When cantilever not parallel to cartridge sides

No thats not normal..I could understand if you bought a couple used and that was so,but new should arrive straight and pristine in a proper fitting box to keep it protected.......I would send them bach for sure....

Your estimate of 20% (72 degrees!) is difficult to imagine for a new cartridge, or a used cartridge, or anything other than a completely, utterly and irretrievably trashed-because-it-got-run-over-by-a-truck cartridge. No cantilever would bend anywhere near that far without breaking.

However much it's off, I agree with Thorman. A new cartridge ought to have a cantilever that's within 2-3 degrees of parallel to the body. In percentage terms that's < 1%.

Get a refund or a replacement.

Dear Viper z: I agree that is not normal. I ssume both were new cartridges and I don't know which ones are but on some ( very few ) cartridges you can find that the cantilever is not at the center of the cartridge's body but certainly not a 20% off, maybe is less that that.
Anyway, you have to make the cartridge set up not with the body but with the cantilever shape and if the performance is good then could be no problem at all. For any one of us in this thread it is very dificult to give you a more precise answer because we are not seeing the cartridges. Doug is totally right: 72 degrees!, no way.

So it is your call to send it back or keep it.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

All,
I am very very sorry.. Pls accept my apology. I meant to say that the angle is about 20 DEGREES off! (Not 20%!).

Please allow me to attach this picture below, please click on it and see if this cartridge alignment is normal.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9358823@N02/2939007240/

Thank you all.

sorry again.. reposting the link to the picture I refer to in my previous post:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2939007240_2c2fbfc260.jpg