ReallyGene t1_j2e0mjb wrote
I have purchased all my books through bookshop.org since the scummy treatment of their employees by Amazon started surfacing. It usually takes a couple of extra days for a book to arrive, but that has made them more of a 'surprise' in the mail.
Also, if a book you want isn't available on Bookshop, it's usually because the publisher is in an anti-competitive agreement with Amazon, and you should call/email/tweet/toot the publisher (never the author) to complain.
beldaran1224 t1_j2eg0yd wrote
Yes!
This is particularly problematic with audiobooks. My partner reads them exclusively and even with the library, has not been able to successfully avoid Audible. A ton of audiobooks are exclusive.
ameliaspond t1_j2el5mc wrote
Have you checked out Libro.fm? It's like Bookshop.org but for audiobooks!
It doesn't answer the issue of some content being exclusive to Audible, but it's a nice alternative for traditionally published audiobooks.
beldaran1224 t1_j2fc0vu wrote
My partner uses our library almost exclusively. He has only used Audible once, and it's because the book was an exclusive and he was super excited about it. Other exclusives he's run into, he ultimately doesn't read, which is disheartening. I don't think we've ever come across one he wanted that the library didn't have that wasn't an Audible exclusive.
ekargvintage t1_j2ezgoh wrote
I love Libero.FM and use it way more regularly than I ever used Audible. 10/10
-1_2_3 t1_j2f1j6e wrote
I was on bookshop’s site the other day & it directed me to libro’s site for the purchase. If you didn’t know, libro isn’t much better to creators than amzn/audible & they also promote the monthly credit system.
ameliaspond t1_j2f5aap wrote
Libro has been a wonderful partner for indie bookstores!
I can only speak to my own experience with them as a bookseller and customer (I buy audiobooks every month from them without touching the credit system), and it's been nothing but positive.
However, I cannot speak to the author's experience! Do you have a source you could point me to? I always want to learn more.
-1_2_3 t1_j2f6yk8 wrote
CORRECTION: per PeterAhlstrom “It’s significantly lower than 45% of retail when you use a credit” end correction
As a customer of libro my only complaint is getting sucked into the monthly credits & then I learned from Brandon Sanderson’s team libro only gives authors 45%.
Could you offer instruction how to link the comment here? I’m not sure how to do it.
Edit: “Unfortunately, Libro.FM pays a very low royalty (based on the retail price) when you use a credit. That makes sense when you set the retail price high, but not when we set it at $15 because that's what people actually pay. So we (I'm Brandon's VP of publishing) had to pass on listing the books on Libro.FM. If they change their royalty for cheap books we'll happily change that.” From /u/peterahlstrom
-1_2_3 t1_j2f2mpd wrote
Take a look at UK’s xigxag too, no monthly credits either.
geophagustapajos t1_j2etdi9 wrote
Have you looked into scribd? They have most of everything I've ever wanted!
[deleted] t1_j2egpj3 wrote
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beldaran1224 t1_j2egy74 wrote
No. I'm not interested in putting narrators and authors out of business because I don't like Amazon. For many self-published authors, in particular, they're on Audible because they can't get on other platforms.
anadem t1_j2ew5pk wrote
Authors get very meager payments from Audible; Audible is a terrible branch of the Amazon borg.
beldaran1224 t1_j2fdm5d wrote
They get sales numbers and they still get more than they would with you pirating. Don't pretend you're doing authors any favors by stealing their work.
Swarrlly t1_j2f39xd wrote
Sometimes if you reach out there is a way to purchase drm free versions of the audiobooks directly from the author.
its_like_whac-a-mole t1_j2ecb3v wrote
Oh, nice tip!
shnibbershnab t1_j2el6dk wrote
Depending on the author they may be able to put pressure in the publisher, I’d argue against “never the author”. The author may not know. Don’t go yell at the author of course.
unklethan t1_j2eoba7 wrote
>Depending on the author they may be able to put pressure in the publisher
Like Brandon Sanderson is trying to do with Audible/Amazon
Swarrlly t1_j2f32mw wrote
As long as you aren’t rude reaching out directly to the author is never bad. Sometimes you can purchase directly from them and they get a bigger cut.
[deleted] t1_j2esp99 wrote
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