Book of the Month

If you’re an avid reader, this offer from Book of the Month may seem like a bargain.

In a variety of advertisements, Book of the Month suggests that signing up for its monthly book subscription costs just $9.99 per month.

But a closer look reveals a plot twist.

First, in order to pay the advertised $9.99, consumers must first apply a promo code; the $9.99 price does not appear to be automatically applied.

Second, it turns out that the advertised price of $9.99 only applies to the first book consumers get from Book of the Month.

Subsequent books could cost as much as $17.99, which you might not know unless you find and read the answers to the company’s “Common questions” or you pay close attention as you go through the checkout process. While the website sometimes discloses future costs without having to scroll down too far, the site other times requires consumers to scroll down past where they enter payment information to learn about the actual costs of the company’s subscription.

But wait, there’s more.

Before consumers can select a book, they must first enter their email address and agree to the company’s terms of use, a lengthy and dense page of more than 9,000 words. There, Book of the Month reveals that the initial membership period is 12 months and that the membership automatically renews, meaning you’ll continue to be charged each month unless you cancel.

Further, while the company’s terms of use state that consumers can cancel their memberships online “at any time” if they are not completely satisfied, it turns out that if consumers use a promo code (like the one presented at checkout) when making their first purchase, the company treats that as an agreement to renew for at least one additional month, meaning consumers have to pay for at least two months before they can cancel.

Perhaps not surprisingly, consumers have complained about not being informed of the company’s two-month requirement, difficulty canceling their subscriptions and unauthorized charges, among other things.

Company responds

In response to a TINA.org request for comment, Book of the Month said in a statement:

We work hard to provide excellent customer service and clear communication throughout our ads, site and app. We clearly and conspicuously display all relevant terms about our membership and introductory offers across our landing pages, checkout flows, FAQ pages, and Terms of Service. We have been consistently rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau because we receive very few complaints relative to the scale of our membership.

The bottom line

Book of the Month may seem to have some great deals on the surface, but as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Make sure you read the Author’s Notes (i.e., the fine print) before you embark on this literary journey.

Find more of our coverage on subscriptions.