************** that I would be receiving a check for $16.00. I am still waiting for the $16.00 check. I want my refund check and this will resolve the issue and the Tea Time Magazine will never hear from me again. My account number is: #*********.

  

  Business response

  12/14/2022

  Customer was refunded $16 on 11/11 by check from our fulfillment center. With the holiday, it likely mailed the next business day. Tracking does not show as having been returned and the expected delivery date was 11/18. Customer advised on 12/14 that check was not received. A replacement check was issued on 12/14 from Hoffman Media home office and shipped by Fed-ex 2-day shipping with tracking. Complimentary publications were also sent to the customer along with the check.

• Initial Complaint

  10/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I placed an order for a subscription on February 16th 2022 I have not received that subscription I have sent many emails regarding a refund and finally got an answer saying that I would get a refund of $69.95(US Funds) buy check and with receive it by September 7th 2022 I have not received anything yet I have emailed them again and I keep getting an automatic response of it has to go to the accounting department and the wait will be 4 to 6 weeks

  

  Business response

  11/09/2022

  We have mailed **** a check to cover the subscription in the amount of $69.95.  Thanks.

• Initial Complaint

  09/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I took out an international subscription to Cottage Journal in June or July 2021. I was told my first issue would be the winter edition. When this had not arrived, I chased it up and in late January 2022 received the Winter and Christmas editions. No further magazines arrived, but in April 2022 (ie two months early), Hoffman Media took a second year's subscription money. I chased again and Hoffman said they had despatched the missing issues and - as I had requested - sent a refund of the second year's subscription. It transpired they had sent me a cheque in ** dollars, which would have cost almost as much to pay into my ** bank as the amount of the cheque, so clearly was useless. I contacted them again and said I would tear up the cheque if they could make the refund to the same card I used to take out the original subscription. They have not replied and have not made the refund. Again, I chased the missing issues which they said they had posted to me. Today, about 8 weeks after they said they had been despatched, two magazines arrived: the Winter issue (which I'd already received 8 months ago!) and the Spring 2022 issue. But no Summer issue. Their customer service **** seems impossible to deal with and to be honest, I've never experienced such completely awful customer service. All I need is (a) a refund of my second year's subscription and (b) the missing issues of the magazine which I've paid for (ie Summer and Autumn 2022). And an apology would be rather nice, too!

  

  Business response

  05/30/2023

  Hi ******, 
  
  From what I can see with this customer, she was sent several replacements from CDS and ******* but it sounds,  like she never received any of them. She was sent Spring 2022 on 7/18/22 and again on 9/23/22. Winter 2022 was sent 7/18/22. Autumn and Summer 2022 were sent on 9/23/22 and Autumn was sent again on 11/10/22. Her subscription was cancelled on July 18th and a refund was issued.  
  
  Transaction ID
  Item ID Batch Item Quantity ******************* Code / Renew Code Item Total Price Delivery Type Status Remaining Transaction Date Action
  10712071
  PI-2941 1316-54 1 CJS Missed Issue Autumn 22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Thu Nov 10 2022 06:43:21 detail
  10631209
  PI-2862 1316-41 1 CJS Missed Issue AUT22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Fri Sep 23 2022 06:34:21 detail
  10631208
  PI-2069 1316-40 1 CJS Missed Issue SUM22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Fri Sep 23 2022 06:34:03 detail
  10631207
  PI-2068 1316-39 1 CJS Missed Issue SPR22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Fri Sep 23 2022 06:33:46 detail
  10537215
  PI-0 1233-58 1 Cottage Journal
  Cancellation for transaction: 10497765
  To DR ***********;J FIELD #****F00A edit/ -45 Expired 0 Mon Jul 18 2022 14:00:31 detail
  10537212
  PI-2070 1233-57 1 CJS Missed Issue WIN22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To DR ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Mon Jul 18 2022 13:46:52 detail
  10537210
  PI-2068 1233-56 1 CJS Missed Issue SPR22 ZCJS ****
  Purchase - refulfillment
  To DR ***********;J FIELD M20BDEFJ edit/ 0 0 Mon Jul 18 2022 13:46:33 detail
  10497765
  PI-0 1 Cottage Journal
  Purchase
  To DR ***********;J FIELD #****F00A edit/ 45 Print Expired 0 Thu Apr 28 2022 02:36:59 detail
  10214692
  PI-0 1 Cottage Journal
  Purchase
  To DR ***********;J FIELD I00000865 edit/ 49 Print Expired 0 Thu Jul 22 2021 03:13:05 detail
  Agent Name Agent Email Description Date Added
  *********************** ****************************** Refulfilled CJS Missed Issue Autumn 22 ZCJS ****. Reason: did not receive issue/card.
  read more Thu Nov 10 2022 06:43:21
  *********************** ****************************** Refulfilled CJS Missed Issue AUT22 ZCJS ****. Reason: did not receive issue/card. Comment: AUT22. Fri Sep 23 2022 06:34:21
  *********************** ****************************** Refulfilled CJS Missed Issue SUM22 ZCJS ****. Reason: did not receive issue/card. Comment: SUM22. Fri Sep 23 2022 06:34:03
  *********************** ****************************** Refulfilled CJS Missed Issue SPR22 ZCJS ****. Reason: did not receive issue/card. Comment: SPR22. Fri Sep 23 2022 06:33:46
  *************************** ******************************** Cancel transaction successful, type: cheque, transaction Id: ********. Mon Jul 18 2022 14:00:30
  *************************** ******************************** Refulfilled CJS Missed Issue WIN22 ZCJS ****. Reason: did not receive issue/card. Comment: . Mon Jul 18 2022 13:46:52
  *************************** ********************************

  Customer response

  05/31/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩