Took out a Toronto Life sub in January - seemed like a great deal, twenty-something dollars for 12 issues. I got February and March issues around the beginning of the month, and as I was having a clear out of old papers and mags today, realised that it's 12th April....and no sign of the April edition. So I gave them a call and relayed my circumstances to them, fully expecting him to say how sorry they were and that there was a huge error. No. The April issue hasn't gone out yet....but it's been published and on the newsstands for a week or so now, I have seen it, I said. Yes we know that Ma'am (I'm the Queen all of a sudden), but you pay a premium to buy it in the shops, subscriptions are cheaper. OK fair enough. When was it published, I ask? Oh, we prefer not to tell people the publication dates. Oh?! So do you know if the April issue has been mailed out to subscribers yet? Let me check, he says. I'm thinking to myself, what you don't know?? Yes Ma'am it should be mailed to your area at the end of the month. Ok, I say, so let me get this straight. I will receive the April edition by the end of April, pretty much when most of the information in it will be out of date....... Yes Ma'am, that's correct.

So perhaps I am being a little harsh? I should have prefaced this by saying that I worked in magazine circulation and distribution in the UK, and if I'd treated subscribers like that, I'd have been given a swift boot out of the back door. I just feel a bit ripped off! I guess the low cost reflects the delayed copies, but it's a bit shoddy to basically mail out the subs copies when they can be bothered. Anyone else subscribe to mags here and get better service?

Wow thats unfortunate, I subscribe to both Chatelaine and Canadian Living and I dont have that trouble, mine are always on time to my mail box. Maybe its just Toronto life?

I also pay dirt cheap prices like you.

I subscribe to Macleans magazine. (cue much derision from the champage socialism clique.....). I never get it at the same time that it is available in stores but I had put that down to Canada post not the magazine publisher.

interesting experiences. I suppose I wouldn't mind so much but with something like TL and MacCleans for that matter, they contain topical/timely info, so ideally I'd like to read about these things before they occur, not read about an event then realise I have missed it. I just find it curious that with subscribers making up the bulk of mag sales in Canada, that it appears some are treated with such indifference. I appreciate that the prices are low, but I just don't think it's an excuse to deliver poor service. I must stop reverting to my damned high British standards.

I used to many years ago, but there was a series of utterly unacceptable pieces by Barbara Amiel and I cancelled my subscription. I even wrote a letter (yes, it was that long ago), explaining why.

I haven't subscribed to any magazines for quite some time but I do remember that any I did subscribe to usually arrived before they hit the newsstands.

Sounds like Toronto Life needs an attitude adjustment.

If you'd ever read it, you'd appreciate how accurate that is.

Goes off in search of an online version.

talk of the devil. The May issue arrived in today's post. Hmmm whatever happened to April? Don't think I dare ask as I'm just a lowly subscriber!

What Trashy, mostly made up celebrity gossip mags are available in Canada for subscription or just to buy off the shelf? - The more made up celebrity gossip in the content the better!

They are not for me; my wife needs a weekly fix of OK and a host of other rubbish and we are over for good in August. I'm sure she'd love to know! - I'm more of a T3 and FHM man myself.

you can get UK magazines delivered here, cost ya mind. but there is 'People', 'US weekly' and 'InTouch' however i find them all a bit out of date with celebrity gossip with the internet around. i mean i read in People an article about Paris Hilton with her knickers off a week after i saw it on www.perezhilton.com

I now get all my magazines through Zino on the ipad. They have a Mac and PC applications also.

Great app and i can get Canadian and British mag's the day of release.

Another great website is http://magazinesdownload.com

They allow you to view and download magazines for educational purposes and get away with it by some thing called DMCA??? Under this agreement you should delete the magazine within 24 hours. Not sure if there the latest mags but they are FREE!

http://magazinesdownload.com/dmca.aspx

My Private Eye from the UK every fortnight takes abuot a week and a half longer than my parent's subscription. But for a Canadian subscription to take that long is just plain potty!

Perhaps this is the issue the idiot you were speaking to, thought you were referring to.

gordon bennett knows! To be honest I am not sure why I bothered subscribing in the first place. Just read May, and aside from an amusing article about how rude people have got these days, it was pretty boring. Now on the other hand have been given a stack of old UK Hello's to devour. That calls for a cuppa and a decent packet of biscuits! I'm easily pleased.