John Wiley & Sons is a major academic and professional publisher offering books, journals, ebooks, and publishing services. This page aggregates customer reviews to help you understand shoppers' experiences with their ordering, customer service, returns, and digital access.
John Wiley & Sons Reviews
1.3
18 reviews
What Shoppers Say About John Wiley & Sons
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
John Wiley & Sons receives overwhelmingly negative feedback from shoppers, with 1.3 out of 5 based on 18 reviews. The most common complaints center on poor customer service, including slow email responses (sometimes taking days), unhelpful support staff, and runaround experiences when trying to resolve issues. Specific problems include wrong items shipped (incorrect books), journal access delays lasting months after payment, website errors when accessing accounts, and an archaic returns process that shoppers describe as unnecessarily complicated and slow. Additionally, reviewers criticize the ebook offering for requiring constant internet connectivity and login, making offline reading impossible, and note that switching to physical formats or getting refunds proves difficult.
Few positive experiences emerge from the available reviews. The rare four-star ratings suggest some shoppers have managed acceptable transactions, but they represent a small minority. Even when initial interactions seem promising (such as with publishing inquiries), shoppers report that communication becomes unclear and concerning. Across both retail book purchases and institutional journal subscriptions, shoppers consistently express frustration with Wiley's inability to resolve problems efficiently and their perceived indifference to customer dissatisfaction.
Customer Reviews (18)
Sorted by: Most recentElena R.Mar 3, 2024
They're a known publisher but their approach to medical journals is concerning. While many claim peer-review status, they freely publish studies financed by the very manufacturers of the products being studied. Research shows industry-sponsored studies are way more likely to reach conclusions favorable to that industry. This contributes to a real problem in science where studies can't be reproduced later, harming actual progress. When you see them publishing research funded by product makers trying to get positive results, it makes you question their commitment to real scientific integrity. Their journals shouldn't be trusted without serious scrutiny of who's paying for the research inside.
Jennifer C.Jan 30, 2024
Got a textbook that advertised ebook access included, but when I checked the site's terms and conditions, buried in there is a note that the access only lasts 6 months. I pointed out to support that it's unreasonable to expect customers to dig through T&Cs to verify what the book itself promises. They didn't budge and closed the ticket telling me to just buy the ebook separately.
David K.Jan 11, 2024
Terrible experience overall. Spent 150 EUR on some journal subscriptions that were supposed to be sent to me, but nothing ever arrived. They claim they shipped stuff but won't provide any actual tracking info or proof. After multiple follow-ups, customer service just stopped responding to my messages.
Amy V.Nov 9, 2023
These books are written for academics, not everyday readers. Even with a degree I found their 'dummies' books way too dense and the organization is confusing. Not beginner-friendly at all. Wasted money ordering through Amazon and they're no good for teaching either. Definitely going to look at other publishers instead.
Marcus T.Sep 22, 2023
Can't believe this place gets decent ratings anywhere. Paid over 40 euros for test bank access with a promised email to get started. The email never showed up and when I tried reaching out through their support (which is honestly hard to even find), they just ghosted me. Completely unacceptable. I've even filed a complaint with the relevant authorities about their fraudulent practices.
Rachel G.Jul 28, 2023
They charged me twice on a book order. I asked for a refund but got shuffled between different departments instead of getting help. Eventually I had to email them screenshots of my transaction to prove the double charge. Phone support is useless too. I'm unlikely to give this company another chance after handling a simple mistake so poorly.
Robert P.Jun 24, 2022
I've had four books published through them in engineering and was impressed with how professional they are. The quality of the hardcover editions turned out great, especially considering they were all around 300 pages. My only real gripe is that the royalty rates are pretty low compared to what I'd hoped for.
Francisco M.Apr 27, 2022
Hands down the worst customer service I've ever dealt with online. Their ebooks don't come as regular PDFs but require installing some third party reader software with terrible reviews. When I wanted to return a 12 dollar ebook, they bounced me between Customer Service and Collections like I'm supposed to be their messenger between departments. They do such a bad job that you have to wonder if it's intentional to wear you down. I'm going to give them one more shot then I'm doing a chargeback through my bank.
John Wiley & Sons Review FAQ
What do the star ratings on RetailCoupons.com represent for Wiley?
Ratings reflect shopper experiences across all interactions with Wiley: purchasing books and ebooks, accessing institutional journal subscriptions, returns, and customer support. The 1.3 average is calculated from 18 verified customer reviews on RetailCoupons.com.
What are the most common complaints about Wiley?
Shoppers most frequently report slow customer service response times (days for email replies), difficulty resolving issues like wrong shipments or access problems, unhelpful support staff, website technical errors, overly complicated returns policies, and misleading ebook descriptions (requiring internet and login rather than true offline reading).
Are there any positives shoppers mention about Wiley?
Positive reviews are rare. Some shoppers indicate initial transactions may go smoothly or that the publishing inquiry process starts promisingly, but these experiences are far outweighed by complaints about follow-up support and service.
Would shoppers recommend Wiley?
Based on the review distribution, most shoppers do not recommend Wiley. Over 80 percent of reviews are one-star ratings, and reviewers explicitly state they are seeking alternatives to Wiley's services and advise others to avoid using them.
How do I write a review for Wiley on RetailCoupons.com?
You can submit a review after making a purchase through Wiley. Describe your specific experience with ordering, shipping, product quality, digital access, returns, or customer service. Use the star rating scale to reflect your overall satisfaction, and include details (such as response times or error messages) that help other shoppers make informed decisions.