There are some celebrity endorsements that just don’t seem to make any sense on their face–like Salvador Dali selling laundry detergent or Francis Ford Coppola promoting his own wine. Then there are those that seem to have been fated by some marketing firm in heaven. The Kardasian sisters hawking their own branded credit card for kids falls firmly into the latter category.
Shockingly, however, the card, launched a few weeks back, has become an easy target for critics, who have called its lending fees “predatory.” Perhaps the most vocal among them is Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
The AG issued a statement to the press, which fittingly reads a bit like an Entertainment Tonight report,
Keeping up with the Kardashians is impossible with this card, where consumers lose money before they use money. Even before consumers spend a dime, the Kardashian Kard fees swallow the card’s value.
Using the card for six months costs $59.95–12 months costs $99.95. After that entry period, it will run owners $7.95 a month, plus a slew of added fees including $1.50 to get cash from an ATM, $1 to check one’s balance $1.50 to talk to customer service, and $9.95 if you lose the thing. Oh yeah, and $6 to cancel it.
Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney, who were so “excited” by the card’s November 10th launch, are now feeling the burn. Said a representative,
The Kardashians have worked extremely long and hard to create a positive public persona that appeals to everyone, particularly young adults. Unfortunately, the negative spotlight turned on the Kardashians.
So, what’s next for the Kardashian sisters? I hear you can make a mint selling subprime mortgages.
