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Buying used Cartriges

I quick gander at the classified section here on A-Gon will reveal that cartridges sell very well. How do you all protect your selves in buy something that you cannot verify the age and condition of? The sales are not being made with long term, high feedback members. Many are zero feedback users. Most sellers state, used "50-100 hours", with models that have been on the market for several years. I have made 3 cartridge purchases here on Agon and have been lucky so far, but am in the majority or minority?
128x128justlisten
gregm
3,395 posts
 
I second Sd's last suggestion very strongly. Other than the cartridge being 3rd hand (the seller would clarify) or the way it's been used, the way it's been mounted -- vta, azimuth, anti-skating, etc -- can age it prematurely... A friendly, in depth conversation with the seller is a must and an occasion to make new acquaintances too!

Cheers!
mg16's avatar
mg16
113 posts
 
Maybe I have been lucky, but I have never gotten a bad cartridge used, either here or even at ebay. I have purchased a half dozen used cartridges, and none were ever misrepresented to me by the seller.
The last thing I would want to do is to sell someone a cartridge with a worn stylus , and allow them to ruin precious lp's, in order to make a 100 or 200 bucks. I think most audiophiles are good people, and feel the same way,.
brianw
373 posts
 
I've only heard of poor experiences buying Benz cartridges (supposedly NEW) from a Hong Kong dealer in Hong Kong. I can't imagine that regulars would dare pass off trash here.
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