To buy or not to buy a used cartridge?

Well, there's another angle to this one, if you buy a great cartridge, Koetsu, Supex, Kiseki, or whatever, with a roached cantilever, you can usually buy it very, very, inexpensively. Send it to Soundsmith and for another $400.00 you have a new cantilever and stylus. Essentially new, though no longer the cartridge that you started with.

On the other hand, if the coils are toast, Peter will just send it back to you for the circular file.

I think cartridges are perhaps the riskiest used purchase. They are quite fragile/delicate devices.

You have to be real careful to be certain of the condition.

Thats what I meant by properly inspected Viridian. I agree with you on the Soundsmith approach , I just can,t understand why seller's wouldn't do that themselves before selling it as you might end up keeping it if your price is correct for 400 dollars more to have a virtually new Koetsu cartridge or proof all is good for the sale. Not having to wait for the retip to a potential buyer versus not finding out something you thought was good to go that needs the service would get a better price as well I would think.

Having purchased 9 used cartridges here on Agon (and 1 on ebay), I can attest that it is no more risky than other used component purchases. Feedback check is essential here. I have received one cartridge that was not as described (and no, it wasn't the one from ebay believe it or not). On the other hand I have received a few components (mainly power amps) delivered with shipping damage. I am more leery of having heavy items shipped than buying used cartridges. Buying anything used is always more risky but overall I think well worth it. As far as how many hours the seller claims his cart to have, I only use this as a guide, not realistic unless he claims to have logged hours. I think most sellers here on Agon are pretty staight forward.

Buy new and know what you're getting