Do you buy used carts/needles? Is it risky?

I love buying used. I've bought new too, and that can be OK with discount - but I've never needed to file a warranty claim, and don't expect to. Buying used on USAM or Audiogon really isn't high risk, with a few simple guardrails. The guys selling $3K used cartridges generally aren't the same kind flipping a 1990s Corolla or PlayStation on Craigslist. Look for a straight cantilever and signs of corrosion. Sure a guy could lie about hours, but I suspect most of us are conservative on estimates and fall on the honest side.

@viridian I was eyeing the Nagaoka  MP-500. If I may ask please, why do you not recommend it?

I buy a lot of used gear. The only exception is a phono cartridge. You have a nice table so why would you cheap out on the cartridge?

In the end, you will never know how many hours are on that stylus. Pass.

@dman777  Who buys ’NEEDLES’ either new or used?? No-one has used needles in half a century, usually on wind up gramaphones! Maybe you meant stylus?! And I don’t believe anyone would buy a used stylus, presumably for an MM cart.

Used carts, certainly, but not stylus’.