I had my ears pierced at 10, at a chemist. It was done in a room that reminded me of a dentists, dentist chair as well! I had 9ct gold studs fitted.
First ear fine, second one don't know what happened but i fainted. When i came to, the main chemist bloke was fiddling with my ear and rubbing my shoulder to wake me up. Apparently i was whiter than a ghost!
When they took me back out to my mum we were given a cup of tea and didn't get charged. When my mum asked me what happened i couldn't tell her as i don't know. I remember the woman coming towards me with the 'gun' and then being woken up. Apparently she hit the cartilage or something, well the word cartilage was mentioned. I was old enough to understand, image being a baby or toddler.
Just to say a few years later had a second piercing at a market stall, no problems.