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Original poster

Audible - am I missing the point?

117 replies

JingleSmell · 03/01/2023 15:09

So I pay a monthly fee to access the mediocre stuff? Then get 1 credit per month for the decent stuff?

Long car journey coming up and I wanted to listen to some comedy things. So I could download one comedy show with my 1 credit, right?

Then I have to pay more on top of the monthly fee if I want to listen to more??

It feels a lot tbh.

OP posts:
magicscares · 05/01/2023 09:29

If you’re in the uk then try downloading borris box. Free library app if you are a member of your local library.

magicscares · 05/01/2023 09:30

Borrow box!
not borris 😆

Passpass · 05/01/2023 09:32

RiderOfTheBlue · 03/01/2023 15:21

I've had a couple of free trial periods on Audible. I like the way it works but I don't think the subscriptions are good value. I can easily go through an audio book a week so one credit per month is no use.

There are other places you can get audio books from. Not that I'd encourage you to break the law of course.

No please don’t. Authors work fucking hard to produce their property so don’t steal it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Podcasts
Anon778833 · 05/01/2023 09:32

@pigsinoodies ah I see - thank you.

Passpass · 05/01/2023 09:36

YewEweYou · 04/01/2023 09:55

You can return a book you’ve used a credit on when you’ve finished listening to it and then use that same credit to buy something else, sometimes when I’ve used up all my credits for the month I need to ask in the chat thing for them to return it for me but they always do it! Also if you go to cancel your subscription the first time it usually offers you 3 more credits or half price for a few months……..
It is a bit annoying if you want to listen to comedy things that have a lot of episodes like Just A Minute etc, because each episode seems to be worth 1 credit….. but it adds on another credit each month (so after 3 months you’ll have 3 credits and so on), so once you’ve had Audible for a while you can have a few things on the go you just have to keep returning and swapping. Sorry if that’s all a bit obvious but that’s what I didn’t quite understand about it at first and now I love it!

That’s disgusting. You know Amazon don’t lose the money right? They take it back from the author. So you’re stealing from hard working people to fund your hobby.

Talipesmum · 05/01/2023 09:44

pigsinoodies · 05/01/2023 09:29

You pay the fee in a lump sum and get all the credits at the same time.

Show quote history

Yes, this is what I do. Better value if you’re going to get through them. The only downside is that you can work through them much more quickly as they’re not rationed out. However, if you do, you can just pay for another “annual” 24 book credit pack, regardless of whether it’s 12 months since your last one. They’re one off payments, not a recurring annual fee, so you can pay it again whenever you run out and get more credits. I was doing two of these a year for a couple of years recently (until I started listening to a series with very very long books and it slowed me down!).

Bernadinetta · 05/01/2023 09:48

YewEweYou · 04/01/2023 09:55

You can return a book you’ve used a credit on when you’ve finished listening to it and then use that same credit to buy something else, sometimes when I’ve used up all my credits for the month I need to ask in the chat thing for them to return it for me but they always do it! Also if you go to cancel your subscription the first time it usually offers you 3 more credits or half price for a few months……..
It is a bit annoying if you want to listen to comedy things that have a lot of episodes like Just A Minute etc, because each episode seems to be worth 1 credit….. but it adds on another credit each month (so after 3 months you’ll have 3 credits and so on), so once you’ve had Audible for a while you can have a few things on the go you just have to keep returning and swapping. Sorry if that’s all a bit obvious but that’s what I didn’t quite understand about it at first and now I love it!

Do you also buy books from Waterstones, take them home and read them then return them to the shop?

BiasedBinding · 05/01/2023 10:01

magicscares · 05/01/2023 09:30

Borrow box!
not borris 😆

Yes BorrowBox and Libby have already been mentioned on this thread

00100001 · 05/01/2023 10:32

Passpass · 05/01/2023 09:32

No please don’t. Authors work fucking hard to produce their property so don’t steal it.

Show quote history

I'm sure she means the Library apps mentioned, Google play books etc

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 05/01/2023 11:18

00100001 · 05/01/2023 10:32

I'm sure she means the Library apps mentioned, Google play books etc

Show quote history

No because there was reference to breaking the law, suggesting a reference to illegal sources/pirate copies.

Library apps like Libby, borrow box and overdrive are legal and pay the author a fee in the same way as a physical Library book.

Google play books, is just another book store, like buying from Waterstones. It is legal but isn't free.

Librivox is free but only contains books that are free from copyright and the production is not necessarily professional quality because they are free open source. Some narrators are great (Jane Austen is worth listening to on there) but others read like a cross between a 6yr old doing phonics practice and Stephen Hawkins.

BBC sounds is free and legal but often abridged versions.

People shouldn't abuse copyright by downloading illegally, making copies or converting files to subvert library restrictions. They also shouldn't return books unless there is a fault or they are so dissatisfied they aren't going to read it.

00100001 · 05/01/2023 11:28

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 05/01/2023 11:18

No because there was reference to breaking the law, suggesting a reference to illegal sources/pirate copies.

Library apps like Libby, borrow box and overdrive are legal and pay the author a fee in the same way as a physical Library book.

Google play books, is just another book store, like buying from Waterstones. It is legal but isn't free.

Librivox is free but only contains books that are free from copyright and the production is not necessarily professional quality because they are free open source. Some narrators are great (Jane Austen is worth listening to on there) but others read like a cross between a 6yr old doing phonics practice and Stephen Hawkins.

BBC sounds is free and legal but often abridged versions.

People shouldn't abuse copyright by downloading illegally, making copies or converting files to subvert library restrictions. They also shouldn't return books unless there is a fault or they are so dissatisfied they aren't going to read it.

Show quote history

My comment was tongue in cheek, and I made an effort to pint readers in the right direction...

SchnauzerEyebrows · 05/01/2023 11:30

SomeonesKnockingAtTheDoorSomeonesRingingTheBell · 03/01/2023 15:30

They are doing a £3.99 a month offer atm. I think if you do a lot of walking like I do it is worth it (walking is so boring imo!) but not sure I would bother otherwise.

Love your username! Grin

Anon778833 · 05/01/2023 14:45

If people are annoyed about abuse of returning credits, surely it's Amazon's responsibility to not let people abuse the system. And presumably, any author unhappy about this can choose not to work with Audible.

I think the return option is not really supposed to be used for books that you finished though.

00100001 · 05/01/2023 15:36

But it's the same as buying a piece of clothing for a party, wearing it once and returning it.

Shops have no obligations to return anything unless it's faulty,but should they stop refunds because some people abuse it?

Is it the shops responsibility to ensure it hasn't been worn etc?

BiasedBinding · 05/01/2023 15:40

Anon778833 · 05/01/2023 14:45

If people are annoyed about abuse of returning credits, surely it's Amazon's responsibility to not let people abuse the system. And presumably, any author unhappy about this can choose not to work with Audible.

I think the return option is not really supposed to be used for books that you finished though.

Audible does enforce the rules for people they spot. They don’t always spot everyone, perhaps they should do it better. That is different to posters here actually advising people to do it and suggesting it/boasting about it as a way to use the service without having to pay for what you do listen to.

JassyRadlett · 05/01/2023 15:42

JingleSmell · 03/01/2023 15:13

I guess I don’t understand why there’s the subscription fee if you’ve got to pay for individual books anyway?

The monthly subscription fee is good value if you use your credit on more expensive books, and buy those that are cheaper than the subscription fee.

So I got the Harry Potter books over a period of months for DS1 - saved a fortune over buying them individually. But if I wanted a cheaper book I'd buy it unless I had a lot of credits swilling around.

Anon778833 · 05/01/2023 18:23

00100001 · 05/01/2023 15:36

But it's the same as buying a piece of clothing for a party, wearing it once and returning it.

Shops have no obligations to return anything unless it's faulty,but should they stop refunds because some people abuse it?

Is it the shops responsibility to ensure it hasn't been worn etc?

I agree it's wrong but it does sound like Audible isn't strict enough.

Fathercrossmas · 06/01/2023 06:26

For those of you listening to wolf hall which version did you download/would you recommend?

Bernadinetta · 06/01/2023 23:58

Fathercrossmas · 06/01/2023 06:26

For those of you listening to wolf hall which version did you download/would you recommend?

Ben Miles. Fantastic. He worked closely with Hilary and played Cromwell in the West End.

Caramelsmadfuzzytail · 07/01/2023 00:08

Kindle unlimited is better and if you have alexa she can read the book to you, although her pronunciation can be atrocious. I read/listen to too many books for audible to be an option.
I find that shouting the correct word when it's mispronounced makes me feel better too.

percypal · 07/01/2023 00:13

It’s Borrowbox

percypal · 07/01/2023 00:13

you need*

BiasedBinding · 07/01/2023 07:42

percypal · 07/01/2023 00:13

It’s Borrowbox

Yes if you read the thread, you will it has been discussed several times

autienotnaughty · 07/01/2023 07:52

Library apps Libby and borrow box are totally free and have great content. You just need a library card.

cariadlet · 07/01/2023 07:57

I love Audible. I've been a member for a few years now and have built up a library of hundreds of books.

It started as primarily an audio book subscription service and that's how I think of it - I can buy audio books far cheaper as an Audible member than I would otherwise.

I mainly use my credits for high price books (omnibus collections etc) then use deals to buy shorter books.

The additional content (podcasts and books included with membership) wasn't there when I joined so I think of that as a great, unexpected bonus.

Have to admit that my traditional, strategic buying strategy has gone slightly to pot at the moment: Mumsnet recommendations have got me hooked on the Chronicles of St Mary's and I'm rattling through the audiobooks in the series.

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