Comments on: Trying on Earrings: What Should the Rule Be?

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:50:11 +0000

In reply to Sharon Ellis. I purchased a piece of plexiglass from Home Depot and sawed strips about 3/4 in wide and maybe 6 or 8 inches long, smoothed and rounded the ends with sandpaper and drilled a small hole to insert the earring. It was a bit of work but well worth the trouble. I made several of them at the same time and i also paint one end with nailpolish because otherwise it gets lost and i've dropped more than one on the ground without realizing it.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:36:02 +0000

In reply to Coral. Could you let me know where I could buy these earring holders please?

By: Sharon Ellis

Sharon Ellis — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:46:17 +0000

In reply to Colleen. Where do you get the these I have been trying to find some

By: Claire

Claire — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:56:00 +0000

In reply to ellen.

Hi Ellen – Will you share the content of the handout that you give to customers? I would very much appreciate it, I just had a “customer” begin to try on an earring when I brought it out of the case to show it to her. I would love to have a handout for customers, and perhaps it would discourage them from attempting this with an unsuspecting exhibitor.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 06:58:24 +0000

And here's a related topic you may be interested in: Pros & Cons of Using Live Models When Photographing Jewelry.

By: Candace

Candace — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:42:21 +0000

These are my thoughts……I feel that the fingering/handling of the earrings will transfer more germs than putting into the piercing. I really like the idea of the alcohol wipes to use either by my customers or myself, whether they have tried them on or not. For providing my customer an easy and alternative way to ‘test drive’ the earrings, I am interested in trying the earring holders as I have never heard of those before! Thank you – all of these comments are very informative!

By: ellen

ellen — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 05:29:28 +0000

Leslie Hirschberg nails it – a wipe with alcohol may make you or your customer feel better, but it’s not doing squat to solve the problem. 99% of bacteria should be killed by a 20-30 minute alcohol soak, but a quick wipe doesn’t do it.

If you are selling high end jewelry, sure, a customer wants to try it on, and you can rotate if off the floor while you soak it overnight. For craft show sales though, sorry, I don’t let people try them on. I even have a little handout explaining why, and I take my customers’ health too seriously to allow it.

etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/14515170/

By: Rika

Rika — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 07:35:37 +0000

This is an interesting question.

It is a common practise in silversmith stores to allow clients try the earrings. In fashion jewelry stores – not.

As I sell fashion jewelry, I’m not offering this. Some of my earwires are plated metal, I’m not sure they would enjoy alcohol treatment.

If I’m in a show, I always feel bit anxious when people are handling the earrings. I’m afraid they will start taking them off the card and trying on. Still, I don’t want to sound rude and deny them beforehand as most likely they are smart enough to realize they cannot do that. In my experience, most people are used to just hold them closely to their ear. But I do have some bad experiences too, when the customers started trying them on before I had a chance to stop them. It was quite embarrassing.

By: Rain

Rain — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:48:41 +0000

In answer to your question Rayna, no, I don’t sanitize my earrings before I wear them because I’M the only one wearing them. If I was to put on a pair that someone else had worn, I’d sure as heck sanitize them first. I don’t know if that person has an infection. I generally don’t buy earrings anymore but, when I do, I sanitize them before I wear them for the first time because I literally don’t know where they’ve been.

I’ve had a few customers react in shock when I ask them not to try on earrings. I’ve actually had to remove pairs from a display after customers tried them on without asking. If I have extra ear wires with me (and I always try to), I’ll trade them out or I’ll wipe them down with an alcohol wipe or hand sanitizer on a tissue. For me, it’s a hygiene issue.

By: Raphaela

Raphaela — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:04:07 +0000

Alcohol wipes before and after trying on a pair of earrings would be more sanitized than than dragging a pair out of your jewellery box with out washing your hands and sterilizing them before hand, I wonder if you all go to this length on a daily basis.
I can’t imagine buying a pair of earrings without trying the on…how do they hang, do they twist the right way in MY ears, do they suit my hair style, my face my neck! Seriously…….

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:56:13 +0000

Absolutely no way! I have been to many places/shops/private jewellery parties etc with signs that say something along the lines of ‘For reasons of hygiene, please do not try on the earrings’. I would not allow it personally either. Eugh…. (((shudder)))

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:36:44 +0000

I have done tons of shows and have a retail space. I can only remember 1 time when someone even asked to try on earrings. I sort of panicked and said okay because I wasn’t sure what to say, but then took them home and changed the wires after the show. I wouldn’t allow it again. Most people just hold them up to their ears anyway, though.

By: Barbara Jacquin

Barbara Jacquin — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:16:55 +0000

I also think it’s a turn-off when customers see others trying on earrings in the booth. And what if they lose those tiny little butterfly clasps? Where can we find those lucite earring holders? I’m in Europe but would order from the US, UK or anywhere else.

By: Ricki

Ricki — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:39:00 +0000

I definitely try to encourage people to hold up earrings that they are interested and provide a mirror for them (I have several in my booth at all times since I do encourage people to try on necklaces). I discourage trying earrings on, but at the same time do keep alcohol wipes in case someone insists – or puts one on before I get a chance to discourage her. I personally would not try on earrings before buying them and most people I see at the shows I do seem to feel the same way.

By: amy

amy — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:52:25 +0000

How I made the decision about this is by being a patron of a regionally well-known & respected silversmith/jewelry shop. They actually asked me one time if I wanted to try on some earrings that I was looking at, and I was surprised & delighted & said “YES!”. I can’t recall if they wiped them before I tried them on, but they certainly did afterwards (with an alcohol wipe). I ended up purchasing not only one, but two pairs of sterling silver earrings (I love this shop & their work, always have). So, when I began to sell jewelry, I have used the same principle. To me it is about customer service; if someone is going to spend their hard-earned, good money on a quality product, why shouldn’t they be allowed to try it on? I think common-sense is in order, too – if the person’s ears aren’t “healthy” looking (red, sore, scabs), then maybe it’s better to not, but then you risk offending a customer.

By: Glenda

Glenda — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:37:19 +0000

I would suggest that if you want to let your customers you can clean it after with an appropriate desinfectant solution. Metal is not porous, so if cleaned properly it is safe to be used. I volunteer at a nursery and at the end of day we spray the toys with something that says will kill HIV virus, among many others.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:34:39 +0000

I’ve never had anyone ask to try on earrings at my booth but I do carry a spray bottle with alcohol just in case. My personal opinion is that earrings don’t need to be tried on. Customers can pick up the earrings & tell how heavy they might be & they can hold up the earrings in front of their ear to see how long they dangle.

By: Sandra Litva Moran

Sandra Litva Moran — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:24:30 +0000

I have had this problem as well….and I’m not ashamed to say I was a little shocked the first time I saw someone actually put earrings on right in front of me…I was tongue tied because I didn’t want to come across sounding rude but was very uncomfortable! I did not have alcohol wipes with me, so I put those earring aside & replaced the ear wires when I got home, a waste of a good pair of ear wires was tolerable against the thought of a customer possibly contracting something! I really like the lucite earring holder idea but have never seen them, I wonder where I would find something like that…any suggestions? I’m in the US 🙂

By: Coral

Coral — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:15:53 +0000

This was an issue that cropped up for me this year when I diversified my crafting into jewellery, including earrings, which is sold through a friend’s shop. I’m only there 1 day per week, and I suddenly realised just as I was displaying all my wares, that it could be a problem for people wanting to see what the earrings looked like on, and I bought some clear commercial lucite “earring viewers” like the ones Colleen mentioned.

I’m in the UK (actually an island off the west coast of Scotland), and had a lot of difficulty tracking these down, but eventually found two commercial jewellers in London who sold them.

I put a little notice near the earring stands asking people to please use them for hygene reasons if they wanted to see what the earrings looked like on, and a number of visitors to the shop have said what a good idea that is and seem to appreciate it.

I don’t have pierced ears I don’t wear earrings myself, but if I did, I certainly wouldn’t want to try them on (or buy them) if they’d been in someone else’s ear first, but maybe that’s just me!

Coral

By: Brenda Braun

Brenda Braun — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:33:33 +0000

I don’t allow anyone to try on earrings when I sell in person, I ask that they hold them up in front of their ears if they want to see what they’ll look like on.

By: Sue Hahn

Sue Hahn — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:23:58 +0000

Earring holders are easy to make! =-= as Colleen says, clear lucite the size of an emery board are commercially made — but to make your own – take a paddle pop stick – paint it (mine are silver and gold) – put a hole in one end — as easy at that! — put the pierced earring back in the hole (or the wire) and hold up to the ear. Don’t take rists with infection!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:13:59 +0000

I used to sell Jewelry for a direct sales company and we used an earring holder. Customers could take the earring off of the earring card, put it on the earring holder and hold it up to their ear. It is made of clear lucite and about the size of an emery board. This worked great and they really got a good feel for how the earring would look! I agree that it;s kind of Icky to let people try them on.

By: Leslie Hirschberg

Leslie Hirschberg — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:16:04 +0000

Sorry, alcohol, while it cleans well, doesn’t kill serious bacteria and viruses. My vote is an absolute NO for trying on earrings. Alcohol is used in physicians’ offices to clean your skin before (not sterilize) an injection. Alcohol isn’t used to clean metal instruments.

By: Sue Runyon

Sue Runyon — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:09:17 +0000

I don’t do a lot of shows, but people seem perfectly fine with just holding the earrings up to their ears and looking in the mirror. I do keep the individual alcohol wipes handy for those to want to purchase and wear them right away since they have all been handled. The wipes are available inexpensively at any drug store in the section for diabetic supplies.

By: Lee Ritter

Lee Ritter — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:48:12 +0000

I have individually wrapped alcohol wipes on hand at shows as well. I feel that this will take care of any germs. I don’t see a problem with letting someone try them on if they are wiped clean afterwards with the alcohol.

By: Nina Leto

Nina Leto — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:09:57 +0000

I agree with Marie about the alcohol wipes. I sell in my home studio/apartment, generally to people I know so it’s not as anxiety-producing as allowing customers who are unknown to try on earrings. That being said, I sill like the alcohol cleansing of ear wires.

By: Cyreathia Reyer

Cyreathia Reyer — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:04:22 +0000

I agree with Marie. I always have a box of the alcohol wipes in my booth. If someone wants to try on a pair of earrings, I most definitely allow it and give them a wipe to wipe the ear wires before they try them on – just because they have been handled. I always clean them again before putting them back on display if they don’t purchase.

It usually works as the customer usually purchases them and wears them out of the booth.

By: Karan Marie

Karan Marie — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:12:11 +0000

I’m with Marie Baker .. I will occasionally make a pair that are heavier and have no problem with someone wanting to feel just how heavy they might be when worn. I always carry a box of alcohol wipes for this purpose. I also carry and sell boxes of Lobe Wonder support patches (lobewonder.com/), so that if someone really wants a pair of earrings that might feel a bit too heavy, I have an instant solution. I’ve often even mentioned and sold them to women who have other earrings they’ve stopped wearing due to elongated holes. I get a lot of grateful responses and haven’t any qualms about using alcohol wipes in this fashion.

By: Marie Baker

Marie Baker — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:06:19 +0000

I have found that the customers prefer to try on earrings are usually checking the weight of the earring in their ears. I don’t have a problem with this. Alcohol is used by hospitals and doctors’ office to disinfect their surfaces. I use individually wrapped alcohol wipes to clean the earrings before and after a customer tries them on. The customer appreciates my concern for their health and safety. I use it as a way to develop the dialogue with the customer and will almost always be able to close the sale.

By: Annette

Annette — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:27:29 +0000

I use a pair of earring holders that look like a “T” made of wire – slip one in the end of the T loop and the customer can hold it up to her ear without fingers/cards etc., getting in the way.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:23:23 +0000

I did quite a bit of research and couldn’t find any official United States law or health regulation prohibiting trying on pierced earrings, or returning them for a refund after wearing them.

The closest thing to an “official” information source I could find was this ConsumerReports.org mention:

“Federal law prohibits returning pierced earrings, underwear, and swimsuits? Wrong! The retailer may want you to believe that, and some states have specific laws prohibiting certain returns, but this isn’t a universal retail truth. Of course, the store can adopt its own policy not to accept returns of these items—or anything else, for that matter.”

I did come across mentions that some cities may have health regulations regarding trying on or returning pierced earrings – and that possibly the U.K. and Australia have regulations regarding this issue.

But here is my personal opinion as both a jewelry artist and a jewelry customer:

If you consider all the serious skin infections (MRSA, flesh-eating bacteria, etc.), plus hepatitis, HIV, and other illnesses that can be transmitted easily from one person to another – it’s not worth putting your customers (or yourself, or anyone else) at even the slightest bit of a health risk.

Jewelry is about expression, beauty, and joy – and should never be the cause of illness or grief.

Personally I feel that pierced earrings should not be tried on, shared, or returned.

And if they’ve been modeled by another person – then a new, unworn pair of earwires should be put on the earrings before selling them.

Again, that’s just my opinion.

If anyone can point us to an official regulation or statement one way or the other about this issue (from any country), I’d love to have it posted here!

By: Alicia Rivera

Alicia Rivera — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:43:20 +0000

This question always amazes me as I’ve never seen anyone in a retail store actually try on earrings. I’ve seen people pick up the earrings and hold them up near their ear to see how they will look. That’s as much as I’ve ever seen anyone do, and honestly, I don’t see why you would need to do more than that to decide whether or not to buy.

I don’t understand why handmade should be treated any differently.

My personal preference is not to buy earrings that were going in and out of other peoples piercings. There is an “ick” factor for me :?.

I know I’ve seen very creative solutions for this in the past so I can’t wait to see the win-win solutions that are sure to come up in the comments here. 🙂

Alicia – JMJ Content Specialist