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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Claire's ears piercing

187 replies

cindersrella · 22/07/2019 18:28

So I have just been to Claire to get my children's ears pierced (they wanted them done) my older daughter (9) begged and begged to have them done, I told her yes..
So the earring were got out put in the gun and she went into melt down.

To cut a long story short after encouragement from one assistant who was lovely to the manager who had had enough for the day (her attitude was shit once my daughter had started to get itchy feet) she didn't have them done. However I have still had to pay for them as they came out of the pack and were no longer sterile

So I have basically just paid £75 for one pair of ears to be pierced with earrings, a pair of earrings which are possibly never going to be worn and some solution.

AIBU to feel really pissed off at been charge £37.50 for some 9ct gold earrings ?

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 22/07/2019 19:51

I wish people would stop saying go to a tattoo studio though...I couldn’t find one anywhere I could get to (central London, west London) that would do under 16s

Then that’s the rule.

That’s what I told DD - if we couldn’t find anywhere to pierce safely, she would have to wait. She was happy with that.

MammaMia19 · 22/07/2019 19:51

I’m surprised they charged you! I had this in Claire’s, dd wanted her ears pierced then as soon as she loaded the gun dd changed her mind. I just said sorry and left, they never asked me to pay for them!

Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 19:52

TBF I had my tragus pierced at a tattoo parlour and it got infected... I had to have antibiotics OMG with a bolocking from my GP about having it done ..

OP posts:
Sunshine196 · 22/07/2019 19:52

@cindersrella I could have literally written this thread. Had the exact same thing this weekend with my 8yo. She was desperate to get it done but very nervous. The staff attitude was awful. Really dismissive and putting her under pressure. So she too decided to walk away and it cost me £58. She was so sad that she didn’t go through with it. We’ve been to a local beauty salon to speak to them and they were lovely. They said they allow plenty of time for the apt so she can take all the time she needs, will provide cold pads for her ears if she needs them and were so understanding & kind so we’ve booked in for Saturday. I’m much more confident she will go through with it this time. Hope your daughter hasn’t been put off.

callmeadoctor · 22/07/2019 19:53

To be fair, all these posts are a complete over reaction. In the majority of cases ear piercings are absolutely fine (god knows why there is such vitriol over a business making money and giving people a job!!!). For some unknown reason your child didn't raise an objection till the sterile earrings were removed from their sterile package, the company where were within their rights to say that you should pay, the fact that you thought it was expensive was irrelevant.

sideorderofchips · 22/07/2019 19:54

My eldest and middle have had theirs done at Claire’s and I had my third holes done. All was done hygenically and well checked.

PookieDo · 22/07/2019 19:55

We all go to the tattoo shop it’s about £20 all in for 2 holes. No gun tho, use a needle. DD’s second holes slightly wonky!

Claire’s is so over priced

Benjispruce · 22/07/2019 19:56

my eldest DD went to Claires for hers. Was £40 then (10 yrs ago) but youngest DD went to a salon and it was £10 4 years later. Would never use Claires again. They charge a fortune for a simple earrings and a bottle of saline!

PookieDo · 22/07/2019 19:56

@JacquesHammer

Mine are fine with U16’s as long as you go with them and sign the disclaimer. They do not let them go in without an adult though

Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 19:56

Sunshine Thankyou for this post... she has beaten herself up big time.. she even apologised to the ladies and said I am so sorry I have waisted your time and neither of them acknowledged her until I said do you both realise you are ignoring her.... I think this is what I am really pissed off with.. the shit attitude when I have spent so much in there shop and how dismissive they were of her... when she was already disappointed in herself for being scared

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 22/07/2019 19:57

Mine are fine with U16’s as long as you go with them and sign the disclaimer. They do not let them go in without an adult though

Did you mean me? Smile I was responding to a PP.

DD had hers done at 10 at a studio, the rule was placed before we found anywhere.

Mrsmummy90 · 22/07/2019 19:59

Please read up on the dangers of piercing guns! Piercings should ONLY be done with needles.

MrsFrankDrebin · 22/07/2019 19:59

Just because a tattoo parlour pierces with a needle doesn't make them any better than Claire's.

You need a piercer who is registered with the APP - they have to take courses and pass them before they can have that membership (think things like blood-borne pathogens and the like). It's not all about the piercing process, it's about the whole process.

For the record, for cleaning use sterile saline (the stuff you find in the aisle in Boots that sells contact lens sterile saline). Put it in a spray bottle, and spray the piercing after a shower, then dry with a hair dryer (sounds mad, but really aids healing - stitches after having a baby anyone?!)

And DON'T twist them. At all.

I have 15 earrings, so I've had my fair share of piercing experiences, but the last 11 were all done by an APP piercer, sprayed with saline, dried every day while healing, and I haven't had any issues at all.

But many reputable piercers (and I think all, is not most APP piercers) won't do under 16s. In many places it's against the local licencing laws. Some will do it 'under the counter' before 16, but my piercer won't risk it - having said that, she says Claire's and piercing guns in general should be banned. (But when she's raised that with the council, she's been told she's just being selfish and afraid of competition! Go figure!)

Sunshine196 · 22/07/2019 20:03

@cindersrella they definitely need some customer service training. Especially dealing with young girls. It’s a big deal for them. I told my daughter that although we had to pay she made the right decision as she should be able to go through the experience feeling confident & comfortable in the environment which she didn’t. I understand Claire’s need to cover costs but surely there should be some kind of nominal fee such as 50%.
I read a lot about about needle piercings & yes they are probably best but I talked to my daughter about it and there’s no way she would cope with that. Millions get piercings with guns with no problems. First sign of any issues and we will just remove & do it again if needs be.

recklessruby · 22/07/2019 20:03

Lucky escape for your dd to be honest. When mine was 8 she had her ears pierced at claires and they got infected, one swelled up and leaked green pus.
I had to take her to A and E to get it removed and the nurse said she was the third girl they d seen lately with the same thing.
Both dc are older now and have piercings done at a proper tattoo studio.

PookieDo · 22/07/2019 20:05

I always go to the registered piercer in the tattoo shop. They do U16’s for ears with an adult present but I don’t know about other body parts and it is in a separate room to the tattoo section. I’ve had both guns and needles and don’t have any preference, mainly that my tattoo shop has a lot more affordable choice of earrings and they don’t charge you a small fortune!

I have piercings and tattoos so I feel like I have done my research on the shop I use but I wouldn’t advice just turning up to any old shop, you need to make sure they are reputable and registered

RabbityMcRabbit · 22/07/2019 20:09

Piercing guns aren't sterile anyway...

Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 20:15

I have told her it sounds like it was a good thing she didn't have it done there due to this feed but like you DD there is no way she would have a needle by her. She is petrified of them.

I do feel there frustration when they have kids come into shops to have there ears pierced and then they change there minds and they have got everything ready etc but if you are going to charge for a service at least give people the customer service they go into the shop expecting...

OP posts:
Dustybun · 22/07/2019 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dustybun · 22/07/2019 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BishopofBathandWells · 22/07/2019 20:16

My mate is a piercer and they generally hate Claire's. Your ears really shouldn't be pierced with a gun, it's so bad for the healing process afterwards. Go to a licensed piercer instead. Probably be cheaper and the metal grade will be infinitely better.

Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 20:17

I had already paid for them and to be honest I am not up in consumer rights etc, there's nothing in the paper I signed about paying etc either ?

OP posts:
Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 20:19

Sunshine out of curiosity were her ears pierced in stoffardahire?

OP posts:
Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 20:19

Staffordshire

OP posts:
Original poster
cindersrella · 22/07/2019 20:20

Or should I say did she go to have them pierced there?

OP posts:
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