Buying used Cartriges

I've had an experience but only avoiding mail orders -- only local pickups. I've bought Benz Glider and I checked the diamond head and cantilever with pocket microscope. The cartridge appeared to be in superb condition and it sounded as it was new having 450hrs+ on it. I guess that diamond stylus isn't getting affected by even 5000hrs of using -- only the cantilever from getting on and off the record + loading current that flows throug it. If the cartridge is well maintained, it could last for 5000 hrs+ having no problem. If you'll ever see that there is black dust on the magnet instead of gray or white -- that is the time to retip it or change it, also that means that the cartridge had it's vast time used even if well maintained.

I bought my Grado Reference cartridge from an Associate Professor at Michigan State Univ., and have been very pleased with it. His advertisement here on A-gon said the cartridge had about 100 hours, and from what I can tell that was accurate. I would not normally buy a used cartridge, but the MSRP on a Grado Reference was more than I could justify, so buying it used seemed like a good way to upgrade. It turned out to be an excellent buy. I recommend, however, that the prospective buyer contact the seller by phone and discuss the cartridge and its condition in some detail.

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!

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,.

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.