Novice Question - Do I need a new cartridge?

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.