Frequently Asked Questions

At Hearst, we take customer satisfaction seriously. That's why we strive to maintain the highest possible level of care and service to our customers. We've tried to address many questions and needs here, so please take a moment to read the answers to many of our frequently asked questions.

At our shop you are buying directly from the publisher and your 100% satisfaction is our goal. We are dedicated to researching and developing products that provide solutions, value, and happiness to your life. We want you to love the product as much as we do. We have also compiled a variety of products that we love from outside vendors to share with you. We may earn commission on these products, but we only recommend products we back.

What is your return policy?

We only accept returns of unused and unopened merchandise:

• Returns must be postmarked within 30 days from date of shipment.

• We do not reimburse outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.

To initiate a return, contact Customer Service at 888-797-9927 or email [email protected].  

Digital products (pdfs, eBooks, apps or streaming) cannot be returned.

How do I return a book or product?

1. PACK IT UP: Pack your product in its original box, if possible, and be sure to include your original invoice or packing slip with your account number and order number so we can quickly refund or credit your account.

Please allow 3-4 weeks for return processing.

Do you provide an authorization return number?

We do not require a return authorization number. Simply ship your return back to us with your original packing slip showing the account and order number enclosed using your own tracked method.

For returns on products shipped from our trusted partners, please refer back to the product detail page for information and instructions.

What are my shipping options?

Hearst may use a variety of carriers and may ship items separately to deliver your order as quickly as possible. Please use the chart below to estimate the shipping charge and arrival time for your order:

Order Subtotal: Summation of the sale price on products in your cart during checkout that are NOT magazine subscriptions, memberships, eBooks, or downloadable files. Please note that some items ship from an outside vendor and will not follow this shipping table. Those items will note the "shipped by" marketplace vendor. *Exclusions for Free Shipping include items fulfilled to Canada.

Standard: Your order arrives in 5-10 business days for the U.S. and 7-14 business days for Canada. Magazine subscriptions arrive in 4-6 weeks.

Shipping times shown are for the continental U.S. states. Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, military APO/FPO, and Canada may take longer. 

How do I track my shipment?

After placing a US order, you will receive a tracking number within your tracking confirmation email. Please refer to this email for all information.

Do you ship outside the United States?

Currently, Hearst is able to ship only to addresses in the United States, its territories and Canada.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal.

If an item is on backorder, will I get charged when placing the order or when the item becomes available?

Should an item be out of stock when you submit your order, you will not be charged until that item is back in stock and ships to you.

Do you charge sales tax?

Hearst collects sales tax on its products in certain state or local tax jurisdictions in the United States and provinces in Canada as required by applicable laws.  If taxes are required, they are calculated and charged to your credit card or account and will be reflected on the invoice statement as appropriate. 

Please note, you may be required to pay sales or use tax and file a sales or use tax return for certain purchases made from Hearst, even if your order does not include sales tax charges.  Please consult your city, county, and state sales or use tax authorities or tax advisor to determine whether you are required to pay sales tax on any purchases made from Hearst.

How can I get assistance if I need it?

Our team is here to help. If you need assistance please call Customer Care at 1-888-797-9927, Monday- Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

My email address has changed. How do I update this information to my current account?

If you need to update your email address or other personal information, please call Customer Care at 1-888-797-9927, Monday- Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST

How do I know it is safe to shop with you?

To ensure the security of your data—including address information and credit card numbers—Hearst always uses industry-standard encryption technologies when transferring and receiving consumer data exchanged with our site. We have appropriate security measures that protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information that we have collected from you. Read our entire Privacy Notice here.

Do I have to have an email address to be able to place an order?

We need your email address for online orders to notify you when your product has shipped or to reach you regarding your order. If you would like to place an order and do not have email, please call Customer Care at 1-888-797-9927, Monday- Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

Will I receive a confirmation email when placing an order?

Yes, you will get an Order Confirmation email immediately after you submit an order and a Shipping Confirmation email when your item(s) ships.

Do you have a mobile application?

Our website is mobile-optimized for easy viewing on your phone. However, we do not offer a separate app at this time.

How do I unsubscribe from any of your mailing lists?

If you do not want to receive commercial/promotional emails or online newsletters that you have subscribed to, please let us know by updating your email preferences at the Hearst Preference Center or by utilizing the unsubscribe option available on commercial e-mail communications. You can also contact us at 1-888-797-9927, Monday- Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST., send us an email - [email protected], or write to us at Privacy Request, Hearst Shops, PO Box 3071, Harlan, Iowa 51593-0135.

What are "Cookies" and "Web Beacons" and what do they do for me?

In order to provide better service when you return to our sites, Hearst may use cookies and web beacons to store your preferences and information about such things as items added to your shopping cart, purchases you have made with us, what pages you visit, and past activity at a site. Hearst may also employ web beacons from third parties in order to help us compile aggregated statistics regarding the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns or other operations of our sites.

"Cookies" are tiny pieces of information stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. Cookies are also used to ensure that you are not repeatedly sent the same banner ads and to customize web page content based on your browser type (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Explorer, for example). Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies.

"Web beacons" — sometimes called single-pixel gifs or clear gifs — are used to assist in delivering cookies on our sites and allow us to count users who have visited those pages and to deliver co-branded services. We include web beacons in promotional e-mail messages or our newsletters in order to determine whether messages have been opened and acted upon.

If you want to disable cookies, there is a simple procedure in most Internet browsers that allows you to “turn off cookies.” You can also use plug-ins for your browser to see alerts for web beacons or to block web beacons when using certain browsers. You can also prevent some web beacons from loading by not downloading images in e-mail messages. Please remember, however, that cookies may be required to allow you to use certain features of our sites.

Guidelines For Coupon Codes and Discount Codes

Coupons and discount codes apply to in-stock merchandise and do not apply to shipping charges or other fees.

Only one coupon or discount code may be applied per order and may not be combined with other discount offers or applied to prior orders.

Additional exclusions may apply when coupons are limited to specific types of products, such as gear, apparel, or other merchandise.

Please read our Privacy Notice.

Please read our Terms of Use.

Where are you located?

Our headquarters is located in New York, NY.

We're always happy to hear from you and help with any questions you may have. If we can assist you with an order, our products, or just want to give us feedback on our site, please send an email, call us, or send a letter.

By Email: We strive to respond as quickly as possible. [email protected]

By Phone: Call 1-888-797-9927 to place an order or get assistance Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.