REVIEW: Audible Addiction

Please note, I was not paid for this review. I'm an Amazon Seller and Affiliate but do not work for Amazon. This post is my honest feedback and probably needs significant revisions before it will be complete. If you click on any books or buy now links I do make a meager percentage of money after you purchase something, if you like my reviews and want to see more this shouldn't bother you - the amount I make is cents at best.

Love at first or second... Listen

I'm an Audible Addict. I listen to audible audio books almost daily. It's easy to use, easy to setup, has an iPhone app, android app, and desktop capability. In the Audible store you will see a wide selection of books, magazines, educational materials, and newspapers all narrated with professional level production.

That is Time I can Never Get Back... 

I will not say I like every narrator, I do not. I can't even say I like every book.  On days you find yourself listening to something that is complete crap and all you can think is, "I will never get that hour back," Audible allows you to return anything. You will not get your time back but you will get your money or credit back so that you can purchase something better. Over the course of 3 or 4+ years (I can't remember how long I've been on Audible) I've returned less than a dozen books.

PROS AND CONS

I have so many good things to say about this product/service and I should take more time later to revise this post, I will. I use the service so much that I've probably sent in at least one UI or UX recommendation every month for the past couple years, all in the name of improving the product I adore. Most of my recommendations are small and some (ok most) are probably things that only bother me (or other 'power' users). With that in mind here are a few things I love/hate about Audible:

PROS

• Amazon customer service is second to none. Period.
• You can return any book.
• The website is easy to use.
• The mobile site is kind of easy to use. I hate having to login, a lot. The new site annoys me (and probably only me)
• Get to keep your books, forever!
• Don't have to store all your books on your device. 
• Can start a book on one device and finish it on another.
• Reading book reviews by other audible members helps me find even more books to fall in love with. 
• Bulk purchases do not break my back, this is a real concern if you ever saw how many books I buy at one time.
• With the platinum plan, if you renew early you get 1 free extra credit. (use credits to purchase books - usually 1 credit = 1 book)

CONS

• So many books to choose from (just kidding that is still a pro).
• Can't buy books (yet - as of Feb 2015) from the iPhone app.
• The mobile website forcing me to login, repeatedly. 
• The mobile website forces you to click on a book to make a purchase (I do not need to read the book reviews/descriptions to make purchase... I bulk buy and often know what I'm looking for).
• Once a review is published, it's permanent. No editing. This frightens me. As Brian Rathbone once said on Twitter, "I'm fluent in typo."
• Many "free" audio book apps, you can also get free books from your local library. These apps often require extensive setup, a PC, do not save your place or have as many convenience features as Audible.
• Never enough credits. 
• No unlimited plans (it's not like Netflix for books).
• Figuring out which order a book is in a series, is a pain in the ass (most times).

I have significantly more pros and cons but overall I love Audible and highly encourage anyone with a long drive, a lot of time on the treadmill, or just time with a headset to checkout Audible. For a limited time, if you sign up you can get 2 free books!