Are you a paying subscriber to Kindle Unlimited/Scribd/Oyster?

[John F]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

If you want to read something in a timely manner, you need to purchase if it's a recent book by a big publisher. For the ones available at a library you can wait months on the wait list.

In case anyone isn't aware...

If you are interested in a pre-release that the library doesn't have in their catalog, use the Recommend feature (and than ask your librarian to add the ebook); I find it is a great way to get a good spot on the wait list when it comes out.

[Dusky Rose]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you're not sure, why not look and see? Amazon offer a 30-day free trial.

Or do what I do. Create an Amazon Wish List of just the KU books that you run across and want to read. Then when the list gets big enough to be tempting, you can recheck to see how many are still there, and then jump in for the 30 day free trial.

You won't see the KU symbol while it's on your WL, unfortunately, so will need to 'clean house' once in a while. But I've got 126 books on my KU WL right now, so will have plenty to read once I jump back in.

I did that when they first started, and read about $40 worth of books on my free 30 days, then read about $15-36 worth a month for the next few months after that. (not counting the books I read and actually bought to keep.) I just left when my TBR pile at home kept calling me back.

The size of your KU WL and the current price shown for purchase of those books will help decide it it'll be worth it for you.

[birdbrainbb]

Originally Posted by Dusky Rose

Or do what I do. Create an Amazon Wish List of just the KU books that you run across and want to read. Then when the list gets big enough to be tempting, you can recheck to see how many are still there, and then jump in for the 30 day free trial.

You won't see the KU symbol while it's on your WL, unfortunately, so will need to 'clean house' once in a while. But I've got 126 books on my KU WL right now, so will have plenty to read once I jump back in.

I did that when they first started, and read about $40 worth of books on my free 30 days, then read about $15-36 worth a month for the next few months after that. (not counting the books I read and actually bought to keep.) I just left when my TBR pile at home kept calling me back.

The size of your KU WL and the current price shown for purchase of those books will help decide it it'll be worth it for you.

That's a really great idea! I'm definitely going to do that; thanks so much for the advice.

[Dusky Rose]

Originally Posted by birdbrainbb

That's a really great idea! I'm definitely going to do that; thanks so much for the advice.

Check out the Deals and Freebies Forum for a sale on KU memberships! Probably only good for a very limited time.

[Ed. I just signed up for a year at $80. I can break even pretty quickly at that.]

[Tattncat]

I Subscribe to Scribd mainly so my grandkids can have access to its books. I quit being interested in it when there was no longer the opportunity to pick up old out of print romances.

[booklover6]

I also got the 1 year sub. $6.70 a month is not too bad, and I do have over 100 on my WL, so hopefully I will do alright.

[ebusinesstutor]

I use ScribeD for fantasy and science fiction and there is a good selection there. I probably read at least 20-25 books per month, so it is a real cost savings.

A great way to discover new authors and new books and try some things I wouldn't try otherwise.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

I use ScribeD for fantasy and science fiction and there is a good selection there. I probably read at least 20-25 books per month, so it is a real cost savings.

I'm guessing those 20-25 books are not on the credit system? Is the credit system only for audio books? They lost me when they started with credits.

KU has a lot of SF/F in it's program, mostly indie I'd guess. But as you say, a great way to try books out.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I'm guessing those 20-25 books are not on the credit system? Is the credit system only for audio books? They lost me when they started with credits.

KU has a lot of SF/F in it's program, mostly indie I'd guess. But as you say, a great way to try books out.

The books aren't on the credit system. They had to go to the credit system with audio because audio is so expensive.

I "sell" more books via SCRIBD than I did while in KU and now that you mention it, it is mostly the UF series that gets borrowed/read. It's weird how some systems sell different thing. My cozies are generally my best seller on Kobo and Kindle, but on SCRIBD my Dragons/adventure romance and the UF waaaay, waaaaay outsell the cozies.

I wonder if KU skews to having more of a certain genre and whether that matches the regular sales patterns at Amazon.

[taosaur]

In 10 months of using Scribd (7 months paying for it), I'm maybe coming out ahead, compared to the cost of accessing the same content via Amazon, Audible or Comixology. It probably has kept down my comic and audiobook spending, even if my consumption hasn't been enough for me to always feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

This month is the first time I've run out of audiobook credits in the middle of the month--I took forever finishing up Margaret Atwood's Flood trilogy, then tore through Naomi Novik's first Temeraire book in a few days. I tried browsing the "unlimited" selection, but it's a joke. It's mostly short story collections broken out as individual titles, and/or LibriVox content. Actual novels are needles in the haystack.

Writing this post actually inspired me to cancel my membership

I also found I'm eligible for a 2 credit Audible trial, so there we go.

[Alohamora]

I've subscribed to KU for a year or so now. I think it's been worth it, for the type of things I'm reading. I tried Scribd for 2 or 3 months and used it for audio books, but the clunky software constantly annoyed me and I gave up on it. (It worked OK when on wi-fi, but was unreliable for off-line listening). If I only read fiction, the local public library would be more than good enough, but they are light on the non-fiction categories I read.

I've found some real gems in KU. I've re-read books by just checking them out again, if they ever disappear from KU, I'll buy them outright, I just don't see re-reading as an issue. KU has also spared me from wasting money on some really awful drivel.

[Xianxia]

Will Kindle Unlimited get to 10 million paying subscribers in the next 5 years?

At $10 a month, that would generate $1.2 billion a year in revenue. Though right now, Amazon is most likely making a loss on Kindle Unlimited.

[NickyWithNook]

Scribd just got tons of sheet music. My kids, who both take piano lessons, should be able to take advantage of that.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

Scribd just got tons of sheet music. My kids, who both take piano lessons, should be able to take advantage of that.

That's kind of cool!

[Joykins]

I've subscribed to Scribd for about a year and a half. I have read well over 160 books from it in that time. I was upset about the romance disappearing from my library, but there is still a surprisingly good selection of nearly everything else. I've been reading more YA and SF/F from it. I don't listen to audiobooks but it seems as if they've gone to rationing the high value ones.

I signed up for a 3-month trial for Oyster then it folded, so I didn't bother to cancel; paid for 2 months at full price. They had a little more romance than Scribd at the time and the Lumin idea was neat but I prefer Scribd, honestly.

KU didn't appear to have enough books I was interested in that the other 2 didn't have to justify a subscription.