Cartridge Upgrade ...AT ART-9?

Most people in the US, I think, buy gray market and a retip deal through AT is not available to them.  If you buy through local authorized dealer you can inquire there.  In the US, the dealer is LP Gear.

The cartridge is more widely distributed through dealers in Europe and Japan.

The independent retippers, like SoundSmith, can be contacted for their possible deals on an AT Art-9.

@chakster 

Aside from the retip, which is usually a replacement, i don't really understand what is meant by "full support from the manufacturer in Japan."  Given that the cartridge is in good shape upon receipt I have never seen anything go wrong with a cartridge (and I have had many) except the usual aging process.  And if it is not in good shape upon receipt, that is an issue for the dealer, not the manufacturer.

I do not know what support, including retipping is offered by purchase from LP Gear.  Do you? Does anyone?  But the LP Gear price is $1095 and the least expensive new Art-9 currently offered on ebay is $949.  It has been offered for much less, as when I bought mine.  My own thinking at the time is that I would rather save the money now than worry about what might happen at some time in the future.  I'm sure many thought the same.

What makes you think that a retip of the Art-9 by SoundSmith makes "absolutely no sense."  They retip some very sophisticated cartridges, apparently with complete success.  Do you know something?  Or is this just more idle chatter.

@chakster

Mr. Carr sells cartridges and retips. He sells HIS cartridges and retips. SoundSmith is a competitor. They sell cartridges and retips of their cartridges and other people’s cartridges, including those of Carr.

Peter Ledermann, the proprietor of SoundSmith, will happily give all of the considerations of which he’s aware about his services. Positive and negative. He often appears in these types of forums and provides what he knows. He does that WITHOUT disparaging the work and product and business ethics of competitors. He will answer emails; he will get on the phone with customers. His work on a variety of cartridges has been given great praise on forums like this one.

There are others who provide similar retipping services who have received praise in forums like this one.

Still the unanswered question: What EXACTLY does Audio Technica offer by way of after-sales service to those purchasing from an authorized dealer? Is LP Gear an authorized dealer? If a US resident buys from a Japanese authorized dealer can he expect after-sales service? Does Audio Technica offer retips? If so, what is the cost?