Current Audiobook Specials

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh, absolutely. I've started borrowing Kindle books from my library just because I can then get the audiobook for three or four bucks. And even after the loan expires, the special pricing remains.

Yep; once borrowed, Amazon treats it as a paid purchase.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yep; once borrowed, Amazon treats it as a paid purchase.

Would you tell me how to borrow books from your library? Do you have to be a Prime member?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Would you tell me how to borrow books from your library? Do you have to be a Prime member?

The books are borrowed from a public library in the US and have nothing to do with Prime membership. Where do you live?

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Would you tell me how to borrow books from your library? Do you have to be a Prime member?

To borrow books from your library you do not need to be a Prime member. You just have to have a library card in the US that supports digital downloads from Overdrive. Contact your local public library if you live in the US. If you live outside the US, your choices are more limited, but the Free Library of Philadelphia is still currently accepting overseas members for a fee. There may be others -- there's a thread somewhere here.

ETA: The Joining US Libraries thread

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by CRussel

To borrow books from your library you do not need to be a Prime member. You just have to have a library card in the US that supports digital downloads from Overdrive. Contact your local public library if you live in the US. If you live outside the US, your choices are more limited, but the Free Library of Philadelphia is still currently accepting overseas members for a fee. There may be others -- there's a thread somewhere here.

ETA: The Joining US Libraries thread

Oh, yes, I'm familiar with borrowing digital books from the local library, with Overdrive, et al. I certainly was not aware that Amazon would consider them purchases and sell the audiobooks to me cheaper. Very invaluable information.

I think that I have also read somewhere on this forum that if a person "purchases" a free book, e.g. a classic, from Amazon, the audiobook will be cheaper, too. Is this correct?

In answer to your question, tubemonkey, I live in Florida. I don't know how many library systems do it, but at least one, in the county just south of me, will grant a library card to anyone in Florida (well, anyone who would meet same the criteria that someone within their district would have to meet); I suspect that many others will do that, too. I probably need to find the appropriate forum and post that information there, too.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

I think that I have also read somewhere on this forum that if a person "purchases" a free book, e.g. a classic, from Amazon, the audiobook will be cheaper, too. Is this correct?

Take a look here. Buy the free book, and then get the corresponding title at Audible for 99 cents.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Take a look here. Buy the free book, and then get the corresponding title at Audible for 99 cents.

Yep, that's what I had in mind. Thanks. I'll bookmark it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

In answer to your question, tubemonkey, I live in Florida. I don't know how many library systems do it, but at least one, in the county just south of me will grant a library card to anyone in Florida (well, anyone who would meet same the criteria that someone within their district would have to meet); I suspect that many others will do that, too. I probably need to find the appropriate forum and post that information there, too.

It's called reciprocal borrowing and quite a few libraries across the US do it. I live in the Seattle area and most of the libraries around here allow it. This topic has been discussed in multiple threads scattered about the various forums here. It would be nice if we had a separate forum for libraries so we could consolidate all of these threads and sticky key topics, but the powers to be don't want one. One of the problems with this fragmentation is getting information out so that it doesn't come as a surprise to anyone where they've missed opportunities that could've saved them money.

A restriction with reciprocal borrowing that is starting to crop up, is that some of the libraries won't allow digital checkouts for those with reciprocal library cards. This has to do with restrictions placed on them from the publishers via OverDrive. There's no consistency with this, because quit a few libraries still allow it. So far, none of my libraries are affected (fingers crossed).

Related to reciprocal borrowing are fee cards for out-of-state residents. Four libraries that I'm aware of will allow it - Brooklyn NY ($50/yr), Philadelphia PA ($50/yr), Hennepin County MN ($60/yr), Orange County FL ($125/yr). I'm sure there are more, but I haven't researched it yet. The odd man out in this group is Hennepin. While they'll gladly sell you an out-of-state card, they won't allow you to check out digital books. You have to physically visit one of their branches and check out physical books.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Yep, that's what I had in mind. Thanks. I'll bookmark it.

Amazon also has 7 free classics that qualify for free audiobooks. See the OP (opening post) for the links under Amazon Whispersync.

As to borrowing, look at this post found half-way through this thread:

• How to Borrow Kindle Books to Qualify for Reduced Whispersync Pricing

If you look at the OP, you'll find quite a bit of valuable information crammed in there. This thread is acting like an entire audiobook forum (another forum management won't allow).

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by skinmaan

Not much new on the free audiobook front lately. I figured with March being National Reading Month there might be one or two promotions out there. Oh well, there's always June.

Here's one that might interest a few people. Zappos, of all people are offering a free audiobook version of "Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization" by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright. This is a non-fiction title about leveraging "tribes" within an organization, or small groups that form within an organization outside of management decisions. The free audiobook can be found here. You are supposed to sign up for their site to get the book, but it also allows you to sign in with your Amazon account, so that makes it fairly convenient (especially for most of us around here).

Enjoy!
skinmaan
Your audiobook bloodhound

Thanks - added to OP

The reason you can log in with an Amazon account is because Amazon owns Zappos.

[tubemonkey]

Downpour also has a Sherlock Holmes Sale of 9 titles for $5.95 each. But as usual, most of these titles are also available for reduced Whispersync pricing.

The prices listed after the titles are for the Whispersync versions. The first price is for the Kindle title and the second price is for the matching Audible title. The link takes you to the Kindle page to start the process.

For those in the US, you may be able to check out the Kindle title from your public library. This loan will be considered a purchase by Amazon, thereby qualifying you for the reduced pricing for the matching Audible title.

Be advised that some of these titles have multiple Kindle and Audible versions with different narrators. I only listed one. Be sure to check out each version to get the narrator you prefer. Just search for the title inside the Kindle store to see the different versions.

Sherlock Holmes Sale (Kindle / Audible)

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes --> $0.99 / $2.99
  
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes --> $0.99 / $2.99
  
• A Study in Scarlet --> $0.99 / $2.99
  
• The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes --> $0.99 / $0.99
  
• The Hound of the Baskervilles --> $0.99 / $0.49
  
• The Sign of the Four --> free / free --> free until 31 Mar
  
• His Last Bow --> not available
  
• Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara --> not available
• The Valley of Fear --> free / $0.99
  

Note: The Sign of the Four is the current Whispersync free title for March. It expires on 31 Mar.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Related to reciprocal borrowing are fee cards for out-of-state residents. Four libraries that I'm aware of will allow it - Brooklyn NY ($50/yr), Philadelphia PA ($50/yr), Hennepin County MN ($60/yr), Orange County FL ($125/yr). I'm sure there are more, but I haven't researched it yet. The odd man out in this group is Hennepin. While they'll gladly sell you an out-of-state card, they won't allow you to check out digital books. You have to physically visit one of their branches and check out physical books.

I'm packing my bags right now to make a trip to Hennepin County. hahahah

[GtrsRGr8]

Thanks, tubemonkey, for compiling all of the audiobooks information!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

I'm packing my bags right now to make a trip to Hennepin County. hahahah

"Hey Mom, my library book is due tomorrow. Can I have $600 for airfare to return it? Otherwise, I'll have to pay $0.05 a day in late fees."

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Thanks, tubemonkey, for compiling all of the audiobooks information!

YW