How to buy a gift subscription

Buy online

Our online shop is always open. Just remember to tick the all important 'Gift' box straight after you add a subscription to the 'Shopping Cart'.

Telephone & email orders: Contact us

Mail & fax: return the subscription card found inside the publication or download a subscription order form for the Monthly here, or for Quarterly Essay here.

Where to find a gift card

If you order online and provide an email address for your gift recipient(s), an email will be immediately sent to inform them of your gift.

Or you may download and print out these simple gft cards: The Monthly gift card (PDF), Quarterly Essay gift card (PDF) and present them to the recipient at your convenience.

We also stock professionally printed copies of our gift cards. Just call or email us with the details of your gift recipient(s) and we will organise a gift card to accompany your subscription.

When will the first issue of the Monthly arrive?

Subscriptions normally commence with the forthcoming issue, and should be received by the first Wednesday of each month to minimise any delay.

For example, orders received for the Monthly between 5 November and 3 December 2009 will start with the December-January issue, which will come in the post around 7 December.

Or, orders received between 4 December 2009 and 3 February 2010 will start with the February issue.

NEW! There is now an option available for orders completed online or via telephone to commence the subscription with the current issue and have it dispatched in approximately 48-hours.

When will the first issue of the Quarterly Essay arrive?

Subscriptions normally commence with the forthcoming issue, and must be received by us two weeks before publication.

For example, if you would like a subscription to commence with Quarterly Essay 36 (December 2009) it must be received by Wednesday, 11 November.

Alternatively, you can request that your subscription commence with the current edition when you place your order, either online or by telephone.

Is there a January issue of the Monthly?

No, there is a combined December-January issue.

How do I renew my subscription?

Renew or update your subscription online.

a) If you have used our online shop before, simply enter your existing username (email address) and password to log in and renew your subscription. Click here to log in.

b) If you are an existing subscriber but have not set up an on-line account, click here to create your account (we will need your subscriber number to identify you).

You can also renew by e-mailing, telephoning or returning the form on the address sheet with which your magazine is delivered. Contact us.

What is the difference between subscribing to the Monthly and the Online Monthly?

The Online Monthly gives you online access to the full text of the current edition via the website; whereas, the Monthly is the printed edition of the magazine.

What is my subscriber number?

8 issues remaining
55555
Jane Smith
1 Collins St
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Your subscriber number can be found at the far left of the line immediately above your name and address on your publication's address sheet (55555 in the example above). If you subscribed online after October 2007 you will have received an email containing your subscriber number. Otherwise, you can contact us to find out your subscriber number.

I've got a password, why are my login attempts failing?

Symptom 1: You do not see an error message, but the page just refreshes and you can't login.

Diagnoses: This is because our system requires cookies to be enabled to either buy a print subscription or login to the Online Monthly. It won't work without them. If you already have cookies enabled, you need to clear your browsers cache and cookies.

Please click here for Google's step-by-step guide.

Symptom 2: You entered your username and password in the Online Monthly login block at the top of the homepage but you are told your subscription is not valid.

Diagnoses: Your account only contains print subscription(s) so your password will not give you access to the Online Monthly. You can still use your password to log in to the shop to update your address, check remaining issues, purchase gifts and renew your subscriptions.

What is the difference between a password for the Monthly or Quarterly Essay and one for the Online Monthly?

All subscribers get a password or can create one to login to the shop here to manage their subscriptions, but the passwords belonging to the Online Monthly subscribers also give exclusive access to restricted content online.

What if I experience technical issues with the website?

Check that you have followed the instructions on the page(s) where the issue occurs.

If you can't find a solution after reading this page thoroughly, please report the issue to us so that we can help you and improve our system.

It is useful if you describe the problem clearly, including:

• what you were trying to do
• page address
• any error messages
• browser name and version
• PC or Mac

To report issues with the website please e-mail or telephone. Contact us.

How do I access online content for free?

Most essays from previous editions of the Monthly and selected essays from the current edition are free online. A few essays are restricted due to contractual commitments. Content flagged with a red "M" is only available to subscribers to the Online Monthly.

For the Quarterly Essay, please click on PAST ISSUES and follow the links to download free extracts from previous essays.

Can print subscribers access the Online Monthly free?

Print subscriptions contribute to costs such as printing and postage; whereas, subscriptions to the Online Monthly contribute to website costs.

Full online access is not included with subscriptions to the printed edition of the Monthly.

Why is my delivery missing or damaged?

If you have missed an issue or if it's a few days late, please send us a missing or damaged report;.

We may have an incorrect address on file. Your magazines may also have stopped being delivered because your subscription expired and was not renewed. Click here to login and verify your contact details and to check the number of issues remaining on your subscription or please e-mail or telephone. Contact us.

I am going away for a few months can I hold my subscription?

Yes, you can but we cannot send missed issues. We can hold the subscription for a specified number of months and restart when you return but we cannot send the issues that you have missed while you were away.

How do I update my address or email?

You can manage your contact details online by logging in to our subscriber shop here or you can e-mail or telephone your request to us. Contact us.

Why do I have a charge from "The Monthly Pty Ltd" on my credit card statement when I have not subscribed to the Monthly?

The Monthly shop also manages sales for Quarterly Essay and the Online Monthly. If you subscribed to either of these products this would be the reason for this charge. If you believe this to be incorrect, please contact us.

I don't have a credit card, can I pay by cheque?

Yes, we accept cheques or money order made out to "The Monthly Pty Ltd" for subscriptions to the Monthly. For subscriptions to Quarterly Essay please make cheques or money orders payable to "Schwartz Media Pty Ltd"

If I don't want to use the online shop, can I fill out a form?

Yes, a subscription order form for the Monthly is available for download here, or for Quarterly Essay here. You can print it out and send it via mail or fax. Forms are also available inside the print publications.

How can I contact you?

Please visit the contact page for full contact details: