Bojack, how sad to admit to this but you are right; I purchased this CDP as brand-new, used it only for about 1550 hours in 26 months to spin my CDs and it started to skip only two months after the expiration of its warranty. The Italian manufacturer still suggests me to send the CDP for the second time to the same repair person. Since obeying to this manufacturer's suggestion now seemed to me like committing the same mistake for the second time, at that point I decided to get some second opinions from the Audiogon people. Thanks to all, many people commented on my question. Today, I purchased "white lithium grease" to lubricate the rail on which the laser head is moving back-and-forth, if this doesn't solve the issue; then I will put the CDP back into its original box and store it out of my sight.