Audible subscription vs. "add narration" on Kindle titles

taosaur · 08-25-2013, 07:49 PM

What do you think? I re-upped with Audible this summer after years away and I did use my first couple credits, but then I started looking at the Kindle titles and the cost to "add narration." In every case, the cost for the audiobook was less than a monthly Audible credit ($14.95 for 1 credit/mo). In fact, each of the titles I purchased was less than $10 for ebook and audiobook combined, though a couple were novellas and one of the others was Wool, originally self-published on the Kindle store.

It looks like most mainstream, full-length titles run $12.99 for audio on top of $7-10 for the ebook, which makes subscription credits look a little better if you don't mind doing without the text. Also, Audible does offer additional discounts and promotions to members fairly regularly, from what I've heard--I've had a $10 coupon myself, which can also be applied to "add narration" buys via Amazon.

I'm sure Amazon crunched the numbers after the acquisition to avoid totally cannibalizing Audible's business model, but there are a number of titles where you can get both ebook and audio for less than either a credit or the members' discount price of audio alone.

Have any of you ditched your Audible subscription because of Whispersync? Has anyone gone the other way, and picked up a subscription after getting a taste via Whispersync?

Synamon · 08-25-2013, 08:10 PM

I cancelled my subscription earlier this year in part because of Whispersync for voice. Although not for the reasons you've outlined, but I because bought quite a lot of Kindle Daily Deal ebooks and companion audiobooks and I realized that I needed to catch up with my listening and stop buying more with credits and sales. My backlog is manageable again and I just signed back up for the 40% off Amazon Local deal, but expect to cancel my subscription again at the end of the 6 months.

tubemonkey · 08-25-2013, 08:28 PM

I have a basic membership that does not include credits. I get all of the promos, except the ones that involve credits. I use whatever "cash" I get from these promos to buy the $0.99 Whispersync classics.

I now have close to 200 titles since I first joined Audible (about two years ago) and have never spent more than $1 on any given title; most of them were free. I use the library for more expensive titles.

Audible currently has a free $5 voucher promo going on. Check this post for details.

Jessica Lares · 08-25-2013, 08:33 PM

I got a subscription in January, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. The add narration is such a better deal. It's the price of the subscription every month, or even less.

jgaiser · 08-25-2013, 08:47 PM

Very little of what I buy on Audible is part of the "add narration" promotion. For me, a subscription is still a good deal.

AnemicOak · 08-25-2013, 09:10 PM

I buy plenty of Whispersync for Voice titles, but there are a lot of books I get that are not available that way that I use my two credits a month on.

taosaur · 08-25-2013, 09:33 PM

I think I'll be cancelling before my plan goes full-price next month. In most cases I do want the ebook as well, even if Amazon isn't the first place I'd normally go to get it. So far I haven't encountered any books where Whispersync wasn't available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

I got a subscription in January, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. The add narration is such a better deal. It's the price of the subscription every month, or even less.

That will depend a lot on your reading habits and how much you value the ebook. I only did a handful of searches, but it looks like A-list titles are typically around $8 for the ebook and $13 to add audio. You're looking at $20-25 total cost. All of the titles I've grabbed so far, though, were more like $2-5 for the ebook and $2-3 to add audio, so less even then my half-price monthly credits.

tubemonkey · 08-25-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I think I'll be cancelling before my plan goes full-price next month. In most cases I do want the ebook as well, even if Amazon isn't the first place I'd normally go to get it. So far I haven't encountered any books where Whispersync wasn't available.

That will depend a lot on your reading habits and how much you value the ebook. I only did a handful of searches, but it looks like A-list titles are typically around $8 for the ebook and $13 to add audio. You're looking at $20-25 total cost. All of the titles I've grabbed so far, though, were more like $2-5 for the ebook and $2-3 to add audio, so less even then my half-price monthly credits.

If you check out the Whispersync ebook from the library, Amazon thinks you own it and will let you buy the audiobook at the reduced price.

taosaur · 08-25-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

If you check out the Whispersync ebook from the library, Amazon thinks you own it and will let you buy the audiobook at the reduced price.

I'm guessing that will only work if you own Kindle hardware. I don't think you can send library books to the Android app.

Jessica Lares · 08-25-2013, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I'm guessing that will only work if you own Kindle hardware. I don't think you can send library books to the Android app.

No, you can. I do it in Kindle for Mac.

tubemonkey · 08-25-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I'm guessing that will only work if you own Kindle hardware. I don't think you can send library books to the Android app.

I can borrow Kindle books using the OverDrive app on my Nexus 7.

taosaur · 08-25-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

No, you can. I do it in Kindle for Mac.

Well, I'll have to check it out. I'll be wanting the Kindle for PC app anyway if I'm actually buying books from Amazon--just to get a system in place to free them from their eshackles.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I can borrow Kindle books using the OverDrive app on my Nexus 7.

Better yet. I always install OverDrive, but have yet to actually check out any electronic media from my local libraries.

pidgeon92 · 08-25-2013, 10:59 PM

I use my credits generally only when there is a 3 for 2 deal, or a $10 coupon offer. I let them pile up until then. I have 10 credits currently, so I'm hoping for a $10 coupon offer fairly soon.

new · 08-25-2013, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I have a basic membership that does not include credits. I get all of the promos, except the ones that involve credits. I use whatever "cash" I get from these promos to buy the $0.99 Whispersync classics.

I now have close to 200 titles since I first joined Audible (about two years ago) and have never spent more than $1 on any given title; most of them were free. I use the library for more expensive titles.

Audible currently has a free $5 voucher promo going on. Check this post for details.

Thanks Tubemonkey that worked for me! I don't have an active membership with Audible anymore and it does show I have $5.00 credit now. I "assume" (bad word to use I know) I can use this still. I am hoping to find a book at Amazon and then buy the Whispersync at Amazon. Hope it shows my credit there. I would rather use Amazon. Just easier for me to get around and find things.

Catlady · 08-25-2013, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

If you check out the Whispersync ebook from the library, Amazon thinks you own it and will let you buy the audiobook at the reduced price.

How does Amazon know I've borrowed a Kindle book from my library?

08-25-2013, 07:49 PM	#1
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Audible subscription vs. "add narration" on Kindle titles What do you think? I re-upped with Audible this summer after years away and I did use my first couple credits, but then I started looking at the Kindle titles and the cost to "add narration." In every case, the cost for the audiobook was less than a monthly Audible credit ($14.95 for 1 credit/mo). In fact, each of the titles I purchased was less than $10 for ebook and audiobook combined, though a couple were novellas and one of the others was Wool, originally self-published on the Kindle store. It looks like most mainstream, full-length titles run $12.99 for audio on top of $7-10 for the ebook, which makes subscription credits look a little better if you don't mind doing without the text. Also, Audible does offer additional discounts and promotions to members fairly regularly, from what I've heard--I've had a $10 coupon myself, which can also be applied to "add narration" buys via Amazon. I'm sure Amazon crunched the numbers after the acquisition to avoid totally cannibalizing Audible's business model, but there are a number of titles where you can get both ebook and audio for less than either a credit or the members' discount price of audio alone. Have any of you ditched your Audible subscription because of Whispersync? Has anyone gone the other way, and picked up a subscription after getting a taste via Whispersync?

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08-25-2013, 08:10 PM	#2
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I cancelled my subscription earlier this year in part because of Whispersync for voice. Although not for the reasons you've outlined, but I because bought quite a lot of Kindle Daily Deal ebooks and companion audiobooks and I realized that I needed to catch up with my listening and stop buying more with credits and sales. My backlog is manageable again and I just signed back up for the 40% off Amazon Local deal, but expect to cancel my subscription again at the end of the 6 months.

08-25-2013, 08:28 PM	#3
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,480 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I have a basic membership that does not include credits. I get all of the promos, except the ones that involve credits. I use whatever "cash" I get from these promos to buy the $0.99 Whispersync classics. I now have close to 200 titles since I first joined Audible (about two years ago) and have never spent more than $1 on any given title; most of them were free. I use the library for more expensive titles. Audible currently has a free $5 voucher promo going on. Check this post for details.

08-25-2013, 08:33 PM	#4
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	I got a subscription in January, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. The add narration is such a better deal. It's the price of the subscription every month, or even less.

08-25-2013, 08:47 PM	#5
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Very little of what I buy on Audible is part of the "add narration" promotion. For me, a subscription is still a good deal.

08-25-2013, 09:10 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I buy plenty of Whispersync for Voice titles, but there are a lot of books I get that are not available that way that I use my two credits a month on.

08-25-2013, 10:59 PM	#13
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I use my credits generally only when there is a 3 for 2 deal, or a $10 coupon offer. I let them pile up until then. I have 10 credits currently, so I'm hoping for a $10 coupon offer fairly soon.

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