The Reader is published once a week on Thursdays. Distribution begins on Wednesdays.
The Deadline is Monday, 5pm, for publication in that week’s issue. An ad also can be placed as a late ad, for a $10 surcharge, from Monday, 5pm until Tuesday, 11am, for publication in that week’s issue. Ads are scheduled to appear online on the Reader Web site (www.chicagoreader.com) within 24 hours of our receiving them. Note that early deadlines may occur prior to major holidays.
Commercial classified ads are for for-profit businesses such as landlords, real estate agents, brokers, and other commercial enterprises. Commercial ads are guaranteed to appear both in print and on the Reader Web site.
Rates:
Housing for Sale ads - $20 for 25 words plus $1 per word thereafter
Housing for Rent ads - $31 for 25 words plus $1 per word thereafter
All other Real Estate ads - $31 for 25 words plus $1 per word thereafter
Jobs/ Help Wanted ads - $31 for 25 words plus $1 per word thereafter
All other commercial ads - $28 for 25 words plus $1 per word thereafter
Adult Service ads - see special rules for Adult Service ads
How to Place an Ad
Commercial ads may be placed through the Reader Web site, by fax, by mail, in person, and over the phone. We do not accept ads submitted by email to the Reader email address.
To place an ad through the Reader Web site, goto manage.chicagoreader.com/chicago/PostAd/. All ads placed through the Web site must be paid for by credit card.
The Classified Department fax number is 312-321-9919. All ads that are faxed to us must be paid for by credit card. We recommend that you include your credit card information on the fax with your ad. We strongly advise you to call the Classified Department at 312-222-6920 to confirm that we have received your fax.
The Reader office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.
To place a commercial ad over the phone call 312-222-6920 and ask for the Classified Department. Note that there is a $10 surcharge to place a new ad over the phone.
How to Change Your Ad
To change an ad in the paper you must contact the Classified Department by Monday, 5pm of the week of publication. To change an ad on the Reader Web site, if you received a Manage Your Ad email from us then you can use that email to change the ad on the Web site yourself. If you did not receive such an email you must contact the Classified Department by Tuesday, 11am of the week of publication.
How to Cancel Your Ad
To cancel an ad in the paper you must contact the Classified Department by Tuesday, 11am of the week of publication. To cancel an ad on the Reader Web site, if you received a Manage Your Ad email from us then you can use that email to cancel the ad on the Reader Web site yourself. If you did not receive such an email you must contact the Classified Department by Tuesday, 11am of the week of publication. (See below to determine if you qualify for a refund.)
Refunds
No refund is available for an ad once it has been posted on our Web site. If your ad is scheduled to run for multiple weeks, refunds for cancelled insertions beyond the current issue can be obtained by contacting the Classifieds Department.
Private party ads are available to individuals who are not advertising a commercial concern and to not-for-profit organizations (please provide proof of not-for-profit status such as 501c(3) authentication).
Private party ads must be placed through the Reader Web site. We do not accept private party ads by fax, mail, phone or in person.
There is no charge for private party ads. All private party ads have unlimited words on our Web site and 35 words in print. However, publication in print is not guaranteed. Publication in print can be guaranteed for a payment of $7 per ad. There is no limit to the number of private party ads which an individual or not-for-profit organization may place.
Adult Services ads include, but are not limited to, ads for escort services, dating services, erotic/ sensual/ full body massage or bodywork services, swingers groups, exotic dancers, gentlemen’s clubs, dungeons, dominatrices, bachelor party entertainment, topless/ nude/ erotic/ lingerie modeling, erotic/ boudoir photography, phone sex, datelines, chatlines, adult videos/ films/ publications/ Web sites, sexual aids/ enhancements/ paraphenalia, and sexual surrogate therapy. The Reader does not accept ads for prostitution.
Adult Services ads appear both on the Reader Web site (chicagoreader.com) and in the Reader newspaper unless the print-only or Web-only options are specified.
Advertisers may place one picture with their ad on the Web site at no charge. Further pictures are available for $2 each. Pictures of genitalia and of sexual activity are not permitted. Obscene language and descriptions of sexual acts are also not acceptable. The decision of the Classified Department as to whether an ad is an Adult Services ad, and as to what counts as an obscenity or description of a sexual act, is final and not subject to negotiation.
A State of Illinois Massage license is required for all ads offering massage services. If you have questions regarding the State of Illinois licensing process for Massage Therapy, visit their Web site at www.idfpr.com/dpr/who/masst.asp. If you do not provide us with a copy of a State of Illinois Massage license then we will change "massage" to "bodywork (nonlicensed)" in your ad.
Every phone number and street address that appears in an Adult Services ad must be verified in order for the ad to appear online or in the paper. If there is a toll for calling a phone number in the ad, the ad must specify what that charge is. Advertisers cannot place an ad in the Adult Services section and the same or a similar ad in another section of the paper.Adult Services Rates
The Reader newspaper and the Reader Web site - $100 for 25 words + $3/ word thereafter
The Reader Web site only - $50 for 25 words + $3/ word thereafter
The Reader newspaper only - $50 for 25 words + $3/ word thereafter
All ads are prepaid. We accept cash, checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
How to Place an Adult Services Ad
Adult Services ads may be placed online through the Reader Web site. Goto manage.chicagoreader.com/chicago/PostAd/. All ads placed through the Web site must be paid for by credit card.
Adult Services ads may be faxed to us at 312-321-9919. If you fax an Adult Services ad you must include 1) legible photocopies of the front and back of a valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card, and of the cardholder's driver’s license or state ID; as well as 2) a copy of the Reader Adult Services Credit Card Authorization Form. Contact the Classifieds Department at 312-222-6920 and we can fax, mail or e-mail a PDF of the Authorization Form to you. If you fax an ad to us we strongly advise that you call us to confirm that we have received your fax.
Adult Services ads may be mailed or brought to the Reader office at 11 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611. The office is typically open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm.
Adult Services ads may not be placed over the phone.
Open House and Pet Friendly icons are available for Real Estate ads. The icons cost $5 each and appear in both your print ad and your Web ad.
Premium Placement of your ad on our Web site is available for an additional $10-$15.
Give your print ad a Red Headline (rather than the usual black) for an additional $5.
Give your print ad a Yellow Background and place it near the top of its section in the paper for an additional $7-$15.
Assumed Business Name Legal Notices must run in three consecutive issues. The ad must be published for the first time within 15 days of the date stamped by the County Commissioner's Office on the legal form. We must have a copy of the original document in order to publish the notice. Assumed Business Name Legal Notices cost $100 for the three week run. We will mail you a notarized affidavit and a copy of the ad.
Change of Name Legal Notices cost $85 for the three week run. For all other sorts of Legal Notices, please contact the Legal Notices department for a quote. Please check the legal requirements for your notice prior to running.
To receive a quote, call Danette Chavez at 312-222-6920, e-mail legalnotices@chicagoreader.com, or fax to 312-321-9919, Attn: Danette Chavez.
