Audiobooks discussion
Audible
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International issues with Audible - solutions?
I believe it's to do with copyright. I had two accounts: one on my Aussie card, one on my UK card. At first, could purchase from Audible (US) with my Aussie card and they had a lot more titles available, but then they opened up an Aussie site, and it all got shifted, and yes, there are titles I would not be able to purchase. That said, there have been titles on the UK site not available on the US and vice versa for as long as I have been with them.
But if your Aussie card had a US billing address then you should be able to access the US marketplace, shouldn't you?
There are many of us who cannot access books due to copyright restrictions. I wish Audible would tackle this issue. They are a huge market player and if they demanded world copyrights for their customers, people would listen. It is totally ridiculous that audiobooks are restricted as much as they are. I don't know how many times I have thought that we, as a large group of "listeners ",might be able to make Audible conscious of our desire that they strive for world copyrights.
I need audiobooks because I have poor vision and I get terribly upset when they exist but are not available simply because I do not live in the US. It is in the US that most books are available. I think people should not be pushed to do what is illegal.
I totally agree with you Chrissie :) And Audible has a good track record of pushing away business hurdles such as overzealous DRM so I'm still hoping.
My main frustration is that my credit card has a US billing address so I don't get what the issue is - and was wondering if any others have had that issue resolved somehow
Gummih wrote: "But if your Aussie card had a US billing address then you should be able to access the US marketplace, shouldn't you?"My Aussie card has an Australian address, hence my account being shifted to the Australian Audible site when it opened.
Chrissie wrote: "There are many of us who cannot access books due to copyright restrictions. I wish Audible would tackle this issue. They are a huge market player and if they demanded world copyrights for their cus..."The thing is, I can purchase audiobooks in CD format readily enough from the US Amazon sites, or any other sites, so I don't get the whole issue with downloads.
I just feel that through GR and through the large number of audiobook listeners here in this group perhaps something could be done about making our voice heard. Any ideas? Maybe Julie could do something with this as a way of collecting ideas. of organising something? I am not an xpert at all in copyright laws or even how to do things with the internet or my computer!
I just feel that we have to be a large group to be heard.
Julie, maybe we should first set up a separate thread where people could make comments so we can get a larger backing. Like a thread with some prominence so people would say hey, something has to be done about this. We want audiobooks to be available worldwide. I want to be able to listen to those now only allowed in Australia and only in Canada and only in France only in Sweden. You get what I am saying? I want restrictions removed but I haven't the slightest idea how to go about it. Lots of people can do this through illegal methods. I protest. First of all b/c it SHOULD be done legally. Audible ought to realize it is to their benefit. Also, I am a computer imbecile and haven't a clue how to even attempt such AND it annoys me to no end that stupid regulations are pushing people in that direction.
Don't we ALL want ALL downloadable books available worldwide?
The same is true of Kindle books. We have to somehow present this clearly to Audible before we approach them. It is pretty clear what we are talking about though. I just don't want to say this incorrectly and then they turn back and say I didn't say it properly....... Help!
This issue doesn't have anything to do with Audible. It has to do with who has audio rights in what countries and also the differences in copyright laws between countries. For example, most of H.G. Wells' works are in the public domain in the US but are still under UK copyright which is honored throughout the EU, because the US doesn't recognize the UK copyright law for works which were published in the US prior to 1923. There is nothing that Audible can do about this short of buying up foreign rights on behalf of it's publishers.Another issue is in regards to the Audible royalty payments, which is a problem for many smaller publishers, and makes negotiating for overseas rights not cost-effective. Independent publishers with Audible's ACX division who are selling under a non-exclusive contract with Audible only net about 13% of the retail price on each member sale. So a $10 title, purchased with member credits, nets out to about $1.30 for those companies. That same title, sold as a music album in the mp3 store, would net the publisher $7.
Bruce wrote: "This issue doesn't have anything to do with Audible. It has to do w..."If you had read the original post you'd see it has to do with Audible not accepting my credit card (which has a US billing address) to the US marketplace. It is an issue with Audible.
Hello Gummih, this is Audible Social Support. We are very sorry to hear about this issue you are experiencing! As others have mentioned the reason you are receiving an error message saying you cannot access the audiobook is because of those geographical restrictions set by the publisher or author. We can indeed see, as you wrote, that you should not have these restrictions, as your billing address on file is in the US. As long as those audiobooks are available in the region that your credit card billing address is set to, you should not be experiencing this issue!Please reach out directly to our team at social-support@audible.com in order for our Account Specialists to dig deeper to find what is causing this error. Please include the issue and any specifics such as the audiobook(s) you are experiencing this issue with.
We look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!
Audible Support,I understand that there are restrictions due to copyright laws. What I am requesting is that Audible works toward getting world rights on more and more books. They are a major influence on the market. I wish Audible would take the initiative to fight for world rights.
I think you know there are many of us who want this. Please help us. Please speak to the appropriate people. Please do not tell me to write to Audible; I have already done that. I get nowhere.
I would so much appreciate knowing that you are in fact working toward such a goal.
The issue isn't just that you are being redirected to the com.au site rather than the .com US one? I've had that happen on my mobile when in Australia but was able to click a link at the top taking me back to the US site.
You see, Audible Support will not even answer me!!!!!We are told over and over to contact Audible directly. To write them letters. I have. One gets no real response. They are not interested and do not want to discuss the subject.
i feel like I am up against a wall.
Chrissie, I did get a response... they told me to contact the Publisher.I then asked if they could kindly give me the name of the Publisher, because the audiobook did not show up for me because of region. They gave me a website to go to were you could ask which book which Publisher. And they don't answer.
So audible is very helpful, sending you into the woods with a million trees kindly telling you just to go search the right one.
I decided to go to the audible website and did not log in, so I could see the book. And the Publisher was... brilliance audio. Go on line to search them, and you are send to audible.com
Sigh. I then wrote to audible.com and they called me to tell me I should contact audible UK.
I gave up. I do read the books, and no one profits. If I jump up and down: I want to pay, please take my money, and they don't bother, it's their loss.
Mara wrote: "Have you tried CALLING them on 800 #?"I don't live in the US.The 800 number does not work. There is another number but the reception on that number is deplorable. The only way I can contact them is via email.
Specs wrote: "Chrissie, I did get a response... they told me to contact the Publisher.I then asked if they could kindly give me the name of the Publisher, because the audiobook did not show up for me because of..."
Specs I have gone through that rigmarole that you have gone through too umpteen times. I am sick to dearth of being shoved over to another instance and then being ignored.
I do NOT accept that illegal behavior should be promoted....as it is today!
I want Audible as an important representative on the market to make an effort to change things. They don't seem to be interested. I am NOT talking about one specific book. I want Audible to make a concerted effort and goal toward fight for world rights. This is a different matter than just getting one specific book.
We all know what I am talking about. I also think this is in the interest of those living in the US....... more books will become available to them too.
I know that even the sale of paper books is restricted to specific areas. I am asking for an effort to change the whole selling arena. The way it is done now is antiquated. Who is going to be first to wake up and realize changes need to be made?!
Wow Chrissie, I bow to you for having the energy to go through this multiple times. My fuse is too short, nowadays.In the meantime, it would be a service if we could subscribe to get a mail when a book actually becomes available. Over the year, I've seen it happen a lot, after months of waiting, suddenly the book(s) are there - or some of them.
But it is a pain having to check month after month.
If Audible is not able to fix the publishing rights, they might offer some comfort this way.
Specs wrote: "In the meantime, it would be a service if we could subscribe to get a mail when a book actually becomes available."Specs, yes, I love you idea. Would that be so hard for them to do?What I do now is put the tons of book I have to follow up on a special shelf here at GR. I call it my "follow-up" shelf. It is a real chore periodically checking up on all the books. Eventually I get so fed up I remove the books from the shelf b/c of the overload there. All too many books never become available.
Specs wrote: "I decided to go to the audible website and did not log in, so I could see the book. And the Publisher was... brilliance audio. Go on line to search them, and you are send to audible.comSigh. I then wrote to audible.com and they called me to tell me I should contact audible UK. ..."
The Brilliance Audio website has a feedback form here.
If Audible is not able to fix the publishing rights, they might offer some comfort this way.
I doubt Audible/Amazon will ever have enough influence to change all the copyright laws in all the countries in the world - I mean we can't even get countries to agree on human rights, how can they expected to agree on how to make money from books?
Ancestral wrote: The Brilliance Audio website has a feedback form here. Yes? I used that. It goes to Audible.com. Who then called me, and told me to contact Audible UK. Oh, it's all so very helpful.
Funny enough, I sometimes can buy via iTunes (= audible). Usually it has the same restriction, but sometimes they slip up.There are also other sites. But they are way more expensive.
I have compared the availability of books at Audible in the US, Audible UK, Downpour and Itunes. You get much more through Audble US even with the limitations caused by copyright restrictions.
Ancestral wrote: "I doubt Audible/Amazon will ever have enough influence to change all the copyright laws in all the countries in the world - I mean we can't even get countries to agree on human rights, how can they expected to agree on how to make money from books? .."So we zip our mouths and say nothing? Give up without trying? You have to start somewhere. With such an attitude no changes will ever be be made. These rules are antiquated and they will change but probably not before my death.
I'm confused, I live in the UK but I purchase/download and listen to audios from Audible US, and also pay them (Audible.com) and Audible UK a monthly subscription, I just have to have 2 separate accounts, which a slight nuisance, but only a case of logging out of the UK app and logging back in as US.Is this what people mean?
No that's half of the story. It is still a matter of being logged on in audible US and not having available books because of region restriction.
Ah right, I've obviously never bought a book that has that happen to me yet.
A Audio Nerd, what determines the books available to to you is the billing address of the credit card you have registered with your account. You can see that the books available are less if you compare what is available when you are logged in and when you are not logged in. When you are not logged in the books that turn up are those available to Americans having an American billing address on their credit card registered to their account. You say you have two accounts, so I assume you have registered two different credit cards. It is the billing address of these two credit cards, that is what country they are from, that determines which books are available on each of your accounts. People having a credit card with an American billing address have the most available.
Am I clear? I assume you have two accounts so you can register two different credit card billing addresses.
My problem is I do NOT have a credit card with an American billing address, and I don't feel I should be obligated to ask to use one of a friend. I want to pay my own bills.
The daily deal is a good check. You get the email, click on it to go to the audible site, and there's the "sorry, etc" popping up. There's one every month, sometimes multiple times a month.
I've adopted the attitude: good, I'll keep my money for the next one.
But I'm also with Chrissie and think we should regularly keep asking about this, we have the right to protest!
Spec and Julie, I don't. get daily deals. Spec do you? They are NOT available to me in Sweden. They will not send me an email. for daily deals. I am confused how come you talk about checking something with daily deals. I am assuming that both you and I have the same books available to us, but I am not sure if all European countries have the same book availability. If you ask Audible.com about the number of books available in English to people living in different countries you get no satisfactory answer. I was told to contact Audible in the different countries. None of them gave me an answer. I have the impression that Audible.com, Audible.de, Audible.fr and Audible.uk do NOT cooperate together. I see them as competitors.
Oh yes, there are audiobooks available in many different languages! Just go to audible and unclick English. I don't know how many different countries Audible is established in. There has to be one in Australia.
Just imagine if what is available in one country were available to all of us.
Some day it will. I am sure of it. Who will be first to implement this change?
Julie,I am nobody. I am not the start of anything. There are many of us aware of this problem. To achieve change people with more knowledge and more influence than l must get involved. I am sure this will change. The question is when. I am very happy that there now are being made so many more audiobooks. I say make a lot b/c I read a lot. 5 years ago things were very different.
Hi Chrissie, did you check the box in your account to receive the daily deal email? Strangely enough this is not a default setting.I do get the emails from audible UK, and also US. There is however, sometimes a little hick up: sometimes I do not get the email for 1 or 2 days. Usually this is after I had an email answer to a question to audible: it seems that screws up the automatic emails.
If you do not get them at all, maybe it would help to uncheck it on your account for 1 or two days, and then back on again? Or send them a mail to ask why you do not receive the email?
I can't imagine why Sweden would not qualify for the daily deals from UK, as I can have them in Holland.
Specs, I have several times written letters to Audible stating that I wanted emails for daily deals. I never get them. I just went to look at Amazon. I clicked on My account and nowhere did I see anything about daily deals. Nowhere!!!!! But I have an enlargement program on my computer screen. This means I do not see the entire screen. I often miss information. Can you tell me exactly where to look on the account page? Please give clear instructions. It is difficult b/c I only see a little portion of the entire screen that you dsee. This is because what I see is enlarged.Can I get them from both the UK or the US? I have only one account and it is at audible.com.
Oh, wait a minute. These are only kindle offers, right? No audiobooks, right? I don't do kindle anymore; I used to when my eyes were better. Maybe there is no point in my trying to find this little box to check!
Thank you for your help.
Hi Chrissie, I mean the daily deals of audio books on audible. You go to your account on Audible (not amazon).
On the home page, above on the right there's your account name, next to how many credits you stille have and "contact us 24/7".
Point your mouse on your account name and you get a drop down menu. Click on "account details" - often they will then redirect and you have to give your password again, first.
On the page with your account details (tiny letters!) on the right you see your membership plan. Scroll down under this to "preferences".
The third item under "preferences" is the "manage daily deal email subscription", click on this.
Finally your on the page to either subscripe or unsubscribe.
I hope this is clear? What also works, you can just type "daily deal" into the search box on the homepage. And you get to see the banner "daily deal - a new deal every day" - click on this, you'll see the deal of today.
When you are logged in, it will show if you can get the daily deal or no. So far, I only see about 10% restriction, and I could buy at least 90% of the deals, so it's worth trying.
Today I learned from Margo, that she (Ireland) could not get a daily deal that I could have (Netherlands), so it could be it is different again for Sweden - but I hope you get lucky!
Specs wrote: "Hi Chrissie, I mean the daily deals of audio books on audible. You go to your account on Audible (not amazon).
On the home page, above on the right there's your account name, next to how many cr..."
Your instructions were very clear and I want to thank you for being so specific. I am sure it took quite a time for you to write all that! I have done exactly as you said, but on the place where you click on subscribe it says for me: "We're sorry, but at this time, this email is only for US and Canada customers." Which is strange b/c it is available to you in the Netherlands!!! I clicked on subscribe anyhow! Does this sentence not appear for you? I am guessing that availability is different for different countries. It seems that the rules in the different European countries are in fact different.
((((Specs))))) Those are hugs for you to thank you for all your help.
O Chrissie how very disappointing this is not available for you!I did not get the "email only for US" message.
Maybe this has a bit to do with Storytel (they are from Sweden, right?) Here in the Netherlands, they have bought a lot of publishing rights and now all the libraries here are forbidden to offer those audiobooks: a lot! Maybe they are manipulating your home market as well?
Thanks for the hugs, I wish I could offer you more help... I'm used to writing down instructions for people so this was no bother, you are very welcome.
Storytel is Swedish. Maybe that's the explanation. :0(
Chrissie wrote: "A Audio Nerd, what determines the books available to to you is the billing address of the credit card you have registered with your account. You can see that the books available are less if you com..."Hi Chrissie,
No i have the same card registered on my Amazon UK account, i don't have or never have had an american address, and it has never asked me to confirm my address, i've always just logged in to my .com account and clicked buy..........how strange ?!?!?!
V Audio Nerd wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "A Audio Nerd, what determines the books available to to you is the billing address of the credit card you have registered with your account. You can see that the books available ar..."Nothing is strange. They do not ell you which books are being eliminated. What determines the books available to you, the books you are seeing, is the billing address of your credit card and that is registered when you originally joined.
May I ask you why you are signed up at both places? Are you aware of the fact that the way to get the cheapest price per audiobook is to buy 24 credits all at one time, rather than the monthly payments for one or two credits? Do you find that the books available at the two sites are different? Do you ever find a book available on one but not the other site?
I wish one could openly discuss these issues with Audible instead of asking different members. As stated, I have tried and get no substantial answers. One just wants to know how it works in detail so one can decide where to sign up. That is why I am asking you why you are at both places.
I signed up for Audible.com originally as my GR buddies were reading a book that i really wanted and they had it on audio but it was not yet available in the UK, i found a code that gave me 3 mths for $0.99 so i joined and used my credit to get the book, i just carried on from there.I also get promo codes from authors sometimes (Audioblast) and US codes seem to be easier to give than UK ones.
V Audio Nerd wrote: "I signed up for Audible.com originally as my GR buddies were reading a book that i really wanted and they had it on audio but it was not yet available in the UK, i found a code that gave me 3 mths ..."Thanks for explaining. I was advised that more books were available at Audible.com versus Audible.uk, that is why I chose Audible.com. Later I contacted Audible.uk and they told me I could not join since I lived in Sweden. Maybe that is no longer true? Or it was incorrect. I have discovered that lots of incorrect statements are floating around. That the situation is this way is deplorable.
Well, with Specs help, I did today get an offer for a Daily Deal. Amazing that no one at Audible has been able to achieve this. If you want Audible Daily Deal and do not live in the US you may be able to get them. Follow the instructions given in message 49 from Specs. Click on subscribe even if it it says it is not available to you. That is what I did. After 3 days the email came offering a Daily Deal.
O yes, without this group I would never have learned to put a book in the basket and don't buy in a bogo or 3 for 2 sale, and wait on the next sale to see the books you put in still there... which is really great.
Boy, do I agree, Julie. I have been on GR from the start and I just cannot quit. Specs, I have learned to do that too.
I have contacted the customer service multiple times and so far they have not been able to resolve the issue nor give a good reason why this suddenly happened for my account. (While my credit card is not issued in the US, none of my cards has been during the last 8 years of doing business with them and my current credit card has a US billing address)
Has anybody else had the same issue and had it resolved?