Claire's is a cheap High Street chain that sells reasonably-priced but practically disposable accessories - I've bought stuff there myself when I knew it would go out of fashion quickly and I didn't want to spend a lot of money, and it's fine. However, they also offer ear-piercing at a reasonable ... Read review
Advantages: There's one on every high street Disadvantages: Dirty, unhygienic, unsafe
Claire's is a cheap High Street chain that sells reasonably-priced but practically disposable accessories - I've bought stuff there myself when I knew it would go out of fashion quickly and I didn't want to spend a lot of money, and it's fine. However, they also offer ear-piercing at a reasonable price and claim to be an 'ear piercing specialist'. However, my own experience suggests that they are anything but specialists.
I was considering ... ...enquire. The assistant explained that I could any earrings I wanted and that the price would include the aftercare solution to keep the piercings clean. This seemed fine. However, while I was looking at the earrings, I watched someone else (a kid of about ten) getting her ears pierced.
This in itself is highly inappropriate for a piercing procedure. Piercing should not be done in the corner of a very busy shop with crowds of teenagers ... more
Claire's is a cheap High Street chain that sells reasonably-priced but practically disposable accessories - I've bought stuff there myself when I knew it would go out of fashion quickly and I didn't want to spend a lot of money, and it's fine. However, they also offer ear-piercing at a reasonable price and claim to be an 'ear piercing specialist'. However, my own experience suggests that they are anything but specialists.
I was considering getting my ear cartilage pierced there and went in to enquire. The assistant explained that I could any earrings I wanted and that the price would include the aftercare solution to keep the piercings clean. This seemed fine. However, while I was looking at the earrings, I watched someone else (a kid of about ten) getting her ears pierced.
This in itself is highly inappropriate for a piercing procedure. Piercing should not be done in the corner of a very busy shop with crowds of teenagers and mums with buggies pushing past and staring! It needs a calm, quiet environment where the person getting pierced can feel relaxed and take their time.
Furthermore, the shop itself was not a hygienic environment. There were open pots of make-up lying around and used tissues everywhere, and the floor had litter all over it.
More worrying still was that although the assistant wiped customers' ears with an antiseptic wipe, she did not wash her hands or wear gloves. Her uniform wasn't clean either. Although the studs she used to perform the piercing were sterile, the gun itself was not cleaned between procedures. I was horrified.
I have subsequently learned that not only is it highly inappropriate to pierce ears in such an environment, but that it is actually very dangerous to pierce the ear cartilage with a piercing gun. The studs are very blunt compared to a needle and it is actually just the brute force of the gun that shoves them through your ear. When you do this to cartilage rather than lobes, the blunt force trauma can shatter your ear cartilage and leave you with a cauliflower ear... not nice. Plus, the stems of the studs are nowhere long enough for cartilage piercing, sit far too tight on your ear and allow infection to get easily trapped, as they are very hard to clean.
If you go to a professional body piercing or a tattoo studio, they will pierce you in a private, spotlessly clean, hygienic environment. The piercer will take their time and explain the procedure to you. They will wear a fresh pair of sterile gloves, use a fresh needle that they will open in front of you, and pierce your ear quickly and gently with it. The needle is so sharp that you'll hardly feel it and they will use appropriate jewellery that will be sterile and non-allergenic (usually stainless steel or titanium) and easy to clean. And ironically, many of them are cheaper than Claire's, particularly if you are only having one ear done.
Claire's, unlike a professional piercing studio, is not an 'ear piercing specialist'. It's a cheap high street fashion store that allows barely-trained teenagers to perform what is essentially a sterile, minor surgical procedure in a busy, dirty shop. Visit a genuine piercing specialist instead.
Advantages: Huge selection of bits and bobs of all descriptions, reasonable prices. Disadvantages: Parents must hate it, there are too many Claire's shops popping up everywhere, the layout is terrible.
Did you know that Claire's is American? And yes, just like the other famous American exports, McDonalds and Gap, you can not escape! Nearly every high street has a Claire's accessories on now. London has to be the worst place as it is infected and over-run by the claire disease! I challenge anyone to spend a day in London without seeing at least 20 of them! So why are they so popular?
Before Claire's accessories, there was Bow Bangles, which was ... ...quite expensive. So along came Claire's to save the day..and to cause hell for parents of little and not so little girls everywhere! I have no idea who the famous "Claire" is but she must be a very rich lady by now, even with the bargains on offer in her little shops.
Claire's is aimed at pre-teen and teenage girls but (shock horror) there are plenty of bits and bobs in there for the older customer. I feel old going in there myself (I'm 19) as it ...
MissDirect 26.12.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Claire's Accessories (Shop)
Advantages: Cheap an cheerful goodies Disadvantages: Sometimes a little busy!!
I don’t have a daughter, I would have liked one but someone, somewhere decided to punish me and ‘bless’ me with 3 sons instead. LISTEN UP……I am only joking!!!!! I love my boys to bits and wouldn’t change them for the world….!! But not having a daughter I had no idea that places like Claire’s Accessories existed! What have I been missing? Well I know now! When the one on our nearby town opened up years ... ...visits into town, but dismissed it as another, here-today-gone-next-week junk shop!
Oh how the mighty fall! I found myself in the town the other week, well I didn’t really ‘find’ myself there, (I am still looking and doubt now that I will ever ‘find’ myself!) and had some time to kill. Now I usually visit the Library at times like this and was indeed on my way there at this time, when I passed by a sign outside this ...
kazziebears 07.07.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Claire's Accessories (Shop)
Advantages: Pretty & fashionable accessories, good quality Disadvantages: Not the cheapest
I've never had my ears pierced, not even my lobes. Maybe law school got to me or something, but I decided to go straight for cartilage piercing (that's the one higher up, around the "bony" area)... and straight to Claires.
First off, you must know that Claires charges 14.50 quid for cartilage piercing and 6.99 quid for the normal (and boring...)lobe piercing. Some other places charge as little as 5 quid but that's usually for the piercing alone ... ...you're dishing out the dough from your own piggy bank, Claires probably doesn't sound like a good option to you now, but read on...
Just stroll into any Claires outlet and tell them what kind of piercing you want done. If you're below 16, you need a parent or guardian to be with you. The staff then asks you which stud you want. A cartilage piercing requires a 9 carat gold stud (with a pretty coloured gem in the middle -- I chose the emerald) because ...
vlee11 09.12.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Claire's Accessories (Shop)
Advantages: good little accessories, good bargains Disadvantages: crowded, staff not always pleasant
...people that when you say Claire's Accessories they would say oh that shop for teenagers but it isn't for them only, it's for girls in general. Females I should maybe say it sells a lot of things that are not too expensive but very nice still. From the branches I have been in I have seen them sell make-up, nail accessories, bags, books and so many things.
This shop is not only in the UK because I saw t in America so I don't actually know where it ... ...pierce. I love Claire's accessories for the jewellery I recently bought a birthday present for someone here it was a lovely necklace and they still wear it. The earrings here are great you can buy just one pair or many on the one tag. There are nice notebooks to buy which have nice fur outides and there are mirrors hair accessories lots to buy. The prices can be anything from £1 to £10 bags are no more than this. When there is a sale here you can ...
ms19 05.06.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Claire's Accessories (Shop)
Advantages: Lots of great bargains Disadvantages: Assistants asking if I want a basket
Claire’s Accessories is a haven for women and girls who like glittery, shiny, funky things. Whether you want false nails or a classy shade of nail varnish, Claire’s will have something for everyone.
When I first stepped into Claire’s Accessories I was like a child in a sweet shop, I couldn’t get enough of the beads, cool keyrings, fluffy pens and hair clips.
They sell earrings, bracelets, rings, nail varnish, all assortments ... ...makeup, fantastic handbags, mobile phone covers, and much more. Trust me you can’t go in this shop without buying a few things whether it’s for yourself or a five year old cousin/sis/daughter.
The hair accessories range is brilliant. I bought some fab ‘snappy beads’ which were glittery stars that snap shut into your hair. They look different when out clubbing and look quite elegant – some are black and some silver.
...
chocoholic 18.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Claire's Accessories (Shop)
Value for Money
Layout & presentation
Selection & range
In store customer service
Staff knowledge
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Claire's Accessories (Shop)"
Advantages: Three for two offers Disadvantages: Layout of shop needs revising. Far too cramped.
ClairesAccessories is a great place to shop, especially if you're thinking of buying a gift. I do think, however, some of their products are a little pricey, and I tend to look for something similar elsewhere. It's great when they have the three for two offers. Although, a lot of the stock they promote, and mark down in price, tends to be a little on the garish side, and I have noticed the products that are not sold in the sales, crop up time after time, looking old and tatty. The shop is far too cramped, and I think they seriously need to revise the overall layout. Anyone who has shopped at the Gloucester store will know exactly what I mean. The words cramped and Sardines spring to mind. It's not all negative, the staff are freindly, and helpful, always ready to let you know, when you get to the checkout, if you spend another £5 ...
Advantages: Cheap, good day out for all the family Disadvantages: Can be a bit smelly at times!!
Cleveleys! For train travellers you would probably be better going to Blackpool North and then catching the bus, as although Poulton-le-Fylde station is closer, you would have quite a walk to a bus stop!!
Opening hours are from 10 am every day of the week with a closing time of 6pm, even on a Sunday! Thursday is their late night shopping night, with shops remaining open until 8pm.
All of the outlets at Freepost offer major reductions to the prices you would pay on the high street, with some giving a whopping 70% off their usual prices!!
Included in the huge array of shops are -
~~~ Claire's Accessories~~~
This shop sells a wide range of jewellery, belts, bags, hats and other forms of accessories. It is mainly geared to the younger end of the market, but you can pick up some bargains! All of the jewellery is arranged in sections by ...
Advantages: Undercover shopping, Modern, Mix of Designer Shops and High-Street Fashion. Disadvantages: Can Get Very Crowded on Weekends, You Have to Walk a Long Way Round to Go Up or Down to Next Level, Can get Quite Hot in Shops.
***WHERE IS WEST QUAY?***
West Quay is an undercover shopping complex in Southampton City Centre. It is a short distance from Southampton train station, and provides 4,000 parking spaces for those who wish to drive there. As with anywhere, the parking is fairly pricey, but not excessively so.
***WHAT SHOPS ARE THERE?***
West Quay is on three levels. The top level is where you will find places to eat and drink: such as KFC and Singapore Sams.
Upper shopping level contains shops such as:
Benetton
Levis
Marks and Spencer
John Lewis
La Senza (women's underwear)
Goldsmiths
Next
Faith (shoes)
Schuh (shoes)
H & M
Jane Norman
New Look
Claire's Accessories
Dixons (electricals)
Game
Orange Phone Shop
Clinton Cards
Wallis
Monsoon
Warehouse
Evans
(and many many more...)
Lower Shopping level contains ...
