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Business Profile

Magazine Sales

Outside

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Magazine Sales.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Outside's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Outside has 3 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 26 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 7 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/13/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On 1/30/2022, I subscribed via Outside's website for ************ digital + print subscription, specifically for the print subscription. Immediately, I requested my subscription and waited patiently until about 18 weeks had passed and still hadn't received 1 issue. So on 6/9/2022 I reached out via customer service checking in to see when first issue would arrive and received no answer. Then on 6/15/2022 I found the customer service #************** for ********************, called and received an automated message that said due to high volume of customer service requests they werent taking calls. I tried to find my subscription via the ************ magazine website and it couldn't find my account. Then I called ************ magazine directly and they informed me that they couldnt find an account or records in their system and I had to email Outside to fix it. The email that YJ gave me was the same one I had messaged before with no response. I waited another week, then on 6/22/2022 & 6/23/2022, with photos about my account, I reached out via email support and only ever received automated responses with subject No Magazine Arrival but never received any response from an actual person. Yet in their case history these have been solved. On 6/28/2022 I messaged again and got the same automated email response. I sent another email on 7/8/2022 and still the same automated response and it is also marked solved. Today 7/13/2022 I reopened this email and got the same automated response email. I also tried calling again and keep receiving an automated message directing me to email.I am extremely frustrated with this lack of customer respect and not actually receiving what I paid for. I would like a refund immediately.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/14/2022

      Thank you for notifying us. We have processed a full refund for the original order. You'll see the $24 refund in **** days, depending on your bank. In addition to the refund, we emailed you offering a courtesy membership to access our digital content for free. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/14/2022

       
      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

      Date:06/26/2022

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      This company put me on automatic renewal. Two weeks before it was due to process, I canceled it. They billed me anyway. You cannot get a hold of them, by phone or email.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/01/2022

      Thank you for notifying us. We pulled up this customer's account and see that the order was already refunded on June 27, 2022 for the amount of $99. This refund was submitted to a credit card ending in ****.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/01/2022

       
      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

      Date:06/22/2022

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I have been trying for over a month to cancel a monthly subscription. When I call customer support they tell me they cant help and that I have to email support ************************************** I have emailed 5 different times now with no response. They take $37.44 out of my account the first of every month and at this point I have no idea how to get them to stop since I cant get to an actual human that will help and I get no response from my emails. Not sure who else to turn to at this point so am hopeful you can possibly provide some guidance on how to get the issue resolved. Thank you

      Business Response

      Date: 07/01/2022

      Thank you for the notice. We checked our records for this customer and see that we received 2 support tickets and the issue has already been resolved.

      The issue was resolved and an email sent back within 24 hours of the first ticket (ticket #******). Our agent cancelled the subscription on June 22 and responded same day.

      Also, another email confirmation was sent June 24 for the second ticket received (ticket #****** ). 

      Attached screenshot for reference of cancellation. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/07/2022

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Hello,I subscribed to outdoor plus on 12/4/21 and have not recieved the print magazine. I have contacted outside numerous times support ticket ****** but have not recieved a reply I also sent a message on Instagram. I would like the magazine delivered Invoice Number: in_1K2nZ7BWUAYAafElXHhTzUGr Amount: $59.4 Date: 12/4/21

      Business Response

      Date: 06/09/2022

      Thank you for notifying us. We located the account linked to this order. We went ahead and issued a full refund AND kept the subscription active until the end of the current term as a courtesy. We also requested back issues of the magazines to be mailed to the customer. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:05/05/2022

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Hi. I recently canceled my Backpacker Magazine subscription via their *****#. So it was surprising to receive another issue following my cancellation and to find they charged my credit card for another year. I called Backpacker again and after a long time on phone and requested to talk to a manager, they finally connected me to a rude women. She told me I was also signed up for OutsidePlus. They are owned by same company. Ive never heard of this. I asked her why I was not told this when I can cancelled my backpacker subscription. She rudely told me it was obvious and I should of known. I asked to be canceled. She said I have to online. Ive tried numerous times to be contacted with someone via telephone. They refuse to honor this request saying it has to be online. So as im currently writing this Im trying to cancel online. Ive been waiting for 10 minutes for them to send me an email for how to reset a password i have no recollection of even making. Its insane how difficult it is for me to cancel this auto renew. Its totally shady and Im appaled how they make the process so difficult to cancel. Obviously they make it difficult hoping people will give up and just pay their yearly dues. Please help me with this. I honestly dont know how through my initial Backpacker subscription, I somehow became signed up for Outside Plus. I have never accessed their online platform. I will never access their outside platform. I just want to cancel this subscription. I dont want anything to do with this shady company. Of course I would like my $ back but if not, Ill get over it, but more than anything I want the BBB to know about their shady practices. It will discourage me for ever signing up for a magazine subscription again. Once again, when I canceled backpacker magazine, why was i not asked if I wanted to cancel outsideplus.?If i canceled backpacker magazine, why was I sent the magazine again? BTW , Im still waiting for their supposed response to my email to reset password

      Business Response

      Date: 05/05/2022

      To Whom It May ****************** tracked down the order (invoice# **FA1AF0-0001) and issued a full refund for the amount of $25.99. An email confirmation has also been sent to the customer. It may take **** business days for funds to settle.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 05/05/2022

       
      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

      Date:05/04/2022

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Failed to cancel subscription and illegally charged debit from checking account.

      Business Response

      Date: 05/05/2022

      To Whom It May ****************** tracked down the order (invoice# 2B156DE3-0002) and issued a full refund for the amount of $49. An email confirmation has also been sent to the customer. The refund will take approximately **** days to fully process.  

    Outside is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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