Audible.com - A GREAT Idea Gone Awry!
Written: Feb 14 '02 (Updated Feb 14 '02)
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This is going to seem a little odd because, although I only rated Audible.com 2 stars, I'm still recommending it.
On the surface, it's really is a great idea. They have converted "Books On Tape" to a digital format that can be stored on handheld MP3 players, so that you no longer have to lug around cases of cassettes or CDs.
I literally stumbled across them during my "Books on Tape" phase, which commenced when I started spending 14 hours a week in a car for work. The offering in the local library was mediocre, and I was about to begin buying "Books On Tape" and donating them when I was finished when I found Audible.com.
They had what appeared to be a sweetheart deal; sign up for one year at $12.95 a month (now $15.95), and you were entitled to download two (2) books a month for the term of your contract. Plus, you could get a Rio500 MP3 player for $50 (after $50 rebate), and they'd even throw in a car adapter, so you could listen through your car stereo, for free.
So I did it. I was in the market for an MP3 player anyway, and the Rio500 had always had a good reputation. Plus, the books would have cost me in excess of $30 a book on cassette or CD, so all in all I was going to come out ahead.
If the story had ended there, this review would have had a very different flavor.
The Player
My mother always said you get what you paid for, and in this case I got a poorly working refurbished low end unit. Although Audible.com didn't manufacture it, they could have been a little more clear about the state of the unit. I had to send it back twice and still was plagued by it shutting off and losing my place frequently.
My recommendation is if you are going to subscribe to the service, check out what players are supported and purchase it yourself. That way, if you have a problem, you can take it up with the manufacturer or the store - Audible.com is simply ill-equipped to handle hardware inquiries.
The Content
I'm split on the content. While I was able to find 24 items to download, it wasn't nearly as easy as I'd hoped. I prefer unabridged books (If I'm going to listen, I at least want credit for having heard/read the whole thing!), and the majority of the books on Audible.com are abridged, especially the new releases. Some of the powerhouses like Stephen King are complete and uncut, but a lot of contemporary authors are not.
The quality of the conversion is also iffy. I have several files that are patchy, with the volume fading in and out. In all cases, it was the file. All Audible.com could do was issue a credit and let me download another book.
The Customer Service
When I finally reached them, they were decent, but finding them was a Herculean effort. I had to navigate through a myriad of webpages to find a telephone number, then sit on hold FOREVER before I got to talk to a live body. In all cases, they resolved my issue (except in one case - no one EVER told me I could have actually returned the Rio500 in the first 30 days, and once you sign up, you are locked in for one year), but to some extent I think that was my reward for hanging on as long as I did
So Why Recommend It?
Quite frankly, because they are a necessary evil. If you are a "Books on Tape" fan, this is a much better alternative than purchasing loads of expensive books or haunting the library in the hopes of putting your hands on something written in the last 10 years. The monthly price is great, and if you get a good player (NOT the Rio500 or the Rio800!), then you can listen to your books anywhere.
Just be clear what you are getting into - this service is a long way from mature.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: Southeastern United States
Reviews written: 57
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