Overdrive - open ebooks - not returnable?

4691mls · 03-17-2013, 05:50 PM

All the ebooks I've checked out on Overdrive in the past were Adobe ebooks, which can be returned early, so I've always just left my default checkout period as 14 days.

A couple days ago, I checked out a couple of books in the Open Epub format. It's the weekend, so I've finished reading both books. There does not appear to be any way to return these books. In the Sony Reader program on my PC, the Return option is grayed out; on the Sony reader itself Return is missing from the book menu.

On my Overdrive library account, the books show as counting toward my 4-book limit.

Am I stuck with these books, and therefore limited in how many other books I can check out, for the next 12 days?

pidgeon92 · 03-17-2013, 06:00 PM

It appears that you cannot return them. See this post:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...24&postcount=2

Mims · 03-17-2013, 06:02 PM

Yes, you are stuck with these books until they expire. I checked one out and when I was unable to return it from either the Overdrive app or ADE, I found the documentation someplace that this is how the open epub works.

4691mls · 03-17-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

It appears that you cannot return them. See this post:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...24&postcount=2

Thanks. The books are in fact from Poisoned Pen Press, as in the post you referred me to. Wish there had been a warning when I selected the book that they could not be returned early. Also, I sure wish the NC library allowed more than 4 checkouts at a time.

xendula · 03-19-2013, 07:46 AM

I also was stuck with an Open Epub 4 books series for 21 days once, so I learned this the hard way as well. They could easily allow you to return Open Epub straight from the bookshelf.

amward · 03-19-2013, 07:48 AM

Glad I found this out as I have just checked out my first one. If I do it again I will make sure it's for the shortest loan period.

tubemonkey · 03-19-2013, 08:06 AM

It's in a publisher's best interest not to allow early returns. Longer checkouts = fewer checkouts = longer wait lists = frustrated readers = "I can't wait forever, so I'll just buy it"

4691mls · 03-19-2013, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's in a publisher's best interest not to allow early returns. Longer checkouts = fewer checkouts = longer wait lists = frustrated readers = "I can't wait forever, so I'll just buy it"

Well, that won't work on me - once I finish the series that got me stuck, I'll probably just stick to Adobe epub library books in the future, since I can return those when I want.

I don't mind too much about the waiting list to get the books, but being unable to clear out the books I've read is a real pain, especially when the library allows only 4 checkouts.

tubemonkey · 03-19-2013, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Well, that won't work on me - once I finish the series that got me stuck, I'll probably just stick to Adobe epub library books in the future, since I can return those when I want.

I don't mind too much about the waiting list to get the books, but being unable to clear out the books I've read is a real pain, especially when the library allows only 4 checkouts.

It's a shame you're only allowed 4 checkouts at a time. Your library is too restrictive. Does your library have reciprocal borrowing agreements with other libraries in the area? Belonging to multiple libraries has many advantages.

4691mls · 03-19-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's a shame you're only allowed 4 checkouts at a time. Your library is too restrictive. Does your library have reciprocal borrowing agreements with other libraries in the area? Belonging to multiple libraries has many advantages.

It's a consortium of libraries across NC. They do have a good selection of books, but only 4 checkouts and only 5 holds.

Joykins · 03-19-2013, 01:24 PM

If you can choose a 7-day loan period for them, that would probably tie up your ability to borrow other books for the least amount of time.

4691mls · 03-19-2013, 01:34 PM

If I check out any open epub books in the future, I will see if it is possible to choose a shorter checkout period.

Unfortunately, at the time I checked these out, I did not know that they couldn't be returned early so they were checked out at my default checkout period of 14 days.

I wish Overdrive had some warning if you are checking out items that can't be returned early. I think I saw a topic like this about audiobooks on mobileread a while back.

mobilelover · 03-20-2013, 02:52 AM

I am completely new to this so I can return an ebook after reading or a physical hardcover book we are talking about here.

tubemonkey · 03-20-2013, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilelover

I am completely new to this so I can return an ebook after reading or a physical hardcover book we are talking about here.

Some formats yes, some no.

OverDrive currently has 8 formats available:

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB eBook
PDF eBook
Open EPUB eBook -- early returns not allowed
Open PDF eBook -- early returns not allowed
OverDrive MP3 Audiobook
OverDrive WMA Audiobook -- early returns not allowed

Borrowing and returning varies by device, OS, browser, software, and app being used. For example, OverDrive Media Console for Mac does not allow audiobook returns. So, things can get a bit complicated at times because of the variables involved.

4691mls · 03-20-2013, 10:50 AM

Does anybody know if it's possible to change the loan period for just a particular book you are checking out? Or is the only place to make a change in the default settings, which would affect all books I check out?

03-17-2013, 05:50 PM	#1
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	Overdrive - open ebooks - not returnable? All the ebooks I've checked out on Overdrive in the past were Adobe ebooks, which can be returned early, so I've always just left my default checkout period as 14 days. A couple days ago, I checked out a couple of books in the Open Epub format. It's the weekend, so I've finished reading both books. There does not appear to be any way to return these books. In the Sony Reader program on my PC, the Return option is grayed out; on the Sony reader itself Return is missing from the book menu. On my Overdrive library account, the books show as counting toward my 4-book limit. Am I stuck with these books, and therefore limited in how many other books I can check out, for the next 12 days?

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03-17-2013, 06:00 PM	#2
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	It appears that you cannot return them. See this post: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...24&postcount=2

03-17-2013, 06:02 PM	#3
Mims Addict Posts: 228 Karma: 3774169 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Space Coast Device: K4NT, iPads,IPhone,Aura H2O,PW3	Yes, you are stuck with these books until they expire. I checked one out and when I was unable to return it from either the Overdrive app or ADE, I found the documentation someplace that this is how the open epub works.

03-19-2013, 07:46 AM	#5
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	I also was stuck with an Open Epub 4 books series for 21 days once, so I learned this the hard way as well. They could easily allow you to return Open Epub straight from the bookshelf.

03-19-2013, 07:48 AM	#6
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	Glad I found this out as I have just checked out my first one. If I do it again I will make sure it's for the shortest loan period.

03-19-2013, 08:06 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	It's in a publisher's best interest not to allow early returns. Longer checkouts = fewer checkouts = longer wait lists = frustrated readers = "I can't wait forever, so I'll just buy it"

03-19-2013, 01:24 PM	#11
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,601 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	If you can choose a 7-day loan period for them, that would probably tie up your ability to borrow other books for the least amount of time.

03-19-2013, 01:34 PM	#12
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	If I check out any open epub books in the future, I will see if it is possible to choose a shorter checkout period. Unfortunately, at the time I checked these out, I did not know that they couldn't be returned early so they were checked out at my default checkout period of 14 days. I wish Overdrive had some warning if you are checking out items that can't be returned early. I think I saw a topic like this about audiobooks on mobileread a while back.

03-20-2013, 02:52 AM	#13
mobilelover Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 670838 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: ipad	I am completely new to this so I can return an ebook after reading or a physical hardcover book we are talking about here.

03-20-2013, 10:50 AM	#15
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	Does anybody know if it's possible to change the loan period for just a particular book you are checking out? Or is the only place to make a change in the default settings, which would affect all books I check out?