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ipsy

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Overview

ipsy has a rating of 1.6 stars from 799 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about ipsy most frequently mention customer service, glam bag, and credit card problems. ipsy ranks 113th among Subscription Shopping sites.

  • Service
    218
  • Value
    217
  • Shipping
    216
  • Returns
    156
  • Quality
    203

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 5%
Positive
1
Neutral
1
Negative
18
138
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How would you rate ipsy?
Top Positive Review

“Customer Service is STOP ON!”

Kaila H.
11/6/23

I came in here to shout out the IPSY customer service. I have been a loyal IPSY user for 6+ years. The basic glam bag is plenty for me since I like to try items before I buy full size. Throughout the years I have had some problems with items (wrong shade, lost packages, late delivery, etc) and they have compensated those issues promptly and with understanding. Just recently was looking through the app and realized I never got my September package. They quickly replied to my issue and promptly sent me a new package with the same (or similar) items. 10/10 on the customer service!

Top Critical Review

“IPSY went from hero to ZERO”

patti K.
10/14/24

I joined back up for Ipsy Glam Bag. The price is now a total of $7 more per month and the items were pathetic! I wound up canceling after 2 bags. What a shame that something that I was once so good has gotten disgraceful. A big waste of money!

Reviews (799)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

credit card (68) customer service (182) glam bag (155) glam bags (155)
Thumbnail of user saml84
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 17th, 2015

I ordered the bag about a month ago (mid-november) I e-mailed them about the waitlist and they took me off. They answered both times (within 24 hrs) I reached out to them about issues I had, and fixed them. I got two (TWO) full size products in my first bag, (lipstick, Pacifica, and Eyeliner from Be a Bombshell) plus a sample size mascara (I never can finish one so the small size is awesome) and then two sample size skincare things, which I don't need (I've been blessed with AMAZING skin) They ship the bags out in batches, so depending where one is, they will get it at different times of month.
UPDATE
It's now may 10th. Since the initial review, every bag I've gotten has been amazing. In my may bag, which I have not received yet, there Is nothing I do not like, and the value of each bag is insane!

Tip for consumers:
They ship the bags out in batches, so depending where one is, they will get it at different times of month. (I believe Canada may go out first)

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Thumbnail of user ul17
3 reviews
10 helpful votes
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February 22nd, 2023
Verified purchase

I was a subscriber about 4-5 years ago and stopped because of their lack of quality of products and also sizes that they came in. Recently I started my subscription again after seeing that they started to include better brands in the subscription. Unfortunately I'm still not impress after receiving my first bag this month (Feb 23'). They sent me an eyeliner, Callysee in brown, a lip gloss Pinklipps, a Clinique liquid facial soap, an eyeshadow Wingme, and a body lotion Lafco New York. Plus 2 additional 'welcome back' items. Additional to these, the bag I received has rusty flaws on the Ipsy tag itself.
All these make ups are made in China and they are so low in quality especially the eyeliner, already almost dried out. Only the body lotion made in Italy and the Clinique face wash made in the USA.
I know the price is only $16+ with tax & handling but to receive something pretty much useless is a lot for $16!
I'm expecting more of a local companies make ups or product in my subscription since we have so many local made products by local entrepreneurs and not from something made in factories China that we are not even sure of the cleanliness and chemicals use plus if they're even really animal cruelty free as they claimed! Very disappointed with Ipsy honestly…

Tip for consumers:
Don’t expect for premium brands for the $13 subscription.

Products used:
Eyeshadow and lotions.

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Thumbnail of user cr553
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 7th, 2022

I have had Ipsy for a while now and I am so unhappy! I keep giving them chance after chance and I am so fed up! I have the Glam Bag Plus and the Glam Bab X and all i have to say is that for all the issues that Ipsy has, the memberships are not worth it. Sure, it is nice to try different products but when they come in damaged and missing every shipment, it makes you wonder what is really going on. Then, by the time you get the product ( 2 weeks later) and have a damaged or missing item, they cannot replace the item because they are sold out! Then a day to a week later you will see that same item "they were sold out of" back on the website. Customer service does not listen and barely offers resolution. I wouldn't call it resolution because to me, my problem wasnt resolved. Boxy charm is better but is now owned by Ipsy who is ripping their customers off...I just want a real makeup subscription box that isn't scamming people and knows how to hire the right staff and have their logistics down.

Tip for consumers:
Do not get caught up in their sales, and do not think that you will be able to get to a human on the phone or an email right away....they will absolutely not get you in touch with upper management once you have had enough of all the s*** . Their customer service do not try to help, more like a refund of money and get out of my face type of attitude...pretty sure their warehouse people steal items from the bags before shipping...this place as a whole runs without accountability..$#*! show

Products used:
Makeup, skincare, face care, body and bath, fragrance, tools and brushes...i used everything and paid them a lot of money....and they failed miserably....the way i was treated about my constant missing or damaged issues hurt my feelings.

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Thumbnail of user jairimelsantillan
1 review
1 helpful vote
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June 5th, 2023

I decided to use Ipsy because I was a Boxycharm customer ….After two months, Ipsy charged me $32 for a glam bag without my permission… I never received a glam bag or any email about that purchase…

Thumbnail of user nicoleu139
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 9th, 2020

I wanted to buy an Ipsy curated skin care box but had to become a glam bag member first. I signed up and ordered both items September 10th. I got the curated box at the end of September and loved it. Today Is October 9th and IM STILL WAITING on my welcome bag. Ipsy uses DHL to ship so your order will go to 2-5 different cities distribution centers before it comes to your local USPS. For whatever reason my glam bag went to Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth to Austin (where I live) the BACK to Fort Worth. I'm the October bag will ship out before I ever get my September bag and I'm not okay with that and 1 month shipment times. I'm canceling my membership.

Thumbnail of user celinab10
1 review
3 helpful votes
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October 1st, 2019

I do like the the little samples! Mostly the eyeshadow! The liquid eyeliner isn't so good. It would give me maybe 10 uses. The highlighter doesn't really pop. But, every month I was getting the same type of make up even when I changed my acct preference. So I wanted to cancel. I couldn't find the cancellation option. So I went with the skip a month. I got one month skipped. For some reason my account was changed back to monthly and I was up-charged. After that I went to find contact info. I wanted to speak to a representative. That's not a option! Why? At this point I'm irritated! I can't cancel and I can't speak to anyone. And to contact it's all social media pages. Call me old fashion but I want to speak to someone. Not hit up their social media page. Anyways, point is I felt trapped in my subscription. It's not easy to cancel. I loved this company and spread love on my social media pages the first few months subscribing. But I tried asking for different types of make ups and that was ignored so I'm sorry but you lost me as buyer. Please help me cancel being I still can't find it. Thanks.

Thumbnail of user tessh4
1 review
13 helpful votes
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July 7th, 2016

I was an ipsy member back in late 2014. I got a few bags and realized that they were sending me cheap drugstore BS and I didn't want it. I tried to cancel in January of 2015 but because of their cancellation method, I wasn't really sure if I got it completely cancelled. I'm sure I called and emailed, etc. but never really could get confirmation. I believe they wanted you to fill out a survey and jump through a ton of hoops like a waiting period or something probably illegal. Because I couldn't figure it out, I cancelled my debit card so they wouldn't be able to charge me. I checked for a few months--no charges. Years later, I find out they've been billing my bank account somehow for I'm not sure how long since I cancelled my debit card--I'm 100% sure I never gave them a bank account number. I'm pretty sure it's not even an option when you're signing up.

These people are thieves. You can try to do the right thing and get out of it but they won't let you. I realize I sound like a complete idiot as I thought other reviewers did but these people are horrendous.

Thumbnail of user pennyk119
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 18th, 2022

I got a PMD facial cleanser in my Glam Ipsy bag. I had been given a similar product and decided to sell it, new and unused in the box on ebay. A brand protection company they use to look for knock offs called "Red Points" flags the listing as a "fake". It came in thru my Ipsy Glam box. This is troubling and I was very annoyed. I will not renew my Ipsy box again. Just where would we get a fake aka knockoff product like this. Site unseen tthey say it's a fake, ok I guess Ipsy is buying thru the wrong sources. I lost interest in Ipsy when the products became so small so I upgraded to the nicer Glam box with larger products and this is what you get, no thanks. It is time to say good bye to Ipsy. The customer service is terrible when you have broken items and the bags/products are just getting smaller. It's better to buy the items you like on ebay and avoid the tiny junk they stick in the bag. Some products are so small you can not use them more than once. There are many more options out there now. Ipsy should go back to be more like they were 4 years ago. Having a brand protection company flag a product I recieved in a Glam box as a fake was the last straw for me. Ispy doesn't care

Thumbnail of user gj124
1 review
13 helpful votes
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March 4th, 2020

I subscribed to Ipsy beginning in September 2019. Three things I rated as being the least interested inmascara, makeup brushes, and bronzersseem to arrive every single month. I also get a constant stream of highlighter powders, which also had a lower selection rating. I have only received one hair product in 6 months, and actually loved that one. What I indicated as wanting the most were eyeshadow and lipstick samples, areas I have the most trouble with. I have only ever received 2 eyeshadow samples. The rest, I have gotten via monthly $3 add-on opportunities, and that's fine. It seems to be the only way I can actually get eyeshadow samples from them! The best makeup samples are the lipsticks, and that's why I have given them a 3 star rating instead of lower. I have the most trouble with lipsticks and have been happy with those samples. All facial products and hand lotion samples have been average at best. I have only found 3 products that I really loved in 6 months / 30 samples received. I just cancelled Ipsy and subscribed to Sephora yesterday.

Thumbnail of user sandrac1024
1 review
1 helpful vote
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October 11th, 2020

I have canceled 2 times and ipsy keeps taking money out of my bank account. I'm going to talk to an attorney to get my money put back. I would never recommend them to anyone,.

Thumbnail of user victoriat15
1 review
28 helpful votes
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October 10th, 2015

I see so many reviews stating how awful ipsy is and don't like the stuff they send. I don't get it!? You pay $10 a month, what exactly do you expect? For $10 what we receive is awesome and well more than $10 worth that you receive in the bags. People who have issues with anything like skin color or hair type that they send to you wrong, then contact the customer service and let them know about it and they WILL fix it! Plus you receive and brand new bag every month which I think is amazing :) even though you get sample sized stuff I think all of the things they send is great and always different and fun, I get excited every month when my bags come. The ipsy bag is the best $10 I have ever spent! And for some reason some of you girls are expecting wayyyy to much for what you are paying for and not seeing it for what it actually is! Did you not read about ipsy before you signed up? If not then maybe you should have so then you'd know what to expect. Sure you might get some things that you don't normally use or want but that's what this is, its a bag of different things to TRY so you figure out what you like and just maybe start using something you've never used before. So, come on ladies... Get off your high horse and enjoy and if this isn't what you wanted then you should of done your research on what you were paying for in the beginning, anytime you're spending money on ANYTHING always do your research and make sure this is something you're going to enjoy using. But in my opinion I give ipsy 5 stars, no doubt! They are amazinggg!

Thumbnail of user lisao62
2 reviews
10 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2017

I have done many, many monthly subscriptions and this one is hands down the worse. I subscribed for a 3 month subscription and after paying my page suddenly said I was on a wait list BUT I can skip it if I share their site on social media. Uh... no! THAT wasn't part of signing up. I just paid and nowhere did it say there was a wait list prior to paying nor they would hold my membership hijacked unless I shared or wait out the wait list. I e-mailed them and said there was nothing stating the wait list prior to paying and they reassured me my box will be sent sometime next month (of course no date given). I said I'm not waiting over a month for something to be sent out when I just paid in full and I'm not sharing their site until I get the boxes to see if I like it or not. If I'm on a wait list I wanted to cancel then suddenly I get an e-mail stating there isn't a wait list for 24 hours starting on Dec. 18th. I contacted customer service again saying if I can do that then keep my subscription. No response. I e-mailed back after another day and said I'm very confused as to what is going on with my account. The employee told me that the that offer ended on the 14th. I sent him a snap shop of the e-mail and now I'm done. Way too confusing, unprofessional, bad communication, no phone number to call. Definitely buyer beware.

Thumbnail of user jakec41
1 review
7 helpful votes
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February 2nd, 2016

The phone # is fraudulent and I recieved my first bag no problem. But, when they went to take the $10 out today my bank blocked it. Emailed me and is saying its a fraudulent acct

Thumbnail of user daniellem27
1 review
20 helpful votes
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March 7th, 2015

IPSY IS A RIP OFF!... YOU PAY $10.00, ONLY TO BE PLACED ON A "WAIT LIST"!
OHHHHH, BUT WAIT! THE CUSTOMER CAN GET OFF THE WAITLIST IF YOU MENTION THE COMPANY ON A SOCIAL NETWORK. THAT IS A BUNCH OF BULLS**T! THEY TAKE YOUR MONEY THEN DON'T GIVE YOU ANY PRODUCTS, SO ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE STEALING YOUR MONEY!

Thumbnail of user walkeralea
1 review
3 helpful votes
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October 26th, 2023

I spent almost $20 on a glam bag and when I tried to track it, they said there was no package with my information.

Products used:
Nothing bc I got nothing in the mail. You scammed me.

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Thumbnail of user autumnm27
15 reviews
10 helpful votes
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July 24th, 2019

I subscribed to the normal glam bad subscription and I loved it WAY better than the Sephora bag. I had the Sephora bag for about a year and the stuff started to repeat itself. I had three shades of the same lipstick that I never used and the products just weren't pleasing me anymore. I switched to Ipsy and the glam bag is MUCH better. I'm not too much for veering away from what I like meaning I wear the same makeup pretty much everyday, but if I find something in the glam bad I like, I'll opt for the full sized product. If you like sampling different products at a low price every month, I suggest Ipsy for you. Now, why did I give it 4 stars instead of 5? Probably because some of the products can be found at cheap drug stores such as Walmart, Walgreens, etc. However, as long as no more than 1 of the products in the glam bag are cheap, I have no problem with that. The way I look at it, if I like the makeup enough and I'm willing to buy it (which I don't do often) why not go the cheap route if it makes it that much easier?

Thumbnail of user mollym329
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 26th, 2022

DO NOT ORDER FROM IPSY! I would definitely not recommend ordering from IPSY. Their products are subpar, and when I try to cancel my membership, the site will not take me to my account, but rather keeps prompting me to click on ways they can charge me more. The IPSY site makes it extremely difficult to cancel or change your membership, but will definitely lock that credit card in so they can continue to charge and charge and charge. BEWARE OF IPSY!

Thumbnail of user marilyne46
1 review
6 helpful votes
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October 2nd, 2019

I have tried for 2 months to cancel this glam bag. This is impossible. I'm going to call my credit card company first, then I'm going to call the BBB. I'm African American and this
Makeup does not work for me. Can't talk to ABSOLUTELY NOBODY ANSWERS PHONE.
I HATE THIS MAKEUP. IF THE SCAMMERS SEE THIS, CALL ME AT*******801 TO CANCEL THE. I WANT TO CALL THE FBI, AND I THINK I WILL FOR ADVICE TODAY.

Thumbnail of user katiel501
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 11th, 2023

They took my money and said they sent my makeup box but they never did and I canceled my subscription and they still charged my card when I got sent nothing and have been cancelled with them this is a bad experience and I will never be ordering from them again they are trash and are scammers if I was u never order from them I give this website and place zero stars

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Thumbnail of user dawns53
1 review
9 helpful votes
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April 26th, 2016

My daughter and I have subscriptions and neither of us have received our April bags. We moved the being of March and I made sure I went in to change not only my shipping address but also the billing address on 3/21. Both bags were charged to my account in April and yet nothing arrived. When I contacted them they blamed the postal carrier for not delivering and told me to contact them... well I need tracking to do this which I didn't have and advised them in an immediate follow up email. Several hours later I have to resend the email requesting the tracking info. They responded with 2 tracking numbers: the first clearly stated that the shipping label could not be read, package not delivered and the second stated delivered. Well, the post office has my new address on file as well as all mail will be forwarded for the next 12 months. It was then I was advised ipsy has a no forwarding policy and "since my address wasn't changed by 4/1 in their system both bags went to the last address". Still haven't answered me on the fact that I absolutely did change my address on 3/21.
So they've agreed to replace 1 bag and I was advised that they run low on stuff at the end of the month so what was supposed to be in my bag may not be. So are they telling me I'm going to basically get whatever is lefthe over? And what about the other bag? The company is ridiculous and I'm seriously considering cancelling. What a great first impression for the first problem encountered.

Thumbnail of user isar5
1 review
10 helpful votes
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April 9th, 2018

This is the second time I tried to cancel and I sent email to support Ipsy and they didnt cancel and continue changing to my card. I will have to call my bank because this is fraud.

Thumbnail of user brijinm
1 review
3 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2016

I really like Ipsy. Sometimes I get products I'm not super excited about, but I've yet to get anything I never use. The samples aren't huge, but they're samples! I usually look up the prices of the items I receive and I've never felt that it wasn't worth my money. The bags themselves aren't usually my favorite designs, but I just give them to my younger cousins or use them for tampons or something. My August glam bag got lost in the mail and I just barely emailed them about it. They're sending me something (even though it's way past the 45-day limit) to make up for it and they're sending me an eyeliner to replace one that broke on the way for this month (first product ever to break from them). They got back to me within hours and were very nice through email. I think it's a really good subscription service, and hopefully, they maintain that quality. I'm very happy with them and would recommend any makeup loving person, young or old, to try it out. I don't have kids, but if I had a preteen or young teenager I would even probably get it for them so they could start playing and learning about beauty products with good quality stuff that will treat their body well.

Thumbnail of user hathawayg
1 review
1 helpful vote
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June 3rd, 2023

I signed up for IPSY Glam bag, and soon received an email for a promotion. The promotion stated that if I bought a yearly subscription I would receive a large gift box and 2500 points. I signed up through my outlook email which is synced with my google email. Ipsy tried to sign in through Google but I was alerted and changed my password. I wrote to them on May 14 th asking why my account stated I'd be charged 165$ on June 1, because I'd been charged on for the yearly through the promotion. I don't know what kind of scam they are running but the person who got back to me promised I wouldn't be double charged and left all kinds of reassurance.
June 1 another 165 and I immediately contacted the person I had been dealing with. Instead of answering they deleted any prior conversations about the ' reassurance.' Now I'm at the point where they will not respond, period. I reported them to the BBB, and PayPal. As of now they have taken out over 500$! I never received the promotion which is why I switched to yearly, and now they have disappeared. Don't buy anything from these people the company is. An MLN, there is no customer service and they will attempt to blame you for their mistakes.
( I took screenshots and I suggest that you do that as well because the first time I addressed the issue and the correspondence is now ' missing.' This has been one of the worst experiences I've ever had w any company.

Tip for consumers:
Don’t fall for this, if it’s too good to be true it’s a scam. This is a MLN SCAM 100%

Products used:
The ones sent with the subscription

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Value
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Thumbnail of user renam3
4 reviews
61 helpful votes
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October 1st, 2015

I have been subscribed to this company for about a year and a half. Their "quiz" to determine which products they send you each month means nothing. They still send you products that you specifically say you DO NOT want. I have cancelled my subscription two months ago yet they STILL are charging me. I had to call my bank twice to get the charges disputed. They're customer service isn't too great, they only have email service; there is no specific number you can call to talk to someone. The bags themselves are extremely cheap and all of their products are extremely small. They used to have much better products but as the months have passed, they have gone extremely downhill. If I cancel a subscription, I want it to be cancelled. I do NOT want to keep being charged. I do not recommend this service to anyone at all. It truly is a rip off, it's only $10 but it honestly isn't even worth that. The bags they send are so terrible, the bags literally look like they're from the dollar store. It isn't worth your money. And to top it off, them not canceling the service when I first asked just really was the cherry on top. They've overdrawn my bank account twice now. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS SERVICE. Everyone I have talked to has said the products they send are terrible and everyone says they get products they specifically ask to NOT get. Don't waste your time or your money.

Thumbnail of user stephanien93
1 review
5 helpful votes
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February 26th, 2019

Got a one month trial, promptly canceled it before first bag even came. Just looked at Paypal and total bill payment to Ipsy was $21!? What kind of scam is this?

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From the business

ipsy co-founder Michelle Phan has captivated countless viewers around the world through her beauty video tutorials on YouTube. She envisioned a vibrant community where women could be inspired to express their unique beauty, and ipsy is that community!

“ipsy” comes from the Latin word ipse, meaning “sense of self.” By celebrating beauty of all forms in the world, ipsy provides a platform for anyone to express both their inner and outer radiance. With videos from ipsy's well-loved YouTube stylists, including co-founder Michelle Phan, as well as from a devoted and engaged user community, ipsy is changing the way women learn about and experience beauty looks.

When you become a member, you can learn new beauty tricks, participate along with your favorite ipsy stylists in monthly looks, and connect with other ipsters who inspire you.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user mikhailu
Kaila B.
Manager
Typically does not respond to reviews

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