Has anyone returned books on Audible?

[franklymydearscarlett]

I’m a recent Audible user, I’ve had it for about 8 months now. I only just discovered you can return books on it. It seemed a bit mad to me and also a bit mean - you buy a book, listen to it and you don’t like it so you return it, and the author loses out.
But I was intrigued so I gave it a go. There were two novels I bought with my credits that I really hated. Both big international bestsellers so didn’t feel too bad about it. Anyway it was so easy! I thought you’d have to give a reason or they’d make you write a review or something 😂

I won’t be making a habit of it unless in the future there’s another bestseller that is truly shite. Wondering if anyone else has done this, did you feel bad about it, or have you done it loads and have audible banned you?

I haven’t named the books I hated in case they’re someone’s favourites 😬

I’m a big audible listener. I’ve only returned books 2 or 3 times - once when I realised it was one I already had in a compilation, and another time when I got part way through and was really not enjoying it. I wouldn’t return one I’d listened all the way through, though I think you’re allowed.

I guess they start making a fuss if you do it a lot.

I have returned a few, maybe four or five in about a decade. It results in a net loss for the author so I only do it if I feel strongly about disliking it.

Thanks so much for this thread OP.

I had absolutely no idea I could return books on Audible. I'm only part way through my first year's membership.

After looking at your thread I have just returned a book which had given up on after a few chapters and which I had no intention of ever listening to again .

I’ve done it a few times but never for a completed book. I don’t think I’d do that.

I’ve returned a couple, been a member for years. Would never return a book I’d listened to til the end though, only ones I’d given up on part way in
id you got the book In the 2 for 1 offer, both books are returned

I didn't know you could, and probably would have returned one or two for being badly put together or the reading was pretty terrible. There seem to be far more sloppy errors with how audio books are assembled. Take things like chapter numbering. Even at the more minor end, the latest Elly Griffiths had incorrectly numbered chapters from the start because it had a prologue. So Chapter One in the listing was actually the prologue. Then Chapter Two was actually Chapter One and so on. It's not as if audio books cost tuppence either. Muggins here sometimes buys something in two formats when it's an author I'm fond of. Could publishers not take a little more care with them?

authors lose out when people do this, there was a huge thing about the unfairness of it and it wasn’t changed. maybe listen to a sample first and if you don’t click with it don’t get it

I think it's fair if the reading style is annoying
I haven't ever done it though

I return about half of the ones I buy. Usually after an hour or two listened.

I'm partially deaf and it takes me a while to "tune in" to a new narrator and get to the point I can mostly understand them. Some voices/accents I just can't understand no matter how much I try so I end up returning books who's narrators don't work for me.

Since I struggle with anyone new it can take an hour or so to work out if I just needed to get used to them or if they are just incompatible with my hearing loss.

You can return anything bought within the last 365 days.

I think you can only return ones you've gotten through your subscription - not ones you've purchased additionally. I recently did a tidy up - returned ones that I hadn't red at all or read just a chapter. maybe 3 books - anyway it triggered a refusal but I asked the chatbot to return and there was no problem. But returns are not infinite. i've never returned a book I listened to in full - even if I thought it poor and didn't want to relisten.
But if I don't like a book after 2 chapter s- either the book or the narrator, I do not persist.

I've returned two, one purchased by accident at full price (put it in my basket as deal of the day but must have clicked purchase after it changed back) and a full cast 'audiofilm' of one of my favourite audiobooks where they had messed about with the plot for pointless reasons sk I didn't get more than a few minutes in. I couldn't return a copy of Grimm's fairy tales when I realised I had two copies (different adaptations) because it had been a deal of the day.

Thank you for all your views. So perhaps it was poor form to return books I’d finished then - I’ll try not to do that again but honestly I hated them and I can’t not finish a book so I had to get to the end. I returned them because I was insulted I’d spent money and time on such a pile of crap.

Is that how it works? I have returned a few books over the years I've had Audible, but I thought when you get the books in a 2 for 1 deal, you are paying for one and the other is free. Therefore, only the one you've paid for can be returned for a credit. So when I'm choosing books for this offer I make sure the book I'm taking a risk on is the paid-for one. I don't think I've tried this, but if it also returned the free book, I wouldn't do it.

I have returned a couple due to the quality of the narration.

This was before I realised you can preview.

Both were Maeve Binchy books read by her cousin Kate Binchy and I find her voice very hard to listen too.

It isn’t the irish accent, love that, it is the tone in her voice.

I have returned a few books, either because I didn't like the book itself or because of the narration. I give it a try for about 30 minutes and if I can't get on with it, I return it. I wouldn't return a book I had finished, because the fact I finished it means I didn't dislike it that much.

If you make a habit of returning books you have read to the end, Audible turn off your ability to return books easily on the website and then you would have to contact customer services to return a book.

I’ve returned a few books due to the narration. I do listen to the sample but that’s doesn’t always help. There’s times when the male narrator is fine until they attempt to do a females voice. Ugh. Just read it in your normal voice, fgs. Many can do the different voices so well but occasionally I find one that grates across every last nerve. Whoever is narrating some of the Stephen King ones shouldn’t be fucking allowed. His female voice is an abomination. Stephen King isn't going to crying into his pillow at the loss of revenue.

Just wanted to add there’s a free app called libby where you can input your library subscriptions and download audiobooks for free

I return 1 or 2 a year, but it’s always after I’ve listened to the first chapter. I wouldn’t return a book I’d actually listened to to the end!

If I buy a printed book, read it and don't enjoy it, I wouldn't consider returning it; I'll take it to a charity shop.

I take the same attitude with Audible. I know in my head that it's a massive company and they can afford for me to return books but, somehow, it doesn't feel right. I've been a member for years and if I buy a book but don't like it, I just suck it up.

I've only returned a book once. That's because it was a pile of utter shit rather than a book that I just happened not to enjoy.

Yes, a few times.

I have returned some but there is a limit to how many times you are allowed so bear that in mind. I wouldn't return a book I had listened to all the way through. The ones I returned I doubt I got to chapter 3.