Highlights for Children publishes age-appropriate magazines and digital content for children, along with related merchandise and subscriptions. This page aggregates customer ratings and reviews to help potential subscribers understand the actual experience of ordering from highlights.com, beyond the magazine content itself.
Highlights for Children Reviews
2.2
19 reviews
What Shoppers Say About Highlights for Children
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
Highlights for Children receives sharply divided feedback, with shoppers expressing significant frustration about order fulfillment and customer service. The most common complaint centers on delayed magazine subscriptions and merchandise orders, with multiple customers reporting that items ordered in November failed to arrive by Christmas as expected. Subscribers describe long wait times (far exceeding the advertised four to six week delivery window), inconsistent communication from customer service representatives, difficulty obtaining refunds, and instances where the company allegedly denied responsibility for confirmed orders. Several shoppers mention filing complaints with the Better Business Bureau and credit card disputes.
On the positive side, a smaller group of reviewers praise the actual content and quality of Highlights magazines themselves, with some noting the publication has maintained its educational and entertainment value despite recent service problems. A few customers report that after persistent complaint efforts, the company eventually honored refunds or made orders right, though this required significant follow-up. The stark division in ratings suggests that while the magazine content resonates with families who receive their subscriptions, operational and customer service failures have created a deeply negative experience for a substantial portion of recent customers.
Customer Reviews (19)
Sorted by: Most recentMarcus T.Mar 20, 2026
Awful and unprofessional customer service. The Better Business Bureau has 80 complaints listed, and mine will be added soon. My credit card got charged for a subscription but I never received confirmation. I talked to three different people who all said a confirmation would arrive in a couple days. None of it came. The staff couldn't speak clearly and seemed to be reading from scripts instead of actually trying to help. I'd advise against ordering online from them. Their books are good, but their online ordering system is a nightmare. A company that's been around for 75 years should be able to do better. Zero effort on customer service.
Karen N.Jan 30, 2026
Another person still waiting for magazines after ordering mid-November. This was supposed to arrive before Christmas. Highlights used to be such an amazing subscription for decades, but that's clearly changed now.
Barbara J.Jan 14, 2026
Ordered a magazine in November hoping my granddaughter would have it for Christmas. We're now well past the holidays and she still hasn't gotten it. Every day in late December we checked the mailbox waiting for her gift that never came. She was disappointed, I was disappointed, and customer service just keeps giving me the runaround. This feels like a scam to me.
Linda T.Jun 27, 2025
Subscription was supposed to show up three months ago but hasn't. Multiple attempts to contact them only resulted in apologies and promises to extend my subscription, but nothing actually happened. Update: They eventually apologized, processed a refund, and are mailing the current edition. Glad they finally made it right.
Gloria E.Apr 7, 2025
Placed a large order in late November for merchandise shipping to multiple addresses. One location never got their shipment, so my granddaughter missed out on her Christmas gift. I submitted everything to prove my order including screenshots and email confirmations they sent me. They flat out refused to look at any of it and claimed I never ordered those items because their system said so. Then I showed them the credit card charges and found out they not only charged me for everything, but also overcharged me by over thirty dollars. They're dishonest and don't care about customers. The Better Business Bureau couldn't help either. After months of going back and forth, they marked the complaint resolved without actually fixing anything. This company is crooked.
Jennifer H.Feb 17, 2025
Got subscriptions for both my kids in late November for High Five and Highlights. Their site says four to six weeks delivery. After nothing showed up, I called in January and they said February. It's now mid-February and I still have no magazines. They take your payment but don't actually mail anything. The magazines themselves have great content that my kids would enjoy, but go buy them at a store instead. This company promises delivery they don't follow through on.
Patricia W.Jan 17, 2025
Ordered a subscription in November as a Christmas gift for my granddaughter. When I called in mid-January because it still hadn't arrived, they extended the subscription an extra month but couldn't tell me anything about when it was actually shipped or when future issues would come. The December and January magazines should be here by now, but still nothing. Very unclear what's happening.
Amanda S.Jan 7, 2025
I paid for two years of magazines for my child with special needs. Now they're saying because they sent a calendar in 2024, there's no 2025 calendar coming. They never included a 2025 calendar and their response has been incredibly rude about it. I've been buying these for years with no problems until now, but I won't be renewing after this subscription ends.
Thomas G.Jul 16, 2024
Bought the Hidden Pictures Horse Puzzle book and it fell apart almost instantly. The company contacted me and sent a replacement book to my granddaughter at no cost. My granddaughter has a subscription too and absolutely loves getting her own mail and doing all the activities. Definitely a high-quality company. Would strongly recommend their products and services. Really grateful for their help.
William C.Jul 16, 2024
Got the Hidden Pictures Horse Puzzle book and it basically fell apart right away. Someone from the company reached out and sent a replacement puzzle book to my granddaughter at no charge. My granddaughter loves her magazine subscription and can't wait to get it in the mail. She actually uses all the activities. This is a quality brand and I'd definitely recommend them. Thanks for making it right.
Highlights for Children Review FAQ
What is Highlights for Children's overall rating?
Highlights for Children is rated 2.2 out of 5 based on 19 customer reviews on RetailCoupons.com. The ratings are heavily polarized, with the majority of reviewers giving one star, while a smaller group gives five stars.
What do customers praise most about Highlights for Children?
Customers who are satisfied consistently praise the quality and educational value of the magazine content itself. Reviewers note that Highlights magazines offer engaging activities, stories, and learning materials that appeal to children and have maintained this standard over decades.
What are the main complaints about Highlights for Children?
The predominant complaints involve delayed order fulfillment and poor customer service. Customers report that subscriptions and merchandise ordered in November failed to arrive by December despite advertised delivery times of four to six weeks. Many also describe unhelpful customer service interactions, difficulty obtaining refunds, and cases where the company denied responsibility for confirmed orders even when customers provided proof of purchase.
Do customers recommend ordering from Highlights for Children?
Given the 2.2 out of 5 rating and the distribution of reviews, customer sentiment is mixed to negative. While some satisfied customers affirm the quality of the magazines, the widespread fulfillment problems make many reviewers hesitant to recommend the service, particularly for time-sensitive orders like holiday gifts.
How can I write a review of Highlights for Children?
RetailCoupons.com welcomes customer reviews based on personal experience with highlights.com. Share your honest feedback about the ordering process, delivery timeliness, customer service, and product quality to help other families make informed decisions about subscribing.
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