12-06-2020, 01:12 PM | #1 |
Bibliophagist
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Audible return policy under attack
I'd heard about some authors complaining about Audible's return policy. Now I've run into an item on thebookseller.com entitled: Authors Guild demands changes to Audible's returns policy and the link in that item to Sign Our Letter and Tell Audible to Stop Charging Authors for Returns.
I do have one acquaintance who has been using this to listen to multiple audiobooks for no cost. As she said, "no one is being hurt." |
12-06-2020, 02:17 PM | #2 | |||
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A bit late the AG joining in.
Others already got "changes" implemented. Whether enough to get Audible off the hook is questionable at best. This is not the first time they're created a mess. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/a...anuary-1226744 (Mostly paywalled.) Quote:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/20...yalties-amazon Quote:
Not saying I buy the argument, but it might explain how audible got themselves into the mess. Not necessarily ill intent but rather incompentence. https://www.thepassivevoice.com/audi...ed-discussion/ Quote:
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12-06-2020, 04:27 PM | #3 |
Wizard
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Why not, "If the book is bought but not downloaded you have one year to return it. However, once it has been downloaded you have two days to return it."
Heck, they could even make the "not yet downloaded" return period indefinite for all it matters. This would support binge buying in advance - and gifting - and buying a series on promo, testing it out, and returning later books if the series is bad - and also put the brakes on unethical "buy, consume completely, return" behavior. I don't have Audible, do you even "download" the books? Or are they played online? Whatever ... they should be able to track whether you have accessed the contents of the book (via download or online streaming) and start the return clock ticking. |
12-06-2020, 05:45 PM | #4 |
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I'm not sure how popular it is but I did some searching and found quite a few references giving details on how to return audiobooks. I don't have Audible but evidently, people are purchasing the books, listening to them, leaving reviews and then returning them and giving advice on how-to.
The acquaintance I mentioned in the first message uses excuses such as being retired and on a limited income to justify the practice though she was under the impression that the authors were still being paid. As for odd returns, the funniest one I heard of was Eaton's accepting the return of a Kenmore cookware set when the customer insisted she had purchased them at Eaton's. A bit strange since Kenmore was a Sears house brand. |
12-07-2020, 07:31 AM | #5 | |
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12-07-2020, 12:34 PM | #6 | |
the rook, bossing Never.
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Quote:
There should be NO returns on any Kindle eBook or Audible audio book unless it's proved to be not of merchantable quality. If Amazon wants a more flexible policy, then Amazon should pay, not the Author or publisher. You can't return CDs, Cassettes or Vinyl in any shop I've known unless it's physically defective. Amazon all along have abused their power, and this isn't enough! Also why almost another month? It's a disgrace. |
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12-07-2020, 12:38 PM | #7 | |
the rook, bossing Never.
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12-07-2020, 12:39 PM | #8 |
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The publishers forced the Agency agreements on Amazon. If those agreements allow for this, whose fault is it?
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12-08-2020, 11:54 AM | #9 |
the rook, bossing Never.
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I didn't agree. You mean some dominant (clueless?) publishers privately agreed it with Amazon, who apply it to everyone?
I'd rather NEVER set a retail price, but set the price that Amazon, Smashwords, Apple, Google, Kobo and Barnes & Noble pay, just like for selling anything else to any retailer. Then the retailer can sell at any price, allow infinite returns, anything, as long as I get MY full price from the retailer for every copied ordered. It's also their problem if they lose a copy in transit or it's not actually downloaded. See also Gift cards and book tokens. The buyer pays the full price even if the end user never redeems it. Why should Amazon set the conditions? Supplier is supposed to set price to retailer. |
12-08-2020, 01:29 PM | #10 |
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12-09-2020, 09:50 AM | #11 |
the rook, bossing Never.
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What I mean is that only some big publishers were involved. Acceptance of Amazon's T&C or go away is not negotiating an agreement. They are abusing their market dominance.
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