Where do you get your audiobooks?

I download most of mine through my public library. We're lucky to have a library with such an extensive collection, but I've just about exhausted it. I've listened to almost everything I'm interest in. When they get new books there is a long waiting list to get them--sometimes as long as a year.

I have about 20 books that I've purchased through Downpour.com, which is Blackstone Audio's service. I like that there is no fee or required purchase, you just buy what you want. The prices are reasonable and they have an extensive catalog, but I hate their software. I have never seen a program that crashes so much! I used to play their books through a free ebook player that I downloaded through the play store, but for some reason I can't get that setup to work any more.

A couple of days ago I downloaded Barnes & Noble's new audiobook app. If you download in the next few days you get two free bestsellers. I got The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I also bought Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs because it was on sale for $4.95 and I've been meaning to read it. My problem with The B&N app is that there is no sleep timer. It may seem like a small issue, but I frequently doze off and I need a timer. It's new, so maybe they will add features later on. I also noticed that the catalog doesn't tell you whether or not a book is abridged. I've been looking them up at Downpour to compare the runtime, but that will get old.

I tried Audible years ago, but they charged a fee, I think it was credit toward purchases or something like that, and I don't want obligations or charges popping up on my credit card.

Other suggestions?

I splurged on an Audible membership (~$15 a month) and get my books there and through my library. I've got some from Downpour.com but don't have a membership there.

I don't like Downpour's software either. I tried their app on my iPod, and just didn't like it so I listen to their books through iTunes (also not a fan of iTunes but for other reasons).

Thank you for the B&N info...going to check it out.

I just noticed that Downpour has rentals for $6.95, but they are mostly older, obscure titles. I might be worthwhile for books that you only expect to listen to once, but I don't see anything I'm interested in right now.

ETA: I wonder if they will require that you use the Downpour app so they can control your use of the rental file.

A combination of public library (Overdrive) and Audible

Always the public library. Ohio has a consortium deal with all but the big city library systems, and districts that purchase materials specifically for interlibrary loans.

Public Library, Amazon UK (CDs not Audible) and GreenMetropolis (a re-used book site for UK users)

I use Audible.Com and splurge on 14.95 a month. I drive alot for my work so I can download to my android, plug into the stereo in my car and listen or just listen on my phone where ever I want. I Love it. They have a daily deal offer for $2.95 and sometimes I buy that too if I am interested. I save my 14.95 (1 credit) to get the most expensive books-This month they have 400 books available at $4.95 each, so I bought some outside of my monthly credit.

I just can't bring myself to allow anyone to make charges to my card that I didn't initiate. It may be a bit irrational, but I'm just not comfortable with it.

I guess I've settled in with the B&N program for now. They have the best prices as far as I can see, with bestsellers and new releases averaging between $15 and $16. Backlisted books are between $9 an $11. They also have daily finds and specials. They have the problems that I mentioned in the OP, but overall I'm happy with them. They are very new, and I hope they will resolve some of the issues over time.

Of course, you can't beat the deal at the public library, but I've listened to everything that I'm interested in. I'll check back after the first of the year to see if there is anything new.

My library has such a great assortment of audio. Downloadable titles, books on CD, books on MP3 as well as an interlibrary loan service where they can bring in audio books from other cities if they don't have the title in audio. I also have an audible membership and and make good use of my credits but it is very unsatisfying to own a downloadable audio book after you are finished with it. At least when you buy a print book you have a tangible item afterward....but with an audio book all you have is a file on your computer. This is especially irritating if you didn't like the book. You figure you might as well delete the file but then you think - hey I just paid 15 bucks for this and now I'm sticking it in my recycle bin. I suppose the same thing can happen when you buy a print book but at least you feel like you own something.

You audio book freaks - Have you tried Loyal Books?
I`m surprised by the low quality of the reader in the books I tried . This is supposedly done by "volonteers" - but this doesn t leave out any possibility of having some kind of artistic level.

I splurged on the Platinum level Audible membership. It's a huge chunk all at once, but it reduces the cost of each individual credit to $9.56, plus you get all 24 credits at once instead of one or two per month. They just had a special where you could buy 2 books for one credit -- several books from my wishlist were on sale so I stocked up.

I used to be all about collecting books, but I seem to have entered a stage of life where I'm more interested in decluttering. And when I compare the experience of listening to a book for under $10 to that of going to a movie in a theater for about the same cost, I feel I'm getting a deal.

My library offers two services, both free. I download books onto my iPhone. The one I'm currently using is OneClick. Overall I'm happy with it, although I've pretty much exhausted their catalogue. I hope they add a whole pile of books soon. If not, I will try the other service again--Overdrive. I used it for years to download books to my computer and then transfer them to my iPod. Now I can just transfer right to my iPhone, but when I tried I had too many technical problems and gave up.

My other resource is to check CDs from the library and load them on to my electronics.

Am I the only one who buys CDs??? Admittedly, they are used, but...

The majority of mine come from Paperbackswap.com, although I also do some trades with fellow BookCrossing members, and borrow from the library from time to time. I am surprised no one else has mentioned Paperbackswap. They just this month have begun to charge a fee, which has caused some members to leave, but it's still a great deal for audiobooks.

I just rediscovered this thread and thought I'd update my preference. I'm using Scribd as my audiobook source these days. They have a tremendous variety, and I think it would be impossible to work my way through the entire library. I just discovered that they have Alan Bradley's complete Flavia de Luce series, and I'm excited about it.

The Brooklyn public library and Philadelphia library offer out of state memberships that you can sign up for via their website and maybe mailing some documentation (for Brooklyn -- I am sure they mailed me something, but I don't remember if I had to mail them something -- renewing was all online).

I have joined the Brooklyn one. It is $50 a year, allows 15 books (audio or e-book) to be checked out at a time, allows 10 books on your wish list at a time.

I chose to go with Brooklyn by looking at the book selection at each and deciding that Brooklyn had more books I was interested in. I figured when I got to a point that I was not finding what I wanted I would then switch to Philadelphia... but they keep adding a lot of new books and I have a huge list of stuff to get from them.

They also allow you to recommend books easily and a few I have recommended do get purchased for the library.

For Audible -- I had no problems from them about cancelling my subscription and getting a refund when I was charged for my 2nd year but decided to use the library instead (I was on annual payment schedule). They are easy to work with and don't charge you for anything but what they say they will. And having access to the their sales was nice.

Recently discovered through my local library downloadable books through Hoopla. I have borrowed 3 and all have been well done.

>13 LMHTWB: I buy CDs (when finances permit) but also borrow both CDs and cassette tapes from the local library (yep, they still have a few of them on the shelves!).

I rarely use downloads but have recently used verkaro.net - they only have a small selection but they're free, they seem to have a page on which they run fundraisers and ask for donations in order to develop further titles. The titles I've listened to so far (only about three of them) have a professional feel to them. Many of them are short stories rather than full length novels although they do have a couple of longer ones.

Our library offers audios for upload - they have a wonderful selection. :)

I'm surprised there is not more sharing going on in the audiobook world - not pirating (that goes on no matter) but individuals loaning a book just as one might loan a real book. I don't believe it would be illegal to let someone listen to your book. That's how Overdrive works, you borrow the book for X days from the library, which is why they have limited numbers that be loaned out at any given time. So long as you only loan your audiobook to 1 person at a time. The DRM is a problem, it can be stripped off legally for private listening purposes if you are not pirating (distributing).

>20 Stbalbach: The DRM is a problem, it can be stripped off legally for private listening purposes if you are not pirating (distributing).

If you do this I think you would be breaking the terms of use if you've bought an eaudiobook that has DRM on it.

From Audible's conditions of use:
Audible Content License. When you purchase Audible Content, Audible grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to download or stream such Audible Content to your computer and/or other device(s) solely for your personal, non-commercial use. You agree to not otherwise copy, reproduce, distribute or use the Audible Content other than as expressly set forth herein. You will not sell, transfer, lease, modify, distribute or publicly perform the Audible Content in any manner and you will not exploit it commercially. You agree to not modify, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the Audible Content, or otherwise tamper with the Audible Content or create any derivative works therefrom.

Get most of my audio books from the Massachusetts library system. I get downloads from OverDrive via my local library. I occasionally get books from iTunes and Audible (not a member, however).

I had an Audible subscription, but I was getting so many things from the library, my credits were backing up. So I canceled it and pay full price if I need something from Audible.

From the library:

Overdrive is the best but has the smallest selection. App works flawlessly all the time.
Axis 360 (powered by Baker & Taylor) - When it works it's great. The iOS app crashes when you pause sometimes and you lose you place.
Hoopla - good selection, but the app can be flaky and lose your place. I take a screenshot every time I pause a book.
CD Audiobooks - I rip these with iTunes and use Audiobook builder to make them into an Apple audiobook file. Then I use Bookmobile for iOS to play them. I delete all files when I am done listening to the book.
Also, don't forget about the power of interlibrary loan, most libraries can get stuff from far, far away. A few weeks ago I got an old Robert Parker book on cassette via Interlibrary loan.

Librivox for the classics - quality and mileage may vary.

Librivox is very good, for classics whose copyright has expired.

Also try subscribing to AudiobookBOOM(audiobookboom.com), if you are willing to write reviews(on Audible, Goodreads or elsewhere) You subscribe for free, and authors/publishers pay to have their audiobook listed in a weekly e-mail, from which you can choose any or all of the titles that appeal to you. They get your email, and the url of your reviewer site, and the send you the link to download the audiobook. (Note: they track whether you post reviews, and you will get put on their baddie list if you take books w/o posting reviews.) These books are downloaded from Audible, but note that you do NOT need to be a MEMBER of Audible to download; you just need to have a profile(which you can create for free)

OR, if you have a blog, try audiobookjukebox.com They get your blog info and register you. Request a book, get a free download, and they track whether you post reviews.

Just learned about this interesting website: Open Culture. The link is to their "About Us" web page where their Mission Statement is posted. I tried out one of their free eAudiobooks, Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. Access to it was fast, I didn't have to download any special app, and it was read by a "real" narrator (i.e., not a computer generated voice production)... NOTE: this site is like a clearing house for free materials available on the web (read Mission Stmt!).

Curious to know if any of you have used this website before?