Monday, July 15, 2013

"Abridged" should be marked

A tip/Open letter to Apple about audiobooks

Apple,
It has happened to me now at least three times that I have bought an audiobook, read it partially or fully, and then somehow finding out that it was an abridged book, which had not been shown when I bought it. (Last time I found out, it was only because I'd also bought the ebook version, and I found material in there which was not in the audiobook.) 

Then I had to buy the book again, because it seemed that later, an unabridged version had come out. 

It would not be a problem if not for the fact that the abridged state of the books was not adverticed on iTunes store. I had no way of knowing it was not the full book I was  buying. 

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So, readers, beware of this, look at the price and length of the book, if it seems cheaper and shorter than usual for the author, try and find out (how, I don't know) if it's abridged before buying.

The latest example is Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett. When I read it the first time, I thought it was pretty good, but not a favorite. Now that I have the missing material (over 60%!), I'm finding that it's a much better book than I thought.
Why does anybody want to abridge Pratchett books anyway? He writes so tight, there is nothing weak you can trim.


Update:

E. Blackadder said...
I had this problem once. When I complained they pretty much told me to fuck myself.

Yes, I admit that's a phenomenon. Amazon has fantastic, outstanding customer support. You call and complain, and you have a replacement product in your hand before you've hung up. Sometimes even if it's clearly you who broke it.  With Apple it's a different story, I'd hardly know how to contact them even.

3 comments:

  1. They've got me this way before too. I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's infuriating. Or at least very annoying.

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  2. I had this problem once. When I complained they pretty much told me to fuck myself. So now I'll buy from Audible but won't go near itunes. Audible is owned by Amazon. Luckily, Apple doesn't own Amazon.

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  3. Amazon has fantastic, outstanding customer support. You call and complain, and you have a replacement product in your hand before you've hung up.

    Yes, Amazon's customer support is very good. If I can I'll probably buy audio books from Audible instead of itunes. I too basically got told to fuck myself when I complained - but it wasn't easy, like you said, even to contact them.

    ReplyDelete