Ortofon MC X30 broken cantilever - what are my options

How the Exchange service works

We offer the customer to buy back their cartridge for 25% of the current price list, provided that the customer will buy a new Ortofon cartridge, with either an equivalent or better model. The Exchange Service is available through participating Ortofon Authorised HiFi Dealers pursuant to the purchase of a new cartridge. If you should have the need for this service, please contact your local Ortofon Authorised HiFi Partner.
 

so ortofon will credit you $195 towards the purchase of new cartridge if your current cartridge is out of warranty. That’s pretty decent. 

@mahler123 

WTF does SOL mean?  FWIW I only speak strine.  And I hate TLAs

This being a Family Site, use your imagination-or Google, as I just did for TLA

@audphile1 @mahler123 

The math on the Ortofon exchange program creates a challenge or opportunity. Rather than paying the $500+ for the same cartridge (exchanged), Soundsmith can upgrade it to a Sapphire, Ruby, or Boron Cantilever - making it a MC X40 that sells for $1150.  With the original MC X30 cost of $780 plus the cost of the upgrade/repair, I would be out about $75 overall. 

+ for VAS as I had a very positive experience recently with inspection and cleaning. Also purchased a tonearm from Steve Leung there that I am very happy with. Unless you are in Great Britain I would not recommend sending anything to Expert Stylus. I tried it and had my cartridge hung up in Parcelforce (customs) for 3 months and ultimately had to have it returned without ever having reached the destination.