Driving around today, while listening to MSNBC on satellite radio I was surprised to hear an ad for The Kid's Guide to President Trump.
Curious to learn what this was all about, when I got home I headed to the web site mentioned in the ad. Yes, there it was -- not only the guide itself but a bundle!
Even though I don't have any kids (my 52 year old daughter is an avid progressive, and no longer a kid), I like free stuff. So I was eager to get a free Kid's Guide to the Presidential Election if I ordered The Kid's Guide to President Trump.
But then I noticed the asterisks around *free*. While these weren't quotation marks, they seemed to serve the same purpose of indicating that *free*, like "free," was different from the usual sense of the word.
Indeed, down at the very bottom of the web page, there was a tiny link that said *Offer Details.
The details of the offer showed that Mike Huckabee was engaging in a thinly-disguised scam, which struck me as entirely appropriate for a web site aimed at praising Donald Trump.
It turned out that after you paid $2.00 for shipping and processing of the bundle, you'd then be billed monthly for other stuff that cost much more.
Approximately 30 days after we send your first Kids Guides, we will begin to send you two new titles from The Kids Guide or other great educational content from eSpired, every 3-4 weeks. These items will be automatically billed the low price of $14.98 each ($29.96 total) to the credit or debit card that we have on file, plus sales tax where applicable. Shipping is free. You can easily cancel at any time through your member account at members.espired.com or complete the contact us form found at espired.com/contact-us. Provided your account remains active and in good standing, your membership in The 1776 Kids Club will continue at no additional cost to you.
I suspect that it actually isn't so easy to cancel the recurring credit/debit card charges, but that's just my reasonable assumption given how this whole Kid's Guide to President Trump thing reeks with a scammy odor.
That assumption is supported by customer reviews of espired on a Better Business Bureau web page. Here's a sampling.
Unless the book outlines Donald Trump's ugliness in making fun of people's disabilities, women's looks, rape, lying, narcissistic grandiose opinion of himself, using campaign funds to pay legal fees for his court cases, etc.etc.then the book is not credible in portraying the real Donald Trump in my opinion. As for Mike Huckabee's religious beliefs, he needs to reread what a true Christian is.
Posted by: Millie | March 23, 2024 at 01:19 PM
Even Republicans are not imune to corruption and scamming. I've had a feeling that Huckabee here was throwing shade. My mom fell for it for the grandkids. Just found out they hit her bank for another $34.00. Apparently, they just decided to help themselves to this money while they attested to the first book being fee and we only have to pay the $2 shipping fee. Funny how this smells like a democrat MO and its a pure shame to see it from Huckabee. This should not reflect poorly on Sarah, she's amazing!
Posted by: Diana | December 11, 2024 at 06:06 PM
Agreed. I watched the TV ad tin which Huckabee himself advertised The Presidential Election Guide with Trump and Harris on the cover saying just $1 for shipping. I ordered 2, thinking they may be worth something for my kids when they are older. The ad only mentioned that guide so I therefore thought that is all I was ordering! Then, I began receiving other Kids Guide that I did not “sign up” for. To cancel your membership you can email or call however when your told your only receiving this 1 guide I don’t know anything about a membership??
You have 90 days to call for a full refund but don’t even bother ordering. I have called and canceled but still had to call again because I was being billed and receiving the two guides they send. You don’t have a choice there either apparently, they send 2 no matter what. It comes out to $34 something each month for 2 lousy pamphlets. Don’t buy into this.
Personally, the fact that Trump appointed Huckabee as a Cabinet member to serves working with Israel is not a good look since that man is scamming American people! I hope Trump keeps his word and this is part of the garbage in Government he aims to inform Americans of not just wasteful spending, or what we the people who technically should hold the power not the monster govt we allowed and didn’t stop it’s creation. Huckabee played foul with this one using the word FREE everywhere and anytime he spoke. Some are free bundles others are t, but that tiny star about being charged should have been mentioned as well!
Posted by: Sharon Boggs | January 02, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Comment by Millie is simply ignorant. Scams go on everywhere and in every political party. Biden’s lies are so numerous you couldn’t fit two days of his lies in these little 5 page booklets.
This company is a total scam and it shines a terrible light on Huckabee. I have filed a report with my states AG because it’s such a total rip off. I also left a truthful, negative review on the BBB.
Posted by: Jack | January 19, 2025 at 05:31 AM
I saw this advertised on TV and decided to order to see what our children were being told. Ordering the Trump booklet for kids is a huge scam and I did not consent to ordering more than what was supposed to be free and pay only S&H. Their website says you can cancel on the website, and if you aren't 100% satisfied in your first 90 days you can get a total refund. However, you cannot cancel on their website, AND they make you fill out a form explaining what you need that is difficult to proofread. After you hit submit, a popup message says they will get back to you in a couple days in the order they receive messages. I ordered less than 60 days ago. They charged my card three times, $22, $36 and $36. I did not know this would happen, and I didn't understand why I was receiving more than the initial booklet. Further, every booklet is absolute propaganda, filled with lies. Many are the same lies told over the last 8 years. There are NO sources, and it doesn't tell you who wrote the book or when it was written. I’m calling my credit card company tomorrow. I highly doubt I’ll hear from anyone. Finally, someone mentioned Biden lie a all the time. That is also a lie. The truth is Donald Trump is a habitual liar. He lied at least 20 times in his inaugural speech. I had a feeling these books would spread Donald’s lies to our children. This scam and the booklets are a scam and disgraceful.
Posted by: Kate | January 22, 2025 at 03:58 AM