Buying a used cartridge...tell us your tale.

Perhaps I have been lucky, but I have bought four out of the six cartridges I've owned, since getting back into vinyl 11 years ago, used, and they have all been in good shape. I've bought from one person on Ebay, one from a guy on Audiogon and the other two from two friends. (Obviously the later two were obtained in a more reassuring manner then the first two.). I think the best thing you can do is to call the seller to discuss the cartridge, their system, and other pertinent matters as a way of feeling them out. You need to make sure you are comfortable before going through with the sale.

My two cents worth.

I have bought and sold MANY used cartridges and have never had a bad experience on either side.

It's definitely a bargain.

Been at both sides of the coin,

Really bad luck with a DV 17D3, best of luck with an AT-ML170.

Buy new unless you buy from a close friend.

I do think that buying a used MM cartridge with a removable stylus is a VERY different proposition to buying an expensive used MC cart with a non-removable stylus.

Personaly, I have a VERY BIG reticence to buying NEW CARTS.
But I know why and when this started. To put it short:
thanks to Raul and his endless MM thread. Before I join the
club 7 years or so ago it never even corssed my mind that I
need more than just one cart. But then I discovered a kind
of Eldorado. The opportunity to experiment with all kinds of
carts for free. Even with some profit if I was fast. I was
able to sell the (byRaul) recommended carts for more than
I paid for. That is how the addiction started. Like getting
some 'stuff' from your friends for free first and then 'getting
the stuff' on your own by saving on your cloths first...
I am not sure how many I own but guess more as 50.
I also guess that about two of them are new carts.