As someone who has been a Piercing Pagoda customer for over a decade, I‘ve come to trust them as my go-to destination for on-trend jewelry at affordable prices. With 600+ retail locations across the country and an easy-to-shop website, I keep going back to discover new gems for my jewelry box.
My Piercing and Jewelry Background
I first stepped into my local mall‘s Piercing Pagoda at 16 years old, finally ready to pierce my ears without my parents. I appreciated that they used single use sterilized earrings and markers to expertly place the piercings. The stud earrings they recommended after have remained my daily pair over 10 years later!
Since then, I‘ve expanded my ear piercings to include a mid-helix and upper lobe. I‘ve also gotten an eyebrow and nose piercing over the years. Through it all, Piercing Pagoda has been my trusted piercing and jewelry destination every step of the way.
Beyond piercings, I regularly purchase their fashion and fine jewelry for everyday wear and gifting for special occasions. As someone on a budget, I appreciate the frequent sales and affordable pricing for real sterling silver and gold plated pieces.
So with my years of first-hand experience as background, let me share my complete review of Piercing Pagoda.
Piercing Pagoda At a Glance
Before getting to my personal experiences, here are some key facts and figures about Piercing Pagoda:
- 1969: Originated as Piercing Pagoda specializing in accessible, affordable piercings and jewelry
- 600+: Number of retail locations across the US and Canada
- 5,000+: Jewelry items available on their website
- 4.8 stars: Average rating across nearly 300 Piercing Pagoda customer reviews
- 81%: Percentage of customers who recommend Piercing Pagoda to friends
So they have established themselves as a leader in piercing and budget-friendly jewelry for over 50 years now. The breadth of selection and glowing customer satisfaction scores speak to their success.
My Pros and Cons Over Years of Shopping
Here are the biggest pros and cons I‘ve experienced first-hand during my 10 years as a Piercing Pagoda shopper:
Pros
- Knowledgeable Piercers: They never rush and offer friendly guidance on aftercare
- Affordable Prices: Most fashion jewelry under $75; fine jewelry under $150
- Frequent Sales: New promos and deals every week with up to 60% off
- Loyalty Rewards: Earn points with purchases towards discount vouchers
- Wide Selection: New arrivals every season from classic to cutting edge
- Free Shipping: No minimum + free returns make shopping online easy
Cons
- Limited Men‘s Jewelry: I wish my husband had more options when we shop together
- Inconsistent Availability: Hot sellers often sell out quickly and take weeks to restock
- No Resizing: In-store service only available for their higher end bridal jewelry
- Extended Piercing Healing: My helix piercing took a full year before I could change earrings
- Pricey Shipping Insurance: I recommend getting insurance with expensive online orders
So while selection and affordability keep me coming back, stock inconsistencies and shipping limitations hold them back from being 100% perfect in my book.
Next let‘s get into more details on my personal item-by-item experiences…
My Go-To Piercing Pagoda Jewelry Picks
Here are some of my most-worn and beloved jewelry items purchased from Piercing Pagoda over the past 10 years:
Black Diamond CZ Studs
After my initial ear lobe piercing, I chose these black diamond colored CZ earrings as my starter pair. To this day, I still wear them just about every day! The 6mm round cut stones have maintained their sparkle beautifully. And even sleeping in them nightly, the post and backs remain secure and comfortable. At $60, they have more than earned their cost per wear over the past decade.
Heart Signet Ring
For our 5 year wedding anniversary last year, I wanted to gift my husband something really special. This polished sterling silver signet ring customized with a central heart motif was perfect. The crisp details and heavy substantial feel make this ring look far pricier than its $99 price tag. It has quickly become my husband‘s favorite piece that he loves wearing on special date nights.
Opulent Mother of Pearl Nose Ring Set
I‘ve gone back and forth between a stud and hoop in my nostril piercing for years. This elegant set featuring AAA grade mother of pearl and white topaz CZ makes it easy to change up my look. The opalescent MOP and sparkling topaz pair beautifully with my complexion. And the 14k gold posts maintain that luxe look without irritating my sensitive piercing. At $75 for the set, I‘ve definitely gotten my money‘s worth by mixing and matching these over the past year.
So while I‘ve purchased too many Piercing Pagoda pieces to list, these three purchases represent my exceptional experiences over the past decade. Their affordable pricing makes it possible for me to refresh my style often without breaking the bank.
Next let‘s get into how Piercing Pagoda compares to other major jewelry retailers…
How Piercing Pagoda Compares to Other Jewelry Stores
Given my years patronizing various jewelry stores, friends often ask how Piercing Pagoda stacks up against the competition. Here‘s my take:
Piercing Pagoda vs. Claires – While these two mall staples both pierce ears, Claires caters primarily to young tween girls with their inventory. Piercing Pagoda offers a much wider selection suitable for older teen and adult sensibilities.
Piercing Pagoda vs. Kays/Zales As one of the largest national jewelry chains, brands like Kays and Zales carry far more precious metals, diamonds, and gemstones. But their upper tier pricing leaves little room for affordable fashion jewelry. So while Kays/Zales wins on fine jewelry, Piercing Pagoda takes the prize for everyday pieces on a budget.
Piercing Pagoda vs. Local Jewelry Stores – For a high touch custom experience and unique handcrafted designs, local jewelers can‘t be beat. However, their limited inventories and specialty services come at a steep cost. So for price-conscious shoppers like me, Piercing Pagoda strikes the right balance between selection, quality and affordability.
Now that we‘ve covered how they stack up and my own experiences, let‘s go over what buyers more broadly are saying…
What Piercing Pagoda Customers Are Saying
Beyond my own history with Piercing Pagoda, it‘s helpful to see what the masses think. Here are some key statistics:
- 4.8 stars average rating over nearly 300 website reviews
- 81% of customers say they would recommend Piercing Pagoda to friends
- 4.4 stars across over 700 Google reviews
- 4 stars over 50+ Yelp reviews
The consistency of high ratings across channels tells me most buyers walk away very satisfied. Reading the reviews shows just how much people love the accessibility and affordability Piercing Pagoda provides. Many cite having gone to locations for years and even decades.
Not every review is perfect of course. I noticed some complaints around shipping delays and scratched gold plating. But the overwhelming sentiment seems to align with my own largely positive history.
Here are just a few verbatim quotes that echo the common themes:
👉 "Love this place! My daughter got her ears pierced here and the staff were so patient and accommodating."
👉 "Really nice sterling silver hoops for an amazing price. My new everyday earrings for sure!"
👉 "Was nervous for my conch piercing but my piercer made me feel totally comfortable. Highly recommend!"
So both statistically and anecdotally, Piercing Pagoda wins over the vast majority of shoppers with quality service and products. Next let‘s get into tips for saving…
My Tips for Saving Money at Piercing Pagoda
For my fellow budget-focused shoppers, here are my proven tricks for keeping costs down:
1. Stack coupons and sitewide sales – Occasionally you can combine RetailMeNot promos with Piercing Pagoda sales for up to 60% off certain categories. The more you buy, the more you save.
2. Buy bundles and sets – Keep an eye out for bonus value bundles and jewelry sets – buying pieces together often provides discount over individually priced items.
3. Join their free rewards program – You earn points for every qualified purchase, which add up towards money saving voucher rewards to apply on future shopping trips. It definitely pays to join!
4. Take advantage of seasonal sales events – Especially around holidays like Valentine‘s Day and Mother‘s Day, select fine jewelry sees major markdowns that are worth waiting for.
5. Refer friends to unlock perks – Get $25 bonuses for every friend you refer as well as early access to private sales. Your friends get $25 off too making it a win-win!
So between regular promos, loyalty programs and targeted sales events, patience and planning pays off with Piercing Pagoda‘s frequent bargains.
Final Thoughts
To sum up my complete review, Piercing Pagoda remains my top choice for affordable, quality jewelry and professional piercing services even after 10+ years. The breadth of online inventory plus convenient retail locations make shopping a breeze. And the regular discount events and loyalty program provide ongoing value for savvy shoppers.
While I occasionally cave for more precious stones and metals from fine jewelers, I always circle back to Piercing Pagoda as my day-to-day jewelry destination. Their accessible prices make it effortless to experiment with new styles without going broke. And the great service keeps me coming back for the next new piercing on my wishlist!
So with that, I happily recommend Piercing Pagoda to anyone looking for their piercing and jewelry needs. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
