Novice Question - Do I need a new cartridge?

It will snap. If you play it while crooked, it will be all out of whack. You need a new one.

You cannot bend it back--there's no way you can restore the proper alignment.

However, you may not need a new cartridge, just a new stylus. Contact your dealer or Music Hall about a replacement.

Yep, my wife told them the whole system is off limits, guess the orders did not get down to the actual cleaner.

Kicking myself for not putting us the signs, like I did when the last lot started.

I understand stylus is not replaceable.

Thanks to all, for the for the feed back.

The stylus is not user-replaceable; you'd have to ship it back to the factory. But that should be cheaper than a whole new cartridge.

My wife hired a cleaning lady without my consent years back to be charitable to the cleaning lady, whom she met at church.
At that time I did not have a dedicated listening room.
yes she did dust the turntable, and bent the stylus on my at that time Benz Glider. I did move it back into place (I thought) but during critical listening I could hear the distortion from the misalignment. when I tried to bend it again SNAP, to bad so sad.

Now I have a Shelter 501 and loving it. This is an opportunity to get something new and better. This is a GOOD thing, and your wife can't say anything.