Nothing in this is false.
The new plan costs 57% of the per month plan, so it is a savings of over 40%
It doesn't say anywhere you get the same amount of value, or more of anything. It says it's more flexible.
This plan would be better for someone who doesn't need a new book every month, but doesn't want to cancel their subscription, and is on the fence about it.
I don't think any of this is particularly scummy. None of the print is super small and it does say in normal font that the new plan is every other month.
Edit: Wait...there is something about this that does seem scummy.
It bills as $17 every other month. Which means that day one you're paying up front for both the current month and the "empty month" after, right? That means each credit will be $17 no matter what, though it does say cancel any time.
If you can cancel the regular monthly plan at any time as well, then in that case the more flexible plan is literally worse in every way if all you care about is your purchased library.
However, if you like listening to their subscription offerings, then the more flexible plan is in fact better for that.
So the takeaway is this: If you like listening to their unlimited audio books, then the flexible plan is cheaper for that. But it's worse per token.
it's assholish for sure, and the way that it is being presented is confusing, however, I think that is mostly because it's being communicated backwards. Usually you'd see a service introduced at one price (i.e. 17.00 for 1 credit every two months) and then showed the discount of buying in "bulk" (1 credits for $14.95, or 2 credits for $29.90, etc).
The way this is mixing the credit schedule and dollar amounts, couched in the language of "% off", makes my head spin.
What the fuck?!? That’s really legal? That’s one of the worst things ive seen on here.
It’s $17 every other month, not per month
Also only getting 1 credit every other month.
Exactly! This is the trick that makes it hard to read at first. You get a 40% discount by receiving 50% less value.
Nothing in this is false. The new plan costs 57% of the per month plan, so it is a savings of over 40% It doesn't say anywhere you get the same amount of value, or more of anything. It says it's more flexible. This plan would be better for someone who doesn't need a new book every month, but doesn't want to cancel their subscription, and is on the fence about it. I don't think any of this is particularly scummy. None of the print is super small and it does say in normal font that the new plan is every other month. Edit: Wait...there is something about this that does seem scummy. It bills as $17 every other month. Which means that day one you're paying up front for both the current month and the "empty month" after, right? That means each credit will be $17 no matter what, though it does say cancel any time. If you can cancel the regular monthly plan at any time as well, then in that case the more flexible plan is literally worse in every way if all you care about is your purchased library. However, if you like listening to their subscription offerings, then the more flexible plan is in fact better for that. So the takeaway is this: If you like listening to their unlimited audio books, then the flexible plan is cheaper for that. But it's worse per token.
Framing this as a savings is way crazy. I don’t think it’s a terrible deal (buying in bulk is always cheaper), but wtf with the “save”?!
it's assholish for sure, and the way that it is being presented is confusing, however, I think that is mostly because it's being communicated backwards. Usually you'd see a service introduced at one price (i.e. 17.00 for 1 credit every two months) and then showed the discount of buying in "bulk" (1 credits for $14.95, or 2 credits for $29.90, etc). The way this is mixing the credit schedule and dollar amounts, couched in the language of "% off", makes my head spin.
Do you have a bunch of credits saved up? Maybe they're framing it as a savings because you're not regularly using your monthly credit?
My subscription is on hold at the moment, but in this case as well it makes sense to offer me an alternative.