Other issues (Audible) Showing 651-700 of 1,204

[Jeanie]

Think of Audible as being like a book of the month service. It isn't so much a monthly fee as a commitment to buy one book a month using the credit. The cool thing about using an Audible credit to buy a book is that no matter how much the posted list price or member price might be, it only costs the one credit. You can pay cash for the ones costing less or ones you absolutely have to have if you've used your credit for the month. And, if you're like us, it doesn't take long before one book a month isn't enough and many o the Whispersync books cost more than a credit does.

[Angela Bee Bee]

Kimberly wrote: "Angela wrote: "I was also looking at some childrens books and thinking a membership might be worth it if my kids like the audio/whispersync. "


How old are your kids?

My son is 6 - he LOVES the c..."

My kids are 6 and 3(twins)

I was thikning of magic tree house, but it seemed too expensive.
Do you have any chapter book recs?
I saw wizard of oz fairly inexpensive, but I dunno.

For the younger ones. I like level 2-3 readers, superheros and trucks. I have tried a few audiobooks with them and they like it.

Sometimes I wonder if its too much like tv and better if they do it on their own, but better than no reading at all and more variety.

[Angie]

I have a library card for 2 online libraries, and they both have several Magic Tree House audiobooks. They each have a good variety of children's audiobooks. You might check that out if your library has an online catalog.

[Verena]

Angela wrote: "Oooh, thanks. Thats $11 or I could wait a month a use my next months credit, if I continue with audible."

Paying the $11 for the Kindle + Audible versions would be cheaper than using a credit. And you'd be getting the ebook as well as the audiobook.

[Angela Bee Bee]

Verena wrote: "Angela wrote: "Oooh, thanks. Thats $11 or I could wait a month a use my next months credit, if I continue with audible."

Paying the $11 for the Kindle + Audible versions would be cheaper than usin..."

Yes, I'm going to try it out. I'm excited.
Eta: I returned wuthering heights and purchased will grayson.

[Laura]

Joy wrote: "I learned to read that way myself, only with "records" and books back in the dark ages.
"

LOL.... I remember those!

[John, Moderator]

Joy wrote: "As long as the kids are truly listening to the story and can talk about it on an age appropriate level, there is no problem with listening vs reading. For a 6yo, seeing the words on a page (or scre..."

Most people think of the captions on TV as being for the hearing-impaired, but I understand ESL students use them as well to help understand what they're hearing.

[Margaret]

My oldest granddaughter learned to read with cassettes and the books.

[Vicki]

I purchase 2 or 3 or more 24 book platinum memberships per year. That way I pay less than $10 per book. It says 2 per month but you can get all 24 one day and buy another 24 the same day.

[Vicki]

Now on to my problem. I received an email today introducing the new home page. Went to homepage on computer but it is old one. Tried to log in through Kindle and can not. But if i go into the audible book store through Kindle it is same as always. Anyone know what is going on?

[Lori]

John wrote: "Joy wrote: "As long as the kids are truly listening to the story and can talk about it on an age appropriate level, there is no problem with listening vs reading. For a 6yo, seeing the words on a p..."

According to the research the closed captions can help improve the reading fluency of any student.

[Laura]

Vicki wrote: "Now on to my problem. I received an email today introducing the new home page. Went to homepage on computer but it is old one. Tried to log in through Kindle and can not. But if i go into the audib..."

It has been switching back and forth between the old and new homepage for the last couple days. I never know which one I will get when I log in. :)
They are probably still working out the bugs and will have it up and running soon.

[Sandra]

Well mine says "Coming Soon!"

[Angela Bee Bee]

Angie wrote: "I have a library card for 2 online libraries, and they both have several Magic Tree House audiobooks. They each have a good variety of children's audiobooks. You might check that out if your libr..."

Thanks. I got some great kids audiobooks with paperbacks from the library.

[Angela Bee Bee]

Angie wrote: "Will Grayson, Will Grayson would be $7.99 for the kindle book, then $2.95 for the audiobook. Just make sure you buy the kindle first."

Will grayson didnt work for me, I didnt care for the book, but I will give audio/audible another try.

[The Pfaeffle Journal (Diane)]

I would like to be able to export my audio books from Audible and import them into goodreads - will that ever be possible?

[Briar Rose]

The last week I've been having problems with the Daily Deals. I click on the emails as soon as I receive them, but when I log in, I get a standard price and not the price listed in the email. Today's Daily Deal is "You Are Now Less Dumb" for $14.69. Doesn't seem like much of a deal.

[Verena]

Briar Rose wrote: "The last week I've been having problems with the Daily Deals. I click on the emails as soon as I receive them, but when I log in, I get a standard price and not the price listed in the email. Today's Daily Deal is "You Are Now Less Dumb" for $14.69. Doesn't seem like much of a deal. "

I see $2.95 whether I am logged in or not. I wonder if the problem is with your browser. Try a different web browser.

[Michael]

I wish we could just get rid of the stats page until they can get it to work properly. Eg, stats to the cloud. I was instructed by support to reinstall due to an issue I was having, and I have lost everything. My hours listened, app master status, badges. If they weren't there I wouldn't care, but as they are it is an insult...

Worse still, I can't even see which books I have finished anymore. Am I supposed to maintain that crap manually? Give me a break.

[[deleted user]]

Michael, what is it you LIKE about Audible?

[Michael]

Jennifer (Wolf Queen of the Outer Regions) wrote: "Michael, what is it you LIKE about Audible?"
LOL. The audiobooks themselves (when they will actually sell them to me as a lowly Australian). That's about it though. I wish downpour provided better competition (eg DRM free so I can use from another app) - but downpour really doesn't have anywhere near enough. Unfortunately with Audible, I don't actually have any choice other than to use their buggy application. So when something is wrong with it, I raise it with them, and generally get nowhere, so complain here. Seriously though stuff like there dynamic banner adds that only show for some people - that irritates the heck out of me as it is self destructive and counterproductive for their own sales. That really really irritates me. Especially being in software development myself, that sort of "too smart for their own good" unnecessary complexity is the bane of the industry. So my point is, they waste development time putting in unnecessary features THAT DON"T WORK in their web site, and a new home page, but having an app you have to use to actually listen to their content seems like a tertiary consideration.

My last complaint here was triggered by such a support call, where their response was of the level of the one step above the standard support response of "have you tried restarting your computer" with a "have you tried uninstalling and deleting everything from your phone, then get back to us" response. And of course, that triggered a loss of reader data.

[Sue]

I didn't realize goodreads was a place for people just to complain.

I think I need to complain to good reads to be able to filter out repetitive negative complaints or maybe just block out users that don't have anything positive to say:)

[Michael]

Sue wrote: "I didn't realize goodreads was a place for people just to complain.

I think I need to complain to good reads to be able to filter out repetitive negative complaints or maybe just block out users t..."

Or here is an excellent idea for you - don't read an issues thread, and then have the nerve to complain about the issues... Did you come to this thread expecting to see what? Unicorns and rainbows?

Please feel free to block me though.

[Sue]

Michael,

First positive, helpful comment you have posted. Thanks! It is done!!

[Jeanie]

Michael, it isn't that we're unsympathetic when there are problems, it's mostly that Audible has done a great job for most of us and we value their service highly. When we have problems Audible frequently helps us solve them either on this very thread or with their very friendly Customer Service. Maybe we're a little defensive on Audible's behalf, but we like to see them treated nicely since they so often do the same for us.
That said, yeah, the new home page sucks--at least for us screen-reader users. ;)

[Michael]

OK. It isn't like I start unnecessary new threads, or go into unrelated threads and troll about how bad audible is. I can't believe my comments on the issues thread could be constructed as out of place. It isn't like I've gone to a thread titled "Name the top 5 things you love about Audible" and posted a comment saying how bad they are. This is the issues thread. And yes, I have posted on the promotions thread complaints about the fact the promotions are not showing. In fact half of the Audible promotions in the last year I only found about here, rather than through either their site (no banners) or my email subscriptions. And I'd honestly think if they were interested in a business they'd be interested in fixing issues with this. So issues with the promotions is relevant to the promotions thread.

However, Trolling is going to a thread and adding something unneccessary to the thread with the intent of trying to get a rise out of the readers, rather than being involved in the discussion. And yes, I am sorry I fell for the trolling comment above, and bit...

PS - yes, I don't quite "get" the new home page. I guess it might work nicely on a touchscreen / tablet. But it doesn't really on a mobile, nor on a PC with a mouse.

[Justacat]

This isn't an Audible-sponsored forum, unless I misunderstand. What's more, it is, by its very name, an Audible "issues" thread. If someone has "issues" with Audible, it seems to me like this group/thread is advertising itself as the very place to discuss them. It's great that so many participants in the group have had positive experiences with Audible, but that is not universal, and though I am a 99% lurker, I am speaking up because I am so bothered by the defense of Audible at the expense of a participant who is merely using this thread for the purpose for which it seems to have been aimed - that purpose not being to extol Audible's virtues or protect its delicate feelings.

If this is nothing more than an Audible defense/cheerleading space, perhaps it ought to be labeled as such; if not, then I think the defensiveness toward or berating of or taking to task of those who don't toe the party line - for being too "negative"? Give me a break - is really grossly misplaced.

[Michael]

Justacat wrote: "This isn't an Audible-sponsored forum, unless I misunderstand. What's more, it is, by its very name, an Audible "issues" thread. If someone has "issues" with Audible, it seems to me like this is gr..."
Thanks Justacat. :)

I will endeavor to be less grumpy in my wording, though. It is hard when I feel like I keep beating my head against a wall with the issues (eg I go to Audible first and often second and third).

[Sandi]

I get where you're coming from, Michael. It is frustrating when you have problems with something. I, for one, love my Audible app on my Android. I haven't had any major problems with it. Then again, I don't really care about stats. What I've found really helpful is to remove any book that I've already listened to from my device. Then, I just keep the app on the tab that shows the titles that are on my phone. When I buy a book, I download it immediately. When I was using an iPod Nano, I would uncheck the boxes in iTunes for each book I finished. That way, I only had books that I hadn't listened to on my iPod. It's a simple way for me to keep track.

Now, it would be really nice if the finished tags would be stored in the cloud. It would be even nicer if I could go to my library on Audible and set it to show books I haven't listened to yet, or books that I have finished. Better yet, let it show me books I've listened to but haven't rated. Even better, let me search my library by narrator.

For the record, I would like Downpour to be a better option. Unfortunately, their Android app is the most dysfunctional piece of programming I have ever seen. It only downloads with a wifi connection, and sometimes not even then. It freezes in the middle of chapters. It opens on the bookshelf view, but you have to switch it to list view to see your books. It is completely useless. Fortunately, I finally figured out how to get non-Audible audiobooks into my phone so they show up correctly on the Smart Audiobook player. I just have to listen to one now.

[Michael]

Sandi wrote: "I get where you're coming from, Michael. It is frustrating when you have problems with something. I, for one, love my Audible app on my Android. I haven't had any major problems with it. Then a..."

I have about 335 Audible books so managing the unread is a lot harder. When I was on an iphone I was able to listen to my audiobooks with apple, and it would maintain the last played counts, so I was able to check there. but I can't do that on android and have to rely on the flagged as read. Now I've lost it unfortunately.

Ah yes, SmartAudiobook player on android is great. I actually use iSyncr on Android and that syncs iTunes to Android - and I use it to sync my non-audible audiobooks and music. Then I point SmartAudiobook player to the iSyncr directory. It actually maintains playcounts and last played times in itunes for music, but not for audiobooks.

[Jeanie]

I was just trying to check the Audible site for today's Daily Deal and, with the new home page, couldn't be sure which link I was on and ended up on the one that asks for feedback about the new home page. Anyone with issues might want to take a minute or two and fill out their questionaire. Your issues aren't likely to be the same as mine, but it is an easy way to speak out and the same comments from several people propably get noticed.

[[deleted user]]

I thought Michael handled my comment with class and good humour. I'll let the matter rest :)

[Bill (Just a)]

Michael wrote: "O I can't believe my comments on the issues thread could be constructed as out of place..."

They are not by me. I think your comments are fine. I agree that Audible provides good service to many of us. I certainly have nothing to complain about. But you did and you should. Keep em on their toes.

[Justacat]

Have to say I hate the new home page too, though I don't use a screen reader, and have responded on the feedback page explaining why. For one thing, that ginormous banner - what purpose does it serve for it to take up so much screen real estate?! (You really notice this if you browse on a tablet...)

[CatBookMom]

Audible Customer Service can be very effective, but not always. I wrote comments about the new front page, to the effect that I wish they'd spend the resources on fixing the search function in My Library, particularly improving the 'fuzzy logic'; it's not forgiving enough so that you have to be precise about some authors' names. I believe it would be very helpful to Audible if the people here voice their problems in the currently-offered interface.

It's a shame that people in Australia are getting such mixed messages from the site, with some books being offered and then, "oops - sorry, not for you." I don't have a SmartPhone or tablet, and I'm very happy running Win7 on my PC, so some of the issues people have are not relevant for me, but I can sympathize. This IS the "Audible Issues" thread, and it's generally been a helpful place to air problems. I also have been mostly pleased with the response I've had when I call Audible, but that's not necessarily helpful for people not in the US.

[Kristie]

Sandi wrote: "I get where you're coming from, Michael. It is frustrating when you have problems with something. I, for one, love my Audible app on my Android. I haven't had any major problems with it. Then a..."

I use my Smart AudioBook player all the time for non-Audible books. There are features on it I like better than Audible's app. (I have already shared these ideas with Audible. So far they haven't included them in updates.)

[Verena]

I don't pay attention to which audiobooks I get from Audible, and which audiobooks I get elsewhere. I keep all of them in iTunes, and I keep a list of them elsewhere, and this is where I keep track of my read and to-be-read audiobooks.

I don't care for the Audible app, either. I vastly prefer Ambling's Audiobook Pro player. Lots of nice features, including automatically keeping a list of what time an audiobook was started/stopped all during the entire length of the book. This is great for when I get distracted, I can go back and see at what point I most recently started, and go right back to that. It would be nice if Audible would up the feature set to include some of these more useful features.

[Michael]

Justacat wrote: "Have to say I hate the new home page too, though I don't use a screen reader, and have responded on the feedback page explaining why. For one thing, that ginormous banner - what purpose does it ser..."

I checked the new page on a touchscreen, but I take back my prior comment - it doesn't seem geared better for tablet/touch - eg the tile lists don't respond to swipe left and right to scan through the offerings, you still have to zoom and click on the tiny < and > icons. I thought perhaps is was geared for touch devices, but apparently not.

Verena wrote: "I don't pay attention to which audiobooks I get from Audible, and which audiobooks I get elsewhere. I keep all of them in iTunes, and I keep a list of them elsewhere, and this is where I keep track..."

I will need to start maintaining all my reading list like that now. Since I moved to Android though, I have no need to download them to my PC anymore though. I would if I was still using an iPhone.

[Kristie]

Michael wrote: "Justacat wrote: "Have to say I hate the new home page too, though I don't use a screen reader, and have responded on the feedback page explaining why. For one thing, that ginormous banner - what pu..."

I still download all my Audible books to my computer, even though I don't need them for listening on my Android. It's just the principle...I bought it, I want to have an electronic file of it (not just on Audible's cloud). And luckily I have the hard drive space to hold them.

[Bill (Just a)]

Michael wrote: "Justacat wrote: "Have to say I hate the new home page too, though I don't use a screen reader, and have responded on the feedback page explaining why. For one thing, that ginormous banner - what pu..."

What works for me and why I don't have the same issues.

1. Everything goes to my PC from whatever source - audible, CD rips, free book download from a website, whatever.
2. Currently everything is in Itunes. I may move that to media monkey.
3. Currently I move a book to my IPOD or Iphone or the IPOD my wife uses. But I don't load the whole library. That stays on my PC. I might have 4 or 5 unread books at a time on the mobile device.
4. That library on my PC gets backed up to my NAS along with the rest of my iTunes library. Or did till I switched computers. I gotta start that again.

That's why I don't have the same issues. My biggest time consumer is updating the database we all keep on Goodreads.

Audio libraries are pretty easy. Want hard? Start a digital video library.

[Verena]

Forney_bill wrote: "Audio libraries are pretty easy. Want hard? Start a digital video library. "

I consider ebook and audiobook to be reasonably interchangeable. I don't do video, but I keep audio and ebook in the same database, and I count them both in my yearly reading challenges. Another reason that the Audible page isn't very useful to me.

[Patricia]

Sue wrote: "I didn't realize goodreads was a place for people just to complain.

I think I need to complain to good reads to be able to filter out repetitive negative complaints or maybe just block out users t..."

Just because you don't have the same issues doesn't mean that other people's complaints aren't valid or that they have no right to express them.
I agree, that if Audible offers membership to people all over the world and they are happy to take the same amount of money from them...then they need to listen to those consumers and give them the same services as their American customers.

I had awful customer service when the "buy 4 get $10" sale was on and they couldn't or wouldn't answer the simple question if I was eligible and it took 5 emails to finally get an answer to my question.
Then their solution is the give you a free credit to appease you. I told them that I didn't need a free credit that I would simply prefer them to answer my original question the first time I asked it - so by next time I logged in, they had deleted the free credit!
I don't call that good service at all. But it seems to many people that as long as they get something for free at the end qualifies as "good customer service"

I also don't like and don't use the Audible app.

Trouble is they have the monopoly in many cases - if I want certain audiobooks I have to buy it from them.
Which means they can offer pretty average service and we have to put up with it in order to get the books we want.

[Michael]

Forney_bill wrote: "Michael wrote: "Justacat wrote: "Have to say I hate the new home page too, though I don't use a screen reader, and have responded on the feedback page explaining why. For one thing, that ginormous ..."

Yes, you are lucky with apple devices - they can natively play Audible titles so you never need to use the Audible app. Unfortunately with Android, you do not have a choice in the matter.

I've been having so many issues with the Android app, particulary lately, I don't know what is wrong. It isn't like there has even been an app update. And I have uninstalled, deleted etc. I really regret moving to Android. I do like having a larger sized phone though...

[Michael]

Patricia wrote: "I had awful customer service when the "buy 4 get $10" sale was on and they couldn't or wouldn't answer the simple question if I was eligible and it took 5 emails to finally get an answer to my question.
Then their solution is the give you a free credit to appease you. I told them that I didn't need a free credit that I would simply prefer them to answer my original question the first time I asked it - so by next time I logged in, they had deleted the free credit!
I don't call that good service at all. But it seems to many people that as long as they get something for free at the end qualifies as "good customer service""

Oh wow that is pretty bad.

I agree with what you are saying, especially about the monopoly. I still don't understand what they are doing with promotions and their selective and patchy notification and visibility. I mean I still can't see the current 2 for 1 banner, and no email on it. I can get to the sale with a direct link. It makes no sense they waste time with fancy programming that doesn't work.

[Justacat]

Not to mention the fact - seldom discussed, but to me one of the most egregious "issues" with Audible - that no Audible book can be played on any other player or app (without going through absurd contortions at least), because of the ridiculous restrictive proprietary DRM. Which means we are trapped - it's iTunes or the mediocre Audible app or nothing. Like all DRM, this aggravates and annoys the honest users who just want to be able to listen to the books they've purchased more than it deters true pirates.

[Michael]

Justacat wrote: "Not to mention the fact - seldom discussed, but to me one of the most egregious "issues" with Audible - that no Audible book can be played on any other player or app (without going through absurd c..."
I don't in theory mind the files being DRM locked. I mean they manage the storage of the books, and I can download them whenver I want. All my CD audiobooks that I've converted I have to manage backing them up which is pretty significant work.

But I do object to being forced to use their BUGGY app on android though. At least with IOS, I was given a choice, and I always used the apple player, and never had an issue with it. On your PC you also have options - you can use itunes, or windows media player etc. so there is some choice. But I have the situation that I am at their mercy with this buggy app, and they seem to worry about spending more effort redoing a silly home page and hiding banner adds than fixing issues. It wouldn't worry me if I had some choice. But I don't.


Also, is anyone else able to download from their library now, from Android? It stopped working for me just before, and I;ve reinstalled again. I was wondering if maybe the servers are down or something, or do I have some other problem

[[deleted user]]

Do you have a desktop or laptop? I know you'd lose out on the portability (which is huge, don't get me wrong) but maybe the file manager would work better for you?

[Michael]

Jennifer (Wolf Queen of the Outer Regions) wrote: "Do you have a desktop or laptop? I know you'd lose out on the portability (which is huge, don't get me wrong) but maybe the file manager would work better for you?"

I do, but I generally listen when I'm on the move. I don't think I've ever listened at my computer.

[Ann]

Michael: I found navigation on the new audible home page from my Kindle Fire HDX less than satisfactory because of the tiny < and > arrows as well. I found myself opening links I did not intend. I haven't tried it on my Windows 8 touch screen pc yet.
Michael wrote: "you still have to zoom and click on the tiny < and > icons. I thought perhaps is was geared for touch devices, but apparently."

[John, Moderator]

Can't you zoom the page larger on your HDX?