Whispersync for Voice

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

We lost this perk once before and got it back, so I'm hopeful although not optimistic.

There are two ironies for me:

The first is that I'd use this option mostly for books that didn't seem worth a credit. I'll choose to read them instead, now, so those will be purchases not made.

The bigger irony is that for the last nine months, my credits (free or nearly so) have cost less than the Whispersync price on the books I purchased after borrowing them from OverDrive.

In fact, I can understand Audible's (Amazon) wanting to rationalize its price structure. But I've got an ample library of unheard Audible books and what with free audiobooks at OverDrive, it could be a very long time before my pent-up demand translates into my becoming a full-price for credits customer again. This will mostly affect impulse purchases and impulses don't last.

I have the grandfathered membership, where I get the discount price without getting a monthly credit. It use to be there were a lot more special discounts for audiobooks when I bought the ebook, but I don't see those offers nearly as often as I once did. Deals like that can't go on for ever. Loss leaders are a short term thing.

For the most part, I'm satisfied paying the normal discount price with my membership. Over the space of a year, it pays for itself. I've always been a big believer in the idea that one should spend the money to make sure authors get paid enough to keep writing rather than being forced into a day job.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I have the grandfathered membership, where I get the discount price without getting a monthly credit. It use to be there were a lot more special discounts for audiobooks when I bought the ebook, but I don't see those offers nearly as often as I once did. Deals like that can't go on for ever. Loss leaders are a short term thing.

For the most part, I'm satisfied paying the normal discount price with my membership. Over the space of a year, it pays for itself. I've always been a big believer in the idea that one should spend the money to make sure authors get paid enough to keep writing rather than being forced into a day job.

It's not my personal responsibility to make sure a business model does what we need it to do; it's up to the business/industry to find viable parameters that work for all the participants, both providers and consumers. If Audible created unrealistic expectations regarding the price of audiobooks, I'm not obligated to dig into my pocket to make up the shortfall. It seems to me, all they can do is wait it out in the anticipation that people will change their expectations over time and work off their cheaper inventory.

I think an exact analogy is Kobo and the unlimited 90% coupons (well, OK, that's more extreme). In the immediate aftermath, once the coupons and contests dried up, they had to be selling fewer units and for less gross revenues. Presumably their gross profit margins went up. Where they stand in terms of their net profit, I have no idea, but I suspect they haven't got past the bubble yet. I know I've still got lots of cheep inventory that depresses what I'm willing to spend on an ebook.

I'm going to note that wee contradiction where you have a better deal than is available to us cheapskates who aren't willing to pay authors a living wage.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I've always been a big believer in the idea that one should spend the money to make sure authors get paid enough to keep writing rather than being forced into a day job.

Not my responsibility to ensure that someone's choice of occupation is profitable.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

It's not my personal responsibility to make sure a business model does what we need it to do; it's up to the business/industry to find viable parameters that work for all the participants, both providers and consumers. If Audible created unrealistic expectations regarding the price of audiobooks, I'm not obligated to dig into my pocket to make up the shortfall. It seems to me, all they can do is wait it out in the anticipation that people will change their expectations over time and work off their cheaper inventory.

I think an exact analogy is Kobo and the unlimited 90% coupons (well, OK, that's more extreme). In the immediate aftermath, once the coupons and contests dried up, they had to be selling fewer units and for less gross revenues. Presumably their gross profit margins went up. Where they stand in terms of their net profit, I have no idea, but I suspect they haven't got past the bubble yet. I know I've still got lots of cheep inventory that depresses what I'm willing to spend on an ebook.

I'm going to note that wee contradiction where you have a better deal than is available to us cheapskates who aren't willing to pay authors a living wage.

No, it's not your responsibility, however, as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Thus, you can't really expect a deeply discounted deal to continue indefinitely. Eventually, they either have to make money or go out of business. I prefer to support a business with a good business model that will enable it to continue for a long time. I like ebooks and audiobooks. People make both because they expect to make money at it. If they don't, then they stop.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Not my responsibility to ensure that someone's choice of occupation is profitable.

It is if you like the product and want to be able to continue getting it.

To a great extent, that is the other side of supply and demand. If demand for a product isn't enough to pay for the cost of the product, then the product won't be produced. Thinking that you can get a quality product that takes a lot of man hours to produce for a few dollars is the flip side of the producer wanting to sell a product that cost $2 to produce for $200. Neither is a very long lasting business model.

[booklover6]

Well I am concerned....just checked out 2 library books via Kindle with hopes of buying the audio book. Both books show up in my Manage your Kindle screen. On the individual book page, there is no bar saying I borrowed it, and there is no ability to get the audio book for the cheaper price, not on Amazon or in my Audible account.

can anyone check it with a book of their choice? *You don't have to buy the audio, to see if you get the discounted price.

The books I am referring to are by Vivian Arend, Let It Ride & One Sexy Ride.

[copyrite]

It isn't possible any longer to purchase discounted titles from Audible from Overdrive borrows.

I would've purchased a lot more sooner had I known this was going to be discontinued!

[AnemicOak]

Yes, as we discussed at the beginning of December, getting the Whispersync for Voice perk on library books has gone away. I can confirm that's still the case.

[booklover6]

Well darn I missed that or maybe my mind just couldn't take that in! That is terribly disappointing!

[Catlady]

Shoot, I was hoping the new posts would say Amazon had gone back to the old way!

I too would have borrowed many more books and bought the accompanying audiobooks if I'd known ahead of time.

[tubemonkey]

It's like Amazon suddenly realized what people were doing.

"Say, look what they're doing."

"Well, we'll put a stop to that!"

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's like Amazon suddenly realized what people were doing.

More like a big publisher figured it out and threw a fit if anything.

[booklover6]

Time to pare down my WL at the library.

I'll use TTS if I must. It's sad that this has happened, it was one of the best things about Amazon.

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Time to pare down my WL at the library.

I'll use TTS if I must. It's sad that this has happened, it was one of the best things about Amazon.

And then there are the Kindle titles that don't allow TTS. I came across one of them today that I wanted to continue on the Echo while I was doing things around the house.

from my Galaxy S6

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by copyrite

And then there are the Kindle titles that don't allow TTS. I came across one of them today that I wanted to continue on the Echo while I was doing things around the house.

Welcome to DRM and some publishers being afraid TTS will cut into audiobook sales.