I had a pleasant experience getting pierced at Hot Rod about two years ago. However, my piercing started to reject pretty badly after a few months and I had to take it out less than six months after getting pierced. Of course piercings reject, and it is not the fault of the piercer.
However, when I decided to get it redone in another shop and I explained to the piercer what had happened, she was seriously surprised that anyone would would have done a nipple piercing with a ring and she pierced me with a short barbell. I've had the piercing now for over a year and it has not rejected.
I feel like a lot of pain could have been avoided had my piercer recommended that I get barbells when I asked which type of jewelry I should select.