Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your product from us, you can post it back to us within 7 days of delivery and we will refund your money. Simple as that. Please however, read this whole section.

Any goods returned must be in a new and unused condition, that means, still in the clear sealed bag with the 'arka' sticker on and unopened.

You are NOT allowed to try an item on and then return it.

Body Jewellery is a personal product, with hygiene and health implications. Some serious diseases can be transmitted by sharing body jewellery, (hepatitus b is an example). For this reason we're not required by law to accept returns, but we will, if the items are still unopened in the sealed bag, and the bag has not been tampered with.

All items are shipped in sealed clear bags, so you can inspect and measure the item before opening it. Please decide whether you want the item before opening the bag. Opening the bag means you have accepted the item.

Please note though, that all returns must be confirmed with Arka-Shop by either phone or e-mail, BEFORE you post them back to us. Items for return should be sent back at the customers expense via First Class Delivery.

Please send all returns to;

Arka
PO BOX 5278
Brighton
BN50 9DR
United Kingdom

It is the customers choice whether they use recorded delivery or standard post to return items, but please bear in mind, all returns are the responsibility of the customer until they reach us. Please post in a padded envelope.(We recommend recorded delivery for items worth more than £30) and pay the correct postage or else the items wont get to us..

All products (unless otherwise stated) are guaranteed for 28 days from purchase. This guarantee does not cover accidental damage or damage caused my misuse of an item.

All sizes are subject to reasonable variation, especially the hand carved items and the hand blown glass. Once again we're talking differences of less than a millimeter. An item will not be considered faulty unless the width is more than 0.5mm larger or smaller than that stated. Also, please note that horn is a natural product and that some slight variance in colour from pure black is normal and not a fault. Horn also has a grain, like wood, which can be grey, white and brown, this is normal and not a fault with the item.

We dont take payment over the phone, all orders and payments must be done on the website.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as paypal accounts.

There are two choices.

HSBC secure Epayments. You can pay using any credit/debit card using HSBC secure Epayments. (not just HSBC issued cards) Once you have completed your order, you are directed to the HSBC website where your card details are taken on a fully encrypted SSL page, with up-to-the-minute security features from both Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode.

Paypal. We also accept payment via Paypal. You can pay using your paypal account, or your credit/debit card. Once you have completed your order, you are directed to the Paypal website where your account details or card details are taken on Paypals website. PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available).

Both these methods of paying online are very safe, indeed they are safer than paying over the phone, or even in a shop, as we never see your credit card details at all.

Our website will generate an automatic receipt email for your order, but you must return to our website once you have completed payment at HSBC or Paypal in order to trigger the receipt.

There is a 'return to merchant' button, on the final HSBC and Paypal payment pages, press this for your receipt.

If you forgot to do this... dont worry, as long as you have a receipt email from Paypal, stating that you have made a payment to 'Arka' or you saw the confirmation page at HSBC then we will have received your order.

You will receive a further email from us, telling you when your order has been posted.
Please check in your spam box if you did not receive that email.

The size stated on expanders, tapers, stretchers, hooks and crescents is the maximum diameter of the taper.

But, the size stated for plugs and tunnels is the diameter at which the item sits in the ear. ie: the size of your hole.

If you are buying 'double flared' plugs or tunnels, be aware that the actual diameter of the item is larger than the diameter stated. The flared part of the plug is usually 1mm - 1.5mm larger.

See the info on double flared plugs on our ear stretching information page.

In Europe we tend to measure our body jewellery in milllimeters. In the USA and Canada body jewellery is measured in gauge sizes. These ARE different!

Gauge to Millimeters.

18 gauge = 1.0mm
16 gauge = 1.2mm
14 gauge = 1.6mm
12 gauge = 2.0mm
10 gauge = 2.4mm
8 gauge = 3.2mm
6 gauge = 4.0mm
4 gauge = 5.0mm
2 gauge = 6.0mm
0 gauge = 8.0mm
00 gauge = 10.0mm
000 guage = 11.0mm

after '000' inches are used.

12mm = almost 1/2 inch
13mm = just over 1/2 inch
14mm = almost 9/16 inch
15mm = almost 19/32 inch
16mm = 5/8 inch
17mm = almost 11/16 inch
18mm = just over 11/16 inch
19mm = 3/4 inch
20mm = 25/32 inch
21mm = just over 13/16 inch
22mm = almost 7/8 inch
23mm = 29/32 inch
24mm = just over 15/16 inch
25mm = almost 1 inch
26mm = just over an inch
28mm = almost 1 1/8 inch
30mm = almost 1 1/4 inch
32mm = 1 1/4 inches
35mm = 1 3/8 inch
38mm = 1 1/2 inches
40mm = almost 1 5/8 inch
41mm = 1 5/8 inch

Yes, We probably do.

We ship to most countries in the world.
During checkout you will be asked for the destination country.
Please choose your country from the dropdown menu.
If your country is not there, please email us.

But did you buy them at the same time? We've had people buying one piece, then the next week buying another, and then complaining that they dont match. All the horn, bone and dichroic glass is handmade.. every piece is slightly different.

When people order a pair we go through the stock and pick out a nice matching pair.. If we cant make a good pair we let you know. If you order one piece and then another we obviously cant match them.

If you want a pair, please order a pair together!

If your item is surgical steel, titanium, acrylic or stone, then the size should be correct. The size stated is the point at which the jewellery should sit in the ear. Ie the size of your hole. You may need a 'vernier gauge' to check this properly. Please note that for double flared items the 'lip' will be about 1.5mm wider than the size stated. See the info on double flared plugs on our ear stretching information page.

If after checking this, your sure we have sent you the wrong size, get back to us asap, and we'll replace it for you.

If your item is hand made... carved horn or wood... or blown glass... then please allow a little variation in size and design. Items stated 'hand carved' are genuinely that. We buy direct from the carvers in their village in Indonesia. Hand made items all vary slightly. The size should be no more than 0.5mm bigger or smaller than what is stated. If it is, please get in touch for a replacement.

The horn and bone used in our jewellery comes from water buffalo farmed in Asia. The animals are reared and killed for their meat. The horn and bone are a by-product of the farming industry. If the bones and horn were not used for carving, they would be discarded. All these items are handcarved in rural communities in Indonesia. The prices are set by the suppliers, and the carvers are very pleased to have the trade. The carvers come from families of hand carvers who have honed their skills over many generations.

'Organic' materials allow the ear lobe to 'breathe'. Some people find that wearing steel, acrylic or glass can make the lobe a bit smelly.. (nice) Wearing horn, bone and wooden jewellery definitely helps with this, which is why some stretchers promote 'organics' as the best material to use for long term primary use, but its all a matter of taste really.