Customer Service
Frequently Asked Questions

Subscriptions

SHIPPING

Your young reader will receive the first issue 4-6 weeks after we have processed your order. If you subscribe by mail, please allow an extra week for delivery of your order to our office.

If you'd like to let the lucky recipient know what's coming ahead of time, you can send an ecard by logging into your account and selecting the "Send gift card" option from the Order Options menu.

United States:
For magazine subscriptions, there is no shipping fee for delivery to addresses within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses (including US Territories).

Canada:
For Canadian magazine subscriptions there is a USD$15.00 shipping fee charged per subscription per year.

No problem. We send our magazines, books and products to APO/FPO addresses. They are treated as regular U.S. letters and packages and are sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS).

United States:
For delivery to addresses within the U.S., US Territories and to APO/FPO addresses, the shipping fee is based on your order total for each shipping address.

Canada:
For delivery to Canadian addresses, we charge a USD $15.00 shipping fee in addition to the standard domestic fee.

Unfortunately, we don't ship magazines or products outside of the USA or Canada. If you are interested in purchasing one of our digital products internationally, you can do so via iTunes or the Google Play store (subject to terms of use).

RENEWAL

There are several ways to renew so that your young reader won't miss a single issue:

Online (Easiest!)
Log into your account and renew by visiting shop.cricketmedia.com/renew

By Phone
Give us a call at 1-800-821-0115 between 8AM and 9PM EST, Monday through Friday.

By Mail
To save a stamp, send the renewal form we mail to you in the postage-paid envelope provided, or send your request to:

Cricket Media
P.O. Box 6395
Harlan, IA 51593-5895

We have magazines for children of all ages (6 months – teens) and interests. If your young reader is ready for another magazine, you can easily switch your subscription to another of our 11 award-winning magazines at no charge.

That's our CRICKET Guarantee: You can change your subscription to another of our award-winning magazines at any time, absolutely free.

To make the switch to another magazine, you have two options:

  1. Easy! Log into your account and submit a magazine change request.
  2. Return the renewal notice we send you in the mail and select "choose another magazine" so we can switch you over as part of your renewal. If you'd like us to change your magazine before your current subscription expires, just let us know on the renewal notice.

We print the expiration date of your magazine subscription on the mailing label of every issue you or your child receives. If you don't have the magazine handy, no problem. You can log into your account at shop.cricketmedia.com/MyAccount to find the expiration date.

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older is welcome to renew a subscription. You do not have to be the original purchaser in order to renew.

Renewal notices are sent to the person who purchased the subscription. If you are a gift-giver living at a different address than the lucky young reader who gets the magazine, you will receive renewal notices at your address.

If a subscription has not been renewed by the time the final issue mails, we'll wrap up the magazine with a special reminder that it's the last issue – as well as a card to return if you'd like to renew.

GIFTS

When you are in the checkout process online or filling out an order form in the mail, we will ask you to provide a name and address for each item in your shopping cart. This process will allow you to send the order as a gift.

Yes – by email. You may send the recipient an electronic gift card by logging into your account and selecting the "Send gift card" option from the Order Options menu. Unfortunately, we can't do this by mail now but we're working on it.

DISCONTINUED MAGAZINES

We have combined some magazines, so if you ordered any of the magazines below, you'll be receiving the new, merged publication. If you don't love your new magazine, just let us know and we can help you select from our other magazines.

  • CALLIOPE merged into DIG, effective with the July/August 2014 issues
  • APPLESEEDS merged into ASK, effective with the April 2015 issues
  • ODYSSEY merged into MUSE, effective with the April 2015 issues
CICADA was not merged with another magazine. CICADA became an online-only community and magazine in January 2018. CICADA Magazine and cicadamag.com were closed in August 2018.

No, the length of your subscription won't change at all. You will receive the new, combined magazine for as long as you were originally scheduled to receive the original title. And if you were receiving both titles, you will get an extended subscription that lasts as long as both current subscriptions combined. For example, if you had three issues left of APPLESEEDS and two of ASK, your new ASK subscription is five more combined, big issues.

All renewals to the old magazine will automatically be renewed to the new magazine. You won't miss a single issue.

No. The extra content you will get in the combined title comes at no extra charge.

We love hearing from you. You can contact us by email at cricketmedia@cdsfulfillment.com or simply give us a call at 1-800-821-0115.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Our current magazine titles are published in English. We have back issues of our Ask en Espanol, Babybug en Espanol, Ladybug en Espanol, and Iguana magazines available at the Cricket Media Store.

You can view a sample issue of all of our magazines at shop.cricketmedia.com.

You can subscribe to any of our magazines directly from our online store at shop.cricketmedia.com.

You may contact us at 1-800-821-0115, Monday — Friday between 8 am — 9:00pm EST and our Customer Service team will assist you.

Each of our magazine titles is published nine times per year: January, February, March, April, May/June, July/August, September, October, and November/December. If you have not received your issue by the tenth day of the month of the issue, please contact customer service to allow us to work with you to resolve the cause of the delay.

You may change your address by logging into your account at shop.cricketmedia.com/myaccount. Since we get our magazines ready to mail quite far in advance, change requests may take 1-2 issues before you see the change take effect.

We have magazines for children of all ages (6 months — teens) and interests. If your child is ready for another magazine, you can easily switch your subscriptions to any of our other magazines by logging into your account at shop.cricketmedia.com/myaccount and choosing a different magazine for no extra charge.

Since we get our magazines ready to mail quite far in advance, change requests may take 1-2 issues before you see the change take effect.

We're sorry and are happy to remedy the situation. Report a missing or damaged issue in the My Account area. Simply log into your account at shop.cricketmedia.com/myaccount and select "Report Missing/Damaged Issue" from the Order Options menu for the related subscription.

You can send it to:

Customer Service Department
Cricket Media
P.O. Box 6395
Harlan, IA 51593-5895

We no longer produce our printed catalog. You can check out all of our available magazines and products online at shop.cricketmedia.com.

If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with the magazine that you are currently receiving, you may switch your subscription to any one of our other magazines by logging into your account at shop.cricketmedia.com/myaccount.

Since we get our magazines ready to mail quite far in advance, change requests may take 1-2 issues before you see the change take effect.

We have 11 magazines that are appropriate for all childhood age groups, from infants to teenagers. BABYBUG®, for instance, is perfect for infants and toddlers. BABYBUG is filled with colorful illustrations and simple rhymes and stories that babies and parents will enjoy reading together again and again. As your child grows, you can change your subscriptions to keep pace with your child's reading level and interest.

Our online store is organized by age category to help you identify the appropriate magazines and books for your child's age. These are general guidelines, and we recommend that you find the best fit based on your child's development.

BILLING AND PAYMENT

When viewing your Shopping Cart, you will find the box to apply your Discount Code to the left of the Grand Total field.

Enter your code and click the [Apply Coupon] button. Any pricing discounts will now be reflected in your shopping cart.

Just one at a time, please. We'll use the most recent promotion code you enter.

We often send promotion codes in emails or mailings that you receive from us. Visit shop.cricketmedia.com to sign up for our mailing list if you are interested in receiving future offers.

If you are receiving an invalid code message, please verify your code and try again. Also check to make sure that promotion hasn't expired, which could be the cause.

Prices that you receive in emails or mailings directly from us, may reflect a discounted price. Once you place the items into your shopping cart and use the promotion code you received from us, the prices will be updated on the items in your shopping cart to reflect discounts.

If your order (excluding magazine subscriptions) is shipped to an address within Illinois, there is a 6.25% sales tax. For orders (books, products, and magazines) shipped to an address in Canada, you will be assessed either a HST 15% or GST 7%. This charge is included in your shipping charge.

We do not currently support gift certificates but you can buy gift subscriptions to any of our magazines at shop.cricketmedia.com.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express for online orders.

Sorry about that. We try to process payments quickly, but sometimes it takes a few weeks to be reflected on your account or your payment and our invoices may cross in the mail. If it has been more than 4 weeks since you sent in your check, please contact us at cricketmedia@cdsfulfillment.com and we will be happy to respond with an apology and an update!

We only accept funds drawn from a US bank. You will want to check with your credit card company to see what additional charges may appear on your statement based on their fees and exchange rates. For example, if a one- year subscription to ship to Canada calculates that the total price is $39.95, we will charge US Dollars $39.95. If your card is not in US funds, your credit card company could charge you the conversion rate which would make the charge approximately Canadian Dollars $54.31.

No, we only receive the US dollars charge against your credit card, which may not equal to what is shown on your statement after conversion and exchange rates are applied by your bank/card provider. Any additional charges by your credit card company for conversion rates will not be refunded. For example, the charged price to ship one-year subscription to Canada states $39.95 in US Dollars, this is the amount we receive, so if you cancel, we only refund the remaining amount due of the original $39.95 US Dollars we received. What appears on your credit card statement may be adjusted based on conversion fees and exchange rates as applied by your credit card provider.

Products

SHIPPING

Unfortunately at this time we only ship products to US addresses, US territories and APO/FPO addresses. Magazine subscriptions can be sent to US addresses (including US territories, and APO and FPO addresses) and Canadian addresses. If you are interested in purchasing one of our digital products internationally, you can do so via iTunes or the Google Play store (subject to terms of use).

Our goal is always to deliver an order as quickly as possible subject to availability, receipt of payment, and/or credit authorization. We strive to process orders placed online, via fax, or by phone with our customer service department, within 24 hours. For orders placed by mail, we strive to enter and process the order within 5 business days of receiving your letter.

You should expect to receive the product you order, including non-subscription orders (i.e. single copies) of Cricket Media's magazines, about 10-15 business days after we have processed your order. If you ordered by mail, please allow an extra week for delivery of your letter to our office.

All of our products are shipped from our warehouse in Des Moines, IA.

For books and products shipped to addresses within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses, the shipping fee is based on the total amount of your order per shipping address.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

It is a requirement for all our vendors to supply third-party test documents which ensure that all the products offered in our catalog are 100% non-toxic. This requires that they meet or exceed all Federal and State requirements for lead content.

Several factors are considered when setting the age grade for a product.

  • The CPSC "Guidelines for Relating Children's Ages to Toy Characteristics"
  • Whether or not the item contains small parts in the "as received state"
  • Size and weight of the of the item: small, lightweight to grasp and carry
  • The theme: represents common objects easily identified by the child
  • Degree of realism
  • Type and level of skill required
  • The manufacturers stated intent: such as a label if it is a reasonable one
  • The article is generally recognized as being intended for children under 3 years
  • Advertising, promotion, and marketing
  • Our own evaluation of the product to children's physical and developmental stages

All products that we offer have passed a thorough product review for both safety and developmental value. Our Catalog Quality, Safety, and Merchandising teams work together to ensure that all items comply with government safety standards.

Cricket receives copies of testing procedures and practices from all of its toy vendors, making sure they comply with rules and regulations. Safety and hazard labels are listed on all of the products pages of our website.

We actively engage our suppliers on product safety matters by:

  • Instructing our suppliers that all product shipped to us is required to meet or exceed all applicable standards.
  • Providing information and training related to safety requirements.
  • Regularly reviewing suppliers' compliance.

Samples of every children's product are tested. We do not authorize shipment of products unless the test results meet both our requirements and federal safety requirements. Products are tested according to standards established by the CPSC American Society for Testing and Materials, and other state and federal agencies, as applicable.

A proper certificate of conformity accompanies the shipment of products we purchase.

We source our toys from all over the world - the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Thailand, as well as China, for example. With this said, we require the same testing, and adherence to Federal and State standards as well as our own stringent quality requirements, regardless of the country of origin.

Submissions

Children of all ages can submit stories, poetry, essays, and art to our contests.

Our magazines do not accept general submissions from children under the age of 14.

Young adults ages 14 and up can submit writing, art, and comics to CICADA magazine.

For more information about our submissions process, please visit our Submission Guidelines page.

We accept online submissions at Submittable for our literary magazines (BABYBUG, LADYBUG, SPIDER, ASK, CRICKET, and CICADA).

For more information, please visit our Submission Guidelines page.

For more information about our submissions process, please visit our Submission Guidelines page.

Children of all ages can submit stories, poetry, essays, and art to our contests.

Our magazines do not accept general submissions from children under the age of 14.

Young adults ages 14 and up can submit writing, art, and comics to CICADA magazine.

Website

It is perfectly safe to transmit your credit card information through our site as long as your current browser supports secure credit card transactions. Cricket Media utilizes the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to prevent any credit card information you enter from being intercepted. All orders placed through our site are encrypted during transmission to prevent tampering or credit card fraud. We use third party banking and processing agents to process secure credit card transactions, and the credit card information is placed through their security processes.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Cricket Media utilizes the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to prevent any private information you enter from being intercepted. We encrypt your credit card information and any personal data before transmitting them.

Please see our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy for more information.

Cookies are small data files that a Website writes to your computer hard drive for record-keeping purposes. Cookies identify you as a unique customer and store your personal preferences, as well as technical information (including click through and click stream data). Cookies can either be permanent (i.e., they remain on your computer until you delete them) or temporary (i.e., they last only until you close your browser).

Like most commercial websites, we use "cookie" technology and web server logs to collect information about how our website is used. This information helps Cricket Media create the best possible experience for the user.

This policy is reviewed periodically by Cricket Media and may be subject to change. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

We collect information volunteered by the consumer, such as survey information and/or site registrations. The information we collect is used to improve the content of our site and not shared with other organizations for commercial purposes.

If you supply us with your postal address or e-mail address online, you may receive periodic mailings or e-mailings from us with information on new products/services, company news, or upcoming events. If you do not wish to receive such information, please let us know by contacting us at support@cricketmedia.com. Please provide us with your exact name, postal address and/or e-mail address.

If you supply us with your telephone number online, you may receive telephone contact from us with questions regarding orders you have placed with us. You also may receive telephone contact from us if you are a subscriber of Cobblestone or Cricket publications, regarding any problems with delivery or renewal of your subscriptions. Please provide us with your correct phone number. We will not share your phone number with other organizations.

Permissions

Requests for permission to use any of our content must be in writing. Please include, where applicable: the article, book, or magazine title, author, magazine issue date, ISSN/ISBN, and how content will be used. Your complete information will allow us to process your request in a timely manner. If you have an urgent request or deadline, please let us know and will work to accommodate it. Our current turnaround for permission requests is 3 business days.

We can receive inquiries by mail or email:

Rights and Permissions
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60601
Fax: 312.701.1728
Email: permissions@cricketmedia.com

For more information, visit www.cricketmedia.com/rights-permissions.

Please visit www.cricketmedia.com/licensing for more information on licensing Cricket Media content or to submit a request.

Story Bug

Story Bug is a mobile app that lets two people (typically an adult and child) read books together when they're apart. It combines video chat with a shared reader.

NOTICE: This app will no longer be supported after February 28, 2017. Calling functionality and recordings will no longer be accessible after that date.

We thank you for being a Story Bug supporter. For additional ways to access Cricket Media content, visit us at www.cricketmedia.com. If you are looking for a similar app, we recommend checking out the Kindoma Storytime app.

Digital Editions

Cricket Media offers digital editions of our children's magazines for both the iOS/Apple and Android/Google Play platforms. You can access these digital editions in two ways: by buying magazine subscriptions from Cricket Media that come with the digital editions or by purchasing digital subscriptions through iTunes or Google Play.

Our digital editions have been upgraded (as of June 2017) to make them easier to access across devices and platforms. With the new mobile apps, your young reader will receive immediate access to his or her account and will have an enhanced reading experience with a more intuitive user interface and the ability to link directly from each issue's table of contents to the articles.

You can buy digital subscriptions from Cricket Media at shop.cricketmedia.com. Simply select the magazine you are interested in and choose the digital-only or print-plus-digital option. You can also buy digital subscriptions directly through our magazine apps at the iTunes and Google Play stores.

You can access your Cricket Media digital editions via our Apple and Android mobile apps or online through a web browser.

Apple Devices / iTunes Store

You can search for the new Cricket Media magazine apps at the iTunes Store under each magazine name, or you can access them directly using the links below.

NOTE: If you downloaded the Cricket Media apps to your mobile device prior to June 2017, you do not need to download again. Your app will automatically receive the upgrade when it becomes available.

Android Devices / Google Play Store

You can search for the new Cricket Media magazine apps at the Google Play Store under each magazine name, or you can access them directly using the links below.

Google Play

Web Browser

You can access your digital editions via any web browser using the links below.

If you, or someone you know, purchased your subscription directly from Cricket Media, you can sign into your account using your Recipient Account Number. From the mobile apps or web browser, simply enter your Recipient Account Number as both your Login and Password on the Sign In screen.

Please note that you will not be able to log in using your old username and password.

Finding Your Account Number

  • Order Confirmation Email — If you still have a copy of your Order Confirmation Email, your Recipient Account Number is listed within that message. If your subscription is a gift, you will need to ask the person who gave you the subscription for the confirmation email..
  • Magazine Label — If you also receive the print edition of your magazine, you can find your Account Number directly on your label, as shown below.

If you are unable to locate your Account Number or need additional assistance logging in, please feel free to contact us at digital@cricketmedia.com. We are here to help.

If you purchased your subscription through iTunes or Google Play rather than directly from Cricket Media, you should contact iTunes or Google Play Support for a refund. You can then create a new account and repurchase your subscription from the new app. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Our old apps were sometimes challenging to use, so we have given them a well-deserved retirement. The content was not easy to access and there was no benefit to experiencing it digitally versus reading the print editions of the magazines.

The new apps have several features that enhance the user experience. Users can view articles in plain text form or as they appear in the pages of the print magazine, and can toggle back and forth between these two views. Each digital magazine also has a clickable table of contents that enables a user to scroll through a list of articles and then navigate directly to the one he or she selects. In addition, we've added search functionality, both within and across issues of a specific magazine title.

We have moved your most recent back issues into the new app. Current customers who purchased a digital subscription from Cricket Media before April 2017 will have access to the four most recent back issues of the magazine you bought within the new apps.

Digital editions aren't free with the print subscription, but you can purchase a digital and print subscription together for the best deal. Visit shop.cricketmedia.com for pricing of bundled print/digital editions and to subscribe to our E-newsletter (toward the bottom of the screen), which will keep you up-to-date on special pricing and offers.