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Stretching Information
FAQ
I am not my body
-Steel-
Steel Flesh Tunnels
Steel Ear Stretchers
-Glass-
Glass Flesh Tunnels
Glass (Dichroic)
-Organic-
Horn Stretchers
Horn Tunnels Plugs
Inlaid Tribal Horn
Wooden Stretchers
-PMMA and UV-
Ultra Violet Stretchers
Ikon Plugs Tunnels
-Natural-
Precious Stone Plugs
Shells and Fossils
-Miscellaneous-
Unusual Flesh Plugs
Fake Flesh Tunnels
Arka - Large Gauge Ear Stretching Jewellery Shop in the UK.
With Worldwide Delivery !
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Arka Shop FAQ
We want happy customers !
Our Price Promise.
If you see the same item of equal quality for sale on a website in the uk, tell us about it, and we will beat their price for you. Guaranteed.
If you are not happy with your purchase for whatever reason, please contact us to let us know why. If you have dealt with us in the past, you'll know we dont muck people about. Our promise of a full refund if youre not happy is just that... a promise.
Please have a look through these questions before emailing us.
We are based in the UK, Click a flag for information on international orders.
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Ear Stretching Information
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What is the size stated ?
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.
Go
here
for information on this and the other different types of ear stretching jewellery.
Whats all this millimeter business ? I only know my gauge size.
In europe we tend to measure our body jewellery in milllimeters. In the USA and Canada body jewellery is measured in gauge size. These ARE different!
Gauge to Millimeters.
Americans tend to use use gauge sizes, in Europe its generally 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
Gauging is another term for stretching.
I cant find anything in my size !
Have you used our 'seach by size' facility? Choose your size and this will show a thumbnail of every item we have in that size ! Easy.
Double Flared ? 2-piece threaded ? Whats it all about?.
For a description of the different types of Ear Stretching Jewellery, go
here
I made an order, but didnt get a confirmation email from you..
Our website will generate an automatic receipt email for your order, but you must return to our website once you have completed payment at Paypal in order to trigger the receipt.
There is a 'return to merchant' button, on the final Paypal payment page, 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' then we will have received your order.
You will receive a further email from us, telling you when your order has been posted.
My order hasnt arrived.
All our orders are posted out within 2 working days, Or you will be emailed with a reason why not and the option to cancel the order. Thats it.
So if you havent received the order in the time frames listed below...(bottom of page) get in touch because it might be lost in the post.
Please check you have given us the correct address (on your receipt email) , you'd be surprised how many people get it wrong, and the order they think is lost is at a neighbours house.
I bought a pair and they dont match !
But did you buy them at the same time? We've had people buying one piece, then the next week buying another, and then complaing 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!
I've measured my item and its the wrong size !
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. You may need a 'feeler gauge' to check this properly. If we've sent you the wrong size get back to us asap.
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 Item I want is listed but the size choice is not available ?
If the size you want is listed in the item description, but is not available as a choice to order, then that size is temporarily out of stock. Please check back in a week or so. Unlike other companies we only allow you to order what we have on the shelf, ready to go out.
Are the prices stated for a pair?
No. They're cheap enough already ! All our items are listed and priced individually, not in pairs. If you want a pair then order two. If the item is left or right handed, you will be offered the choice.
If I stretch my ear, will it shrink back?
The answer to this depends on lots of factors.
Generally though, holes of up to about 6mm or 8mm, and even sometimes as large as 10mm, will shrink back down to normal piecing size. (Given enough time)
The factors that affect this are;
How quickly you stretched up... too fast is bad as you can build up scar tissue that might not stretch back down.
How long you rest between each stretch... same reasons as above
Your skin elasticity... everyone is different.
Ear stretching is a permanant body modification and as such should be taken seriously. Some Body modders would say if youre already thinking about shrinking your holes, dont bother stretching in the first place. In any case, dont rely on the fact that the holes will disappear.. they may not.
Read our
Ear stretching Information Page
Does it hurt?
Not if youre doing it properly. A slight discomfort maybe but no more. Read our
Ear Stretching Information Page
Why do you only use Paypal ?
We have tried other PSPs (payment service providers) and have found Paypal to be the best by far. It costs us a bit more than a merchant banking portal but the security benefits justify this. The paypal security features are probably the toughest on the internet. Since we've been using paypal we've experienced no fraud.
It is also much safer for you the customer as well. We never see your credit or debit card details at all, the whole transaction takes place on the Paypal website. For you, this is in fact much safer than using sites which take your credit card details for processing themselves.
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).
You no longer need a Paypal account to pay using Paypal. On the Paypal checkout page, you can click; 'dont have Paypal account', or 'Pay using credit card' and continue with the transaction as normal.
If you do have a Paypal account then the checkout process is speedy and easy.
Our Green Policy
We've just gone green! For 2008.
From 1st Jan 2008 for post and packing we use;
Bio degradable Jiffy envelopes
100% bio-degradable and made from 75% recycled materials (the rest from sustainable sources) and are tough enough to be re-used many times. We used to use the cheaper 'mail lite' air padded envelopes.The plastic in these is not bio-degradable.
Bio degradable bubblewrap
Made fron Sancell bio-degradable film. We used to use standard bubble wrap, which is not bio-degradable. As our business grew, we realised how much of this stuff we were using, and started thinking... "this is all just going in the ground." Even if the envelopes and bubble wrap we use now, do just go straight in the ground, without being re-used, they will quickly bio-degrade.
Invoices on recycled paper
Our paper is made from 100% recycled material. We used to use budget printer paper. This came from 'sustainable forests' but whichever way you look at it, its got to be better to use recycled paper. We also stopped using invoices with 'peel off' address labels, as we were left with lots of the plastic coated backing, from the labels. These were not recyclable or bio-degradable.
Other packaging
Delicate items will be bubble wrapped inside a section of strong cardboard tube.
We're commited to being as environmentally friendly as possible.
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Orders within Great Britain
All prices are in British pounds.
All sizes are in millimeters.
Orders under £20 go standard first class.
Orders over £20 post is by recorded delivery (signed for)...unless otherwise requested.
Postage costs
£1.20
inc bio-degradable packing. (see our green policy above) You will normally receive your order within 2-5 days.
If recorded delivery is not convienient for you, you can request standard first class during the checkout, please ask for this at the 'delivery instructions' box.
You can request a different delivery address from the invoice address if you like...ie: have it delivered to your work.
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Orders within Europe
All prices are displayed in British Pounds. A
currency converter
is available at the checkout which can calculate prices in a wide range of currencies. If you need to see the price in another currency, simply add an item to the cart and go to the checkout, you will then be able to convert the price to your chosen currency.
All sizes are displayed in millimeters.
Postage to the EU costs
£2.00 (2.50 EUR)
Orders under £20 go 'Royal Mail Airmail'
This service takes 2 - 5 working days.
Orders over £20 are sent 'Royal Mail International Signed for Airmail'. Someone will need to sign for the packet on delivery.
This service takes 2 - 5 working days.
We use
100% bio-degradable packaging.
(see our green policy above)
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Orders to USA, Canada, Australia and the rest of the world
Sizes are stated in millimeters, to find the equivalent gauge size.. go
here
All prices are displayed in British Pounds. A
currency converter
is available at the checkout which can calculate prices in a wide range of currencies. If you need to see the price in another currency, simply add an item to the cart and got to the checkout, you will then be able to convert the price to your chosen currency.
The USA, Canada, Australia and Rest of the World.
Postage costs
£2.50 (4.70 USD, 5.44 AUD)
Orders under £20 go 'Royal Mail Airmail'
This service takes 4 - 7 working days.
Orders over £20 are sent 'Royal Mail International Signed for Airmail'. Someone will need to sign for the packet on delivery.
This service takes 4 - 7 working days.
We use
100% bio-degradable packaging.
(see our green policy above)
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