Buying extra credits on Audible. What a swizz!

[DragonInAmber]

Did you know if you buy 3 extra credits through your audible app it costs you £ 23.00, but if you buy them through your browser it only cost £ 18.00.

I asked on Twitter why this was and got this answer.

Hi there. Prices differ depending on the surface that you're on. When you make purchases in the app, your billing relationship is not with Audible, but rather with Google or Apple depending on your device.

So you are basically paying £5.00 to either Google or Apple as well as for the credits.

You can buy 1 credit on the app as well but that's 9.95, when if you just buy the book it's only 7.99!

Buying 5 credits on the app is 32.99, 28.99 on the browser.

Make sure you go to your browser, open audible and sign in then buy your credits

I never realised this, for some reason I always went via the browser and will continue to do so. Thanks for mentioning it, so weird.

Use Libby. It's free.

thank you for that, didnt know

If you return a book that you've already read, audible gives you the credit back.

I would worry that this would result in the author having to pay back whatever they earned on the purchase, which I believe is what happens when people return ebooks they've purchased. Authors end up owing Amazon money.

But nowhere near as extensive. On my Libby app there are around 4,000 audiobooks available, of which just over 2,000 are available now. On audible there are more like 400,000. I’ve tried Libby, BorrowBox etc and they’re no use for me - I like to find any book I want, binge entire series.
Dont get me wrong - it’s brilliant that the library services exist, they’re fantastic. But they’re not the same thing in any way.

OP - thanks, good tip. I am about to get more credits so this is handy. Probably I’ll buy another batch of annual 24 credits as it works out much cheaper per book to do it this way (I usually get through about 60-100 hours per month so it is definitely worth it for me).

I used Everand for a while -I would guess it’s American -£10.99 it was but no limit on number of books but limited choice and poor search facility.

Anyplay was mentioned the other week which I was thinking of getting?

Yes this is what happens. If the book is returned within 7 days, the authors have to pay back the royalties. If it’s after 7 days, they no longer have to (Audible changed this under lots of pressure a few years ago - it used to be something like up to a year afterwards the book could be returned and royalties paid back).

Definitely not something to abuse - only if you really don’t like the book. I think audible clamps down if you do it too much.

I had noticed this but was unsure the reason why, so very interesting to read this, thanks for the heads up use audible alot so handy to know

The extra credit amounts depends on what membership plan u have. As an example I have the yearly 24 credits plan. When I run out 3 extra credits is £11 and I paid £17 for six the other day. So it is worth checking which plan is best as there are cheaper. But yes. That’s not good. I will double check before I buy anymore

That’s a top tip, thanks!

I return books, only if I genuinely don’t get on with it, but it’s worth doing.

I listen to a lot of the plus catalogue, that plus my one book a month plus podcasts keeps me going so I don’t often have to buy credits.

Also if you say you want to cancel your membership they normally offer you something to stay - a free month, cut the price for a bit, etc. If you do cancel you need to use your credits up first but then keep the books.

I never knew this- I have a 24 credit a year plan and the website I can get 3 credits for £11 or 5 credits for £18 but I've just looked on the app and it's 3 credits for £24.

This is the reason you can no longer buy kindle books through android/apple devices. Google Play and Apple charge a fee for purchases made via their system. Amazon basically said 'no dice' so now you have to use the browser or in-kindle shop.

I'm surprised they haven't halted Audible credits in the same way (as Amazon own them too).

Only 2 per year can be returned.

I make a lot of use of Included with Subscription tbh. Had some fabulous books!

I asked last year if the cost for extra credits was cheaper if on the 24 books a year plan and they said the price was the same!

Is it only cheaper if you pay up front rather than monthly?

@StMarieforme are u referring to retiring books on audible? If so you’re wrong. I return way more than 2.

It doesn’t quite work like that. publishers hold back a certain amount of royalties in case of returns, which are then paid at the next accounting period if no returns take place.

you can return titles in audible if you don’t like them, but if you do it too often they will stop you.

Yes this! Don’t return books like that, it’s a shitty thing to do Here is an example of what happens