Many of you have asked if Recorded Books Direct will continue to provide audiobooks in cassette format. In short, yes, if you prefer cassettes you will still be able to purchase cassettes through Recorded Books.
However, effective August 1, 2011 there will be no more cassette rentals.
The materials necessary to produce this product are becoming less and less available, thus hampering our ability to service our cassette customers. If we continue to provide every title in cassette format, we will quickly run out of the materials and will have to end this product format in its entirety.
For those of you on the Recorded Books Unlimited rental program, we will be re-setting your wish list format from cassette to CD for you so that your shipments can continue without interruption.
If you have any questions, please call customer service at 1-800-636-3399.
Thank you,. thank you, thank you for at least continuing to have recorded books in cassette format available for purchase. It is much appreciated to all the cassette-preferring customers out here in audiobook land. Susan
[...] broadband access - impossible. The list of cassette providers continues to shrink – and Recorded Books offers this thought-provoking explaination why: The materials necessary to produce this product are [...]
What a tragedy. Cassettes are the perfect format for “listening myself to sleep” and for easily finding my place after a pause and for wearing in my bra while multitasking. I am deeply grieving this loss as my local library system has systematically withdrawn all their cassette offerings. Surely there must be some supplier who can be convinced to continue creating this simple, effective, durable format.
how will you handle rental items on wishlists that appear to be available only in cassette format?
I wish you had given us more notice so that we could have put our cassettes in priority order on our wishlists. Most of your cassettes that I am interested in are not available on cd.
Barbara
I’m disappointed to hear this, too. I have no problems with changing over to CD if CD is available. However, I have a number of books on my queue that are only available as cassettes, and I really would like to listen to them. I hope that some provision is being made in those cases – like maybe converting them to CD.
I do not have a CD player in my car–a choice I deliberately made because I always rent books on cassette! NOW what do I do??
Ruth
I also prefer cassettes because when I am walking my dogs, my Walkman cassette player is smaller than my personal CD player. It is easier to stop a cassette and then resume at the same place. Also when I am done with the walk, I can hit stop and the next day start up again at the exact spot-with a CD you have to try to remember what track you were on as the personal player just starts from the beginning (not like in my car where it starts where it stopped). I don’t understand why you can’t continue to rent out the cassettes that you have available. My library got rid of this format and switched to only CDs. I don’t need to have an account with Recorded Books as I can get CDs for free from my local library-I wanted to rent cassettes from you. I am disappointed.
I, too, feel saddened at the loss of cassettes. I would have changed the priority of my wish lists for one thing. Well, so much for customer relations. Its all about the money, I guess.
Dawn Zapletal
What a blow. Now I have to find a cd player with simple controls for my age 90 legally blind techno-challenged mother to use instead of just pushing a key on a shoebox cassette player. Nuts.
PS: What about books that are currently only available on tape? Will you be providing them in CD format in the future? Or do they just sink into nothingness, like the old books that have disappeared from the library shelves?
I think perhaps a six-months notice would have been understandable. Two weeks? I now must rush to find a CD player that will “walk” with me and allow me to continue listening during my daily exercise. And I have only 12 days in which to do it–and I am currently out of town. Any chance of extending the rental period to something more palatable?
RBI # 1660776
Well, you’ve just lost me as a client as like the person replying before me I use cassettes to walk with every day and the main reason I’m a client. Love the fact that you’ve offered me NO option and the 2 week notice shows outstanding customer service..
I guess I knew the day would come but it is very sad. No other media offers the start-stop mobility of cassettes.
I have maintained my membership specifically because of cassette. I can see stopping any new cassettes from being made, but any that are currently in circulation should remain in circulation. If cassette is no longer going to be available, then at least add Playways to the program to replace the loss of cassette. Playways like cassette are easy to use, very portable, and stop and pick up exactly where you left off. CD is my least favorite format.
I have a cassette player in my car. Using CDs with an adapter is no more convenient that downloading books to my IPod — and I can get MP3 books to keep from audible.com for less money that you would charge me to rent CDs. I guess we’ll be parting ways.
I, too, am extremely frustrated by this short notice. However, cancelling my subscription will save us some money.
I have a cassette and CD player combination in my car. CDs are my least favorite format. Cassettes are so easy to start, stop, and then pick up exactly where I was.
My mother is 90, extremely technophobic and legally blind; she will greatly miss cassettes.
However, the Blind Commission in our state has connections with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. They have cassettes and a “new” audiobook machine which Mom finds easier to use than cassettes.
I love RB but I also have cancelled my membership because of cassettes not being available. I can’t say I was surprised but it is short notice. I will have to learn how to download books for my ipod as I really dislike CD’s for same reasons others have cited. (Note – Some RB performers are available thru audible.com or other sites).
What I don’t understand is why RB is still having cassettes for sale. Those would have to be newly made whereas rentals can be used many times. I was told the existing rental cassettes will be donated somewhere. I was hoping for a bargain closeout sale!
Carol says…
Giving two weeks notice certainly ignores the customer service most companies bring to loyal subscribers! I am more than disappointed in Recorded Books, since the new procedure is almost forcing old customers to convert to CD if they want to continue! I wonder what is to become of all the cassettes you have, and why they cannot be rented! I think this news was decided a long time ago! I, too, have cancelled membership.
Cassette players clip to your belt and can be used by feel, unlike CD’s which require a bulky belt and pouch and have to be pulled out and looked at and fiddled with. I can not figure out why anyone would prefer CD’s for this purpose, when cassettes are so much easier for gardening, housework, etc. I guess there is no further reason to use Recorded Books, since CD’s are available everywhere and are also cheaper elsewhere.
It is a shame that cassettes are being cancelled; but just as many folks were not happy with the switch from 8 track or vinyl to cassette, there will be some of us that long for that sentimental format. I do find that portable CD players have become much more affordable, and readily available. Have you even tried to find a cassette tape player? They are virtually impossible to find. So, as I do feel remorse to see cassettes go, I did think it was inevitable. As for cassette players in cars…same as 8 track…I had 8 track tapes, and when I bought a new car, it had a cassette player…I just had to adapt with the times….I don’t think many cars manufactured past 2001 had cassette players in them…sign of the times…
http://mashable.com/2010/10/24/sony-walkman-rip/
Seems like Sony retired the Walkman on 10/24/2010…Seriously, think it is time to move on….
I will be cancelling my account – very poor customer service less then 30 days warning. My car only has a cassette player and I personally hate CD’s always skipping ,getting scratched, just don’t like them. Also like several others have stated cassettes are much easier to rewind and play.
[...] Books discontinuing cassette rental titles (but retaining cassettes as purchased titles). Just reading the comments on the Recorded Books post about the cassette decision shows the strong feelings about providing easily-accessed materials for [...]
Hey there those folks who are planning to keep buying books on cassette: how long do you think it will be before RB decides to discontinue that line too! I have noticed a decline in customer service since the switch to the new computer system. Wonder if there has been a change in ownership?
I just cancelled my account as of next Tuesday. Same reasons. I listen to my cassettes at night before sleep and use the buttons in the dark. So easy to rewind and find your place the next day too. I do not like CDs as you have to fiddle with them so much to figure out where you left off.
If you are interested in buying my used audio cassettes contact me at genieearles@aol.com. I am selling them cheap! I have about 800 titles. I need the closet space. Will sell them in multiples for $2 to
$10 each.
I entirely agree woth everone about the usefulness of audo cassettes. My nother just cannot cope with any other format and if given the choice I also prefer audiocassettes – so much easier.
Although I understand the reasons for this I hope that your company will make the effort to transfer titles currently available only on cassette format to CD’s. Otherwise in the near future these great books/performances will be lost, possibly forever.
After over 20 years of relishing the audio cassette books from Recorded Books, I am very sad and disappointed that they are being discontinued. No other recording method I have found offers the same experience of being able to listen, stop, and pick up where I left off and the portability of being able to take them to the car, the kitchen, and for a walk or wherever, and never have to hunt for where you were in the book. This is a very sad development. Recorded Books has by far the best readings and actors and I only want the unabridged books. Surely someone will come up with a solution since so many of us still love the cassettes.
Cassettes are not COMPLETELY discontinued: only cassette RENTALS are, cassette PURCHASES wil continue.
*will
I still have lots of cassettes I’m willing to part with at a low price. I have an updated list available if you are interested. I had a pretty good response to my last posting, so some of the titles may not be available, but I’ll mark them on the list. Anyone out there willing to part with some of theirs? If so, I’d like to see your list. Contact me at genieearles@aol.com
It’s the portability of cassettes that is the great appeal; I am trying to make CD’s work for me but I used my books on tape for long walks, and as many others have said, they just aren’t user friendly…why couldn’t you have simply said no NEW books would be offered for rent in cassette format, but continue to rent the thousands you must have in yor storeroom? Selling it once can’t compare to the revenue you’d generate renting them time and time again..
I have never ordered cassettes but there are many titles that are only available on cassette that I wish were on CD. Please, RB, convert your rental cassettes to CD before you dispose of them!
Some of the CDs I rent I will upload into itunes and listen on my iphone. It can take a little time, but its worth it for the convenience. Few people walk around with cd playes on their belt these days.
Are you selling the cassettes? I love my cassettes and will miss having the choice.
i phone 2011…
[...]***Cassette Rentals Discontinued*** « Recorded Books Direct[...]…
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[...]***Cassette Rentals Discontinued*** « Recorded Books Direct[...]…
its really sad that there wont be any cassette rentals.. but after reading this article, there is another way i.e, audiobooks and as long as it solves the problem..
Unfortunately, there are no longer any rentals available from recorded books, cassette or otherwise. Equally unfortunately, recorded books turfed their membership to simply audio books, which is more expensive, has way fewer books available, and has terrible customer service. And they did this without any prior notice. I’m very disappointed.